diff --git a/presto-memory/src/main/java/io/prestosql/plugin/memory/MemoryMetadata.java b/presto-memory/src/main/java/io/prestosql/plugin/memory/MemoryMetadata.java
index 0ad1be797c02..54efa793fb74 100644
--- a/presto-memory/src/main/java/io/prestosql/plugin/memory/MemoryMetadata.java
+++ b/presto-memory/src/main/java/io/prestosql/plugin/memory/MemoryMetadata.java
@@ -356,10 +356,12 @@ public Optional<LimitApplicationResult<ConnectorTableHandle>> applyLimit(Connect
     {
         MemoryTableHandle table = (MemoryTableHandle) handle;
 
-        if (!table.getLimit().isPresent() || limit < table.getLimit().getAsLong()) {
-            table = new MemoryTableHandle(table.getId(), OptionalLong.of(limit));
+        if (table.getLimit().isPresent() && table.getLimit().getAsLong() <= limit) {
+            return Optional.empty();
         }
 
-        return Optional.of(new LimitApplicationResult<>(table, true));
+        return Optional.of(new LimitApplicationResult<>(
+                new MemoryTableHandle(table.getId(), OptionalLong.of(limit)),
+                true));
     }
 }