diff --git a/sbin/savecore/savecore.c b/sbin/savecore/savecore.c
--- a/sbin/savecore/savecore.c
+++ b/sbin/savecore/savecore.c
@@ -257,6 +257,8 @@
 	ret = (int)strtol(buf, NULL, 10);
 	if (ret == 0 && (errno == EINVAL || errno == ERANGE))
 		logmsg(LOG_WARNING, "invalid value found in bounds, using 0");
+	if (maxdumps > 0 && ret == maxdumps)
+		ret = 0;
 	fclose(fp);
 	return (ret);
 }
@@ -721,9 +723,6 @@
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (maxdumps > 0 && bounds == maxdumps)
-		bounds = 0;
-
 	if (buf == NULL) {
 		buf = malloc(BUFFERSIZE);
 		if (buf == NULL) {