diff --git a/src/ert/job_queue/driver.py b/src/ert/job_queue/driver.py
index fba3f5b638a..deef00b8aed 100644
--- a/src/ert/job_queue/driver.py
+++ b/src/ert/job_queue/driver.py
@@ -29,23 +29,30 @@ def __init__(
         if options:
             for key, value in options:
                 self.set_option(key, value)
-        self.set_max_running(max_running)
+        self._max_running = max_running
 
     def set_option(self, option: str, value: str) -> bool:
         """Set a driver option to a specific value, return False if unknown option."""
-        return self._set_option(option, str(value))
+        if option == "MAX_RUNNING":
+            self._max_running = int(value)
+            return True
+        else:
+            return self._set_option(option, str(value))
 
     def unset_option(self, option: str) -> None:
         return self._unset_option(option)
 
     def get_option(self, option_key: str) -> str:
-        return self._get_option(option_key)
+        if option_key == "MAX_RUNNING":
+            return str(self.get_max_running())
+        else:
+            return self._get_option(option_key)
 
     def get_max_running(self) -> int:
-        return self._get_max_running()
+        return self._max_running
 
     def set_max_running(self, max_running: int) -> None:
-        self._set_max_running(max_running)
+        self._max_running = max_running
 
     @classmethod
     def create_driver(cls, queue_config: QueueConfig) -> "Driver":
@@ -58,8 +65,6 @@ def create_driver(cls, queue_config: QueueConfig) -> "Driver":
                     driver.unset_option(setting)
         return driver
 
-    max_running = property(get_max_running, set_max_running)
-
     @property
     def name(self) -> str:
         return self._get_name()
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/config/test_queue_config.py b/tests/unit_tests/config/test_queue_config.py
index 6f328d8563e..aebcb3e597e 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/config/test_queue_config.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/config/test_queue_config.py
@@ -67,7 +67,9 @@ def test_queue_config_default_max_running_is_unlimited(num_real):
         f.write(f"NUM_REALIZATIONS {num_real}\nQUEUE_SYSTEM SLURM\n")
     # max_running == 0 means unlimited
     assert (
-        Driver.create_driver(ErtConfig.from_file(filename).queue_config).max_running
+        Driver.create_driver(
+            ErtConfig.from_file(filename).queue_config
+        ).get_max_running()
         == 0
     )