diff --git a/docs/guides/cli.md b/docs/guides/cli.md
index 1bc666fc1..b8b8762df 100644
--- a/docs/guides/cli.md
+++ b/docs/guides/cli.md
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ usage: sleap-track [-h] [-m MODELS] [--frames FRAMES] [--only-labeled-frames] [-
                    [--verbosity {none,rich,json}] [--video.dataset VIDEO.DATASET] [--video.input_format VIDEO.INPUT_FORMAT]
                    [--video.index VIDEO.INDEX] [--cpu | --first-gpu | --last-gpu | --gpu GPU] [--max_edge_length_ratio MAX_EDGE_LENGTH_RATIO]
                    [--dist_penalty_weight DIST_PENALTY_WEIGHT] [--batch_size BATCH_SIZE] [--open-in-gui] [--peak_threshold PEAK_THRESHOLD]
-                   [-n MAX_INSTANCES] [--tracking.tracker TRACKING.TRACKER] [--tracking.max_tracking TRACKING.MAX_TRACKING]
+                   [-n MAX_INSTANCES] [--tracking.tracker TRACKING.TRACKER]
                    [--tracking.max_tracks TRACKING.MAX_TRACKS] [--tracking.target_instance_count TRACKING.TARGET_INSTANCE_COUNT]
                    [--tracking.pre_cull_to_target TRACKING.PRE_CULL_TO_TARGET] [--tracking.pre_cull_iou_threshold TRACKING.PRE_CULL_IOU_THRESHOLD]
                    [--tracking.post_connect_single_breaks TRACKING.POST_CONNECT_SINGLE_BREAKS]
@@ -184,10 +184,8 @@ optional arguments:
                         Limit maximum number of instances in multi-instance models. Not available for ID models. Defaults to None.
   --tracking.tracker TRACKING.TRACKER
                         Options: simple, flow, simplemaxtracks, flowmaxtracks, None (default: None)
-  --tracking.max_tracking TRACKING.MAX_TRACKING
-                        If true then the tracker will cap the max number of tracks. (default: False)
   --tracking.max_tracks TRACKING.MAX_TRACKS
-                        Maximum number of tracks to be tracked by the tracker. (default: None)
+                        Maximum number of tracks to be tracked by the tracker. No limit if None or -1. (default: None)
   --tracking.target_instance_count TRACKING.TARGET_INSTANCE_COUNT
                         Target number of instances to track per frame. (default: 0)
   --tracking.pre_cull_to_target TRACKING.PRE_CULL_TO_TARGET
@@ -261,13 +259,13 @@ sleap-track -m "models/my_model" --tracking.tracker simple -o "output_prediction
 **5. Inference with max tracks limit:**
 
 ```none
-sleap-track -m "models/my_model" --tracking.tracker simple --tracking.max_tracking 1 --tracking.max_tracks 4 -o "output_predictions.slp" "input_video.mp4"
+sleap-track -m "models/my_model" --tracking.tracker simple --tracking.max_tracks 4 -o "output_predictions.slp" "input_video.mp4"
 ```
 
 **6. Re-tracking without pose inference:**
 
 ```none
-sleap-track --tracking.tracker simple --tracking.max_tracking 1 --tracking.max_tracks 4 -o "retracked.slp" "input_predictions.slp"
+sleap-track --tracking.tracker simple --tracking.max_tracks 4 -o "retracked.slp" "input_predictions.slp"
 ```
 
 **7. Select GPU for pose inference:**
diff --git a/sleap/config/pipeline_form.yaml b/sleap/config/pipeline_form.yaml
index c34faea55..406a02ea8 100644
--- a/sleap/config/pipeline_form.yaml
+++ b/sleap/config/pipeline_form.yaml
@@ -521,10 +521,6 @@ inference:
       text: '<b>Tracking</b>:<br />
         This tracker assigns track identities by matching instances from prior
         frames to instances on subsequent frames.'
-    # - name: tracking.max_tracking
-    #   label: Limit max number of tracks
-    #   type: bool
-    #   default: false
     - name: tracking.max_tracks
       label: Max number of tracks
       type: optional_int
diff --git a/sleap/gui/learning/runners.py b/sleap/gui/learning/runners.py
index 3f78a2924..fb2d799e0 100644
--- a/sleap/gui/learning/runners.py
+++ b/sleap/gui/learning/runners.py
@@ -244,11 +244,6 @@ def make_predict_cli_call(
             if self.inference_params["tracking.tracker"] in compat_trackers:
                 tname = self.inference_params["tracking.tracker"][: -len("maxtracks")]
                 self.inference_params["tracking.tracker"] = tname
-                self.inference_params["tracking.max_tracking"] = True
-
-        # Setting max_tracks to a value means we want to use the max_tracking mode.
-        if self.inference_params.get("tracking.max_tracks") is not None:
-            self.inference_params["tracking.max_tracking"] = True
 
         # --tracking.kf_init_frame_count enables the kalman filter tracking
         # so if not set, then remove other (unused) args
@@ -259,7 +254,6 @@ def make_predict_cli_call(
         bool_items_as_ints = (
             "tracking.pre_cull_to_target",
             "tracking.pre_cull_merge_instances",
-            "tracking.max_tracking",
             "tracking.post_connect_single_breaks",
             "tracking.save_shifted_instances",
             "tracking.oks_score_weighting",
diff --git a/sleap/nn/inference.py b/sleap/nn/inference.py
index 75d2a1ae2..dc7d19f69 100644
--- a/sleap/nn/inference.py
+++ b/sleap/nn/inference.py
@@ -4914,14 +4914,10 @@ def unpack_sleap_model(model_path):
     )
     predictor.verbosity = progress_reporting
     if tracker is not None:
-        use_max_tracker = (
-            tracker_max_instances is not None and tracker_max_instances > 0
-        )
         predictor.tracker = Tracker.make_tracker_by_name(
             tracker=tracker,
             track_window=tracker_window,
             post_connect_single_breaks=True,
-            max_tracking=use_max_tracker,
             max_tracks=tracker_max_instances,
             # clean_instance_count=tracker_max_instances,
         )
diff --git a/sleap/nn/tracking.py b/sleap/nn/tracking.py
index 1891bde9c..7ecf8fbcb 100644
--- a/sleap/nn/tracking.py
+++ b/sleap/nn/tracking.py
@@ -945,7 +945,6 @@ def make_tracker_by_name(
         kf_node_indices: Optional[list] = None,
         # Max tracking options
         max_tracks: Optional[int] = None,
-        max_tracking: bool = False,
         prefer_reassigning_track: bool = False,
         allow_reassigning_track: bool = False,
         # Object keypoint similarity options
@@ -956,9 +955,8 @@ def make_tracker_by_name(
         report_rate: float = 2.0,
         **kwargs,
     ) -> BaseTracker:
-        # Parse max_tracking arguments, only True if max_tracks is not None and > 0
-        max_tracking = max_tracking and max_tracks is not None and max_tracks > 0
-        max_tracks = max_tracks if max_tracking else -1
+        # Parse max_tracks, set to -1 if None
+        max_tracks = max_tracks if max_tracks is not None and max_tracks >= 0 else -1
 
         if tracker.lower() == "none":
             candidate_maker = None
@@ -1056,14 +1054,12 @@ def get_by_name_factory_options(cls):
         ]
         options.append(option)
 
-        option = dict(name="max_tracking", default=False)
-        option["type"] = bool
-        option["help"] = "If true then the tracker will cap the max number of tracks."
-        options.append(option)
-
         option = dict(name="max_tracks", default=None)
         option["type"] = int
-        option["help"] = "Maximum number of tracks to be tracked by the tracker."
+        option["help"] = (
+            "Maximum number of tracks to be tracked by the tracker. "
+            "No maximum if set to -1."
+        )
         options.append(option)
 
         option = dict(name="target_instance_count", default=0)
diff --git a/tests/nn/test_inference.py b/tests/nn/test_inference.py
index 8e24145bf..e474071f3 100644
--- a/tests/nn/test_inference.py
+++ b/tests/nn/test_inference.py
@@ -1377,7 +1377,6 @@ def test_retracking(
     if tracker_method == "flow":
         cmd += " --tracking.save_shifted_instances 1"
     elif tracker_method == "simplemaxtracks" or tracker_method == "flowmaxtracks":
-        cmd += " --tracking.max_tracking 1"
         cmd += " --tracking.max_tracks 2"
     if output_path == "not_default":
         output_path = Path(tmpdir, "tracked_slp.slp")
@@ -1790,7 +1789,6 @@ def test_max_tracks_matching_queue(
 ):
     """Test flow max tracks instance generation."""
     labels: Labels = centered_pair_predictions
-    max_tracking = True
     track_window = 5
 
     # Setup flow max tracker
@@ -1798,7 +1796,6 @@ def test_max_tracks_matching_queue(
         tracker=trackername,
         track_window=track_window,
         save_shifted_instances=True,
-        max_tracking=max_tracking,
         max_tracks=max_tracks,
     )
 
diff --git a/tests/nn/test_tracker_components.py b/tests/nn/test_tracker_components.py
index 787f7747d..7eb522791 100644
--- a/tests/nn/test_tracker_components.py
+++ b/tests/nn/test_tracker_components.py
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ def make_inst(x, y):
     return insts
 
 
-def test_max_tracking_large_gap_single_track():
+def test_max_tracks_large_gap_single_track():
     # Track 2 instances with gap > window size
     preds = make_insts(
         [
@@ -282,8 +282,7 @@ def test_max_tracking_large_gap_single_track():
         tracker="simple",
         match="hungarian",
         track_window=2,
-        # max_tracks=2,
-        max_tracking=False,
+        max_tracks=-1,
     )
 
     tracked = []
@@ -299,7 +298,6 @@ def test_max_tracking_large_gap_single_track():
         match="hungarian",
         track_window=2,
         max_tracks=2,
-        max_tracking=True,
     )
 
     tracked = []
@@ -311,7 +309,7 @@ def test_max_tracking_large_gap_single_track():
     assert len(all_tracks) == 2
 
 
-def test_max_tracking_small_gap_on_both_tracks():
+def test_max_tracks_small_gap_on_both_tracks():
     # Test 2 instances with both tracks with gap > window size
     preds = make_insts(
         [
@@ -344,8 +342,7 @@ def test_max_tracking_small_gap_on_both_tracks():
         tracker="simple",
         match="hungarian",
         track_window=2,
-        # max_tracks=2,
-        max_tracking=False,
+        max_tracks=-1,
     )
 
     tracked = []
@@ -361,7 +358,6 @@ def test_max_tracking_small_gap_on_both_tracks():
         match="hungarian",
         track_window=2,
         max_tracks=2,
-        max_tracking=True,
     )
 
     tracked = []
@@ -373,7 +369,7 @@ def test_max_tracking_small_gap_on_both_tracks():
     assert len(all_tracks) == 2
 
 
-def test_max_tracking_extra_detections():
+def test_max_tracks_extra_detections():
     # Test having more than 2 detected instances in a frame
     preds = make_insts(
         [
@@ -411,8 +407,7 @@ def test_max_tracking_extra_detections():
         tracker="simple",
         match="hungarian",
         track_window=2,
-        # max_tracks=2,
-        max_tracking=False,
+        max_tracks=-1,
     )
 
     tracked = []
@@ -428,7 +423,6 @@ def test_max_tracking_extra_detections():
         match="hungarian",
         track_window=2,
         max_tracks=2,
-        max_tracking=True,
     )
 
     tracked = []
diff --git a/tests/nn/test_tracking_integration.py b/tests/nn/test_tracking_integration.py
index 0509557f0..9335900d8 100644
--- a/tests/nn/test_tracking_integration.py
+++ b/tests/nn/test_tracking_integration.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def test_simple_tracker(tmpdir, centered_pair_predictions_slp_path):
 def test_simple_max_tracks(tmpdir, centered_pair_predictions_slp_path):
     cli = (
         "--tracking.tracker simple "
-        "--tracking.max_tracking 1 --tracking.max_tracks 2 "
+        "--tracking.max_tracks 2 "
         "--frames 200-300 "
         f"-o {tmpdir}/simplemaxtracks.slp "
         f"{centered_pair_predictions_slp_path}"
@@ -107,13 +107,12 @@ def main(f, dir):
     )
 
     def make_tracker(
-        tracker_name, matcher_name, sim_name, max_tracks, max_tracking=False, scale=0
+        tracker_name, matcher_name, sim_name, max_tracks, scale=0
     ):
         tracker = trackers[tracker_name](
             matching_function=matchers[matcher_name],
             similarity_function=similarities[sim_name],
             max_tracks=max_tracks,
-            max_tracking=max_tracking,
         )
         if scale:
             tracker.candidate_maker.img_scale = scale
@@ -142,7 +141,6 @@ def make_tracker_and_filename(*args, **kwargs):
                             tracker_name=tracker_name,
                             matcher_name=matcher_name,
                             max_tracks=2,
-                            max_tracking=True,
                             sim_name=sim_name,
                             scale=scale,
                         )
@@ -152,7 +150,6 @@ def make_tracker_and_filename(*args, **kwargs):
                         tracker_name=tracker_name,
                         matcher_name=matcher_name,
                         max_tracks=2,
-                        max_tracking=True,
                         sim_name=sim_name,
                         scale=0,
                     )