diff --git a/grain/_src/python/shared_memory_array.py b/grain/_src/python/shared_memory_array.py
index b4584d0a..3ffc982f 100644
--- a/grain/_src/python/shared_memory_array.py
+++ b/grain/_src/python/shared_memory_array.py
@@ -135,10 +135,7 @@ def enable_async_del(
     """
     with SharedMemoryArray._lock:
       if not SharedMemoryArray._del_thread_pool:
-        if max_outstanding_requests < num_threads:
-          raise ValueError(
-              "max_outstanding_requests must be at least num_threads."
-          )
+        max_outstanding_requests = max(max_outstanding_requests, num_threads)
         SharedMemoryArray._del_thread_pool = pool.ThreadPool(num_threads)
         SharedMemoryArray._outstanding_del_requests = threading.Semaphore(
             max_outstanding_requests