diff --git a/cfelpyutils/crystfel_utils.py b/cfelpyutils/crystfel_utils.py
index 6e4ebc3b2a0e9d5744593b7ecfd1b84b90a24a2b..cf2b475d2bd2b03800f4f6c35d386014da313d1f 100644
--- a/cfelpyutils/crystfel_utils.py
+++ b/cfelpyutils/crystfel_utils.py
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ def load_crystfel_geometry(filename):
                     panel_name
                 )
             )
-        if found_placeholder != 1:
+        if found_placeholder > 1:
             raise RuntimeError(
                 "Only one placeholder dim coordinate is allowed."
                 "Maximum one placeholder dim coordinate is "