diff --git a/spacy/language.py b/spacy/language.py
index 758b3ef5f64..d2e686c7f8a 100644
--- a/spacy/language.py
+++ b/spacy/language.py
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ def __call__(self, text, disable=[]):
             >>> tokens[0].text, tokens[0].head.tag_
             ('An', 'NN')
         """
-        if len(text) >= self.max_length:
+        if len(text) > self.max_length:
             raise ValueError(Errors.E088.format(length=len(text),
                                                 max_length=self.max_length))
         doc = self.make_doc(text)