diff --git a/modules/nf-core/meryl/count/main.nf b/modules/nf-core/meryl/count/main.nf
index c1540cc874b..20dc8db83a3 100644
--- a/modules/nf-core/meryl/count/main.nf
+++ b/modules/nf-core/meryl/count/main.nf
@@ -21,12 +21,13 @@ process MERYL_COUNT {
     script:
     def args = task.ext.args ?: ''
     def prefix = task.ext.prefix ?: "${meta.id}"
+    def reduced_mem = task.memory.multiply(0.9).toGiga()
     """
     for READ in $reads; do
         meryl count \\
             k=$kvalue \\
             threads=$task.cpus \\
-            memory=${task.memory.toGiga()} \\
+            memory=$reduced_mem \\
             $args \\
             $reads \\
             output read.\${READ%.f*}.meryl