diff --git a/master/internal/configpolicy/utils.go b/master/internal/configpolicy/utils.go
index d7b645d07f9..e1b28a211a1 100644
--- a/master/internal/configpolicy/utils.go
+++ b/master/internal/configpolicy/utils.go
@@ -159,9 +159,9 @@ func checkConstraintConflicts(constraints *model.Constraints, maxSlots, slots, p
 	if maxSlots != nil && *constraints.ResourceConstraints.MaxSlots != *maxSlots {
 		return fmt.Errorf("invariant config & constraints are trying to set the max slots")
 	}
-	if slots != nil && *constraints.ResourceConstraints.MaxSlots > *slots {
-		return fmt.Errorf("invariant config & constraints are attempting to set an invalid max slot123: %v vs %v",
-			*constraints.ResourceConstraints.MaxSlots, *slots)
+	if slots != nil && *constraints.ResourceConstraints.MaxSlots < *slots {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invariant config has %v slots per trial. violates constraints max slots of %v",
+			*slots, *constraints.ResourceConstraints.MaxSlots)
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/master/internal/configpolicy/utils_test.go b/master/internal/configpolicy/utils_test.go
index 3649fa4c68d..e6d68ea53b1 100644
--- a/master/internal/configpolicy/utils_test.go
+++ b/master/internal/configpolicy/utils_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"gotest.tools/assert"
 
 	"github.com/determined-ai/determined/master/pkg/model"
+	"github.com/determined-ai/determined/master/pkg/ptrs"
 	"github.com/determined-ai/determined/master/pkg/schemas/expconf"
 )
 
@@ -309,3 +310,45 @@ func TestUnmarshalJSONNTSC(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestCheckConstraintsConflicts(t *testing.T) {
+	constraints := &model.Constraints{
+		ResourceConstraints: &model.ResourceConstraints{
+			MaxSlots: ptrs.Ptr(10),
+		},
+		PriorityLimit: ptrs.Ptr(50),
+	}
+	t.Run("max_slots differs to high", func(t *testing.T) {
+		err := checkConstraintConflicts(constraints, ptrs.Ptr(11), ptrs.Ptr(5), nil)
+		require.Error(t, err)
+	})
+	t.Run("max_slots differs to low", func(t *testing.T) {
+		err := checkConstraintConflicts(constraints, ptrs.Ptr(9), ptrs.Ptr(5), nil)
+		require.Error(t, err)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("slots_per_trial too high", func(t *testing.T) {
+		err := checkConstraintConflicts(constraints, ptrs.Ptr(5), ptrs.Ptr(11), nil)
+		require.Error(t, err)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("slots_per_trial within range", func(t *testing.T) {
+		err := checkConstraintConflicts(constraints, ptrs.Ptr(10), ptrs.Ptr(8), nil)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("priority differs too high", func(t *testing.T) {
+		err := checkConstraintConflicts(constraints, nil, nil, ptrs.Ptr(100))
+		require.Error(t, err)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("priority differs too low", func(t *testing.T) {
+		err := checkConstraintConflicts(constraints, nil, nil, ptrs.Ptr(10))
+		require.Error(t, err)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("all comply", func(t *testing.T) {
+		err := checkConstraintConflicts(constraints, ptrs.Ptr(10), ptrs.Ptr(10), ptrs.Ptr(50))
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+	})
+}