diff --git a/_studio/mfx_lib/encode_hw/av1/agnostic/base/av1ehw_base_general_defaults.cpp b/_studio/mfx_lib/encode_hw/av1/agnostic/base/av1ehw_base_general_defaults.cpp
index 35a3cfde5..fb9cbf852 100644
--- a/_studio/mfx_lib/encode_hw/av1/agnostic/base/av1ehw_base_general_defaults.cpp
+++ b/_studio/mfx_lib/encode_hw/av1/agnostic/base/av1ehw_base_general_defaults.cpp
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ class GetDefault
         // In the future it might be turned on by default
         const mfxU16 BPyrCand[2] = { mfxU16(MFX_B_REF_OFF), mfxU16(MFX_B_REF_PYRAMID) };
         bool bValid =
-            par.base.GetGopRefDist(par) > 3
+            par.base.GetGopRefDist(par) >= 3
             && (par.mvp.mfx.NumRefFrame == 0
                 || par.base.GetMinRefForBPyramid(par) <= par.mvp.mfx.NumRefFrame);