diff --git a/parsl/benchmark/perf.py b/parsl/benchmark/perf.py
index 9325c24004..5740f2841d 100644
--- a/parsl/benchmark/perf.py
+++ b/parsl/benchmark/perf.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def performance(*, resources: dict, target_t: float):
         print(f"Runtime: actual {delta_t:.3f}s vs target {target_t}s")
         print(f"Tasks per second: {rate:.3f}")
 
-        n = int(target_t * rate)
+        n = max(1, int(target_t * rate))
 
         iteration += 1