diff --git a/src/ripple/app/ledger/impl/LedgerMaster.cpp b/src/ripple/app/ledger/impl/LedgerMaster.cpp
index f2911465f4..db1b571213 100644
--- a/src/ripple/app/ledger/impl/LedgerMaster.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/app/ledger/impl/LedgerMaster.cpp
@@ -1560,9 +1560,12 @@ LedgerMaster::shouldAcquire (
     std::uint32_t const ledgerHistoryIndex,
     std::uint32_t const candidateLedger) const
 {
-    bool ret (candidateLedger >= currentLedger ||
-        candidateLedger > ledgerHistoryIndex ||
-        (currentLedger - candidateLedger) <= ledgerHistory);
+    // If the ledger could be the current ledger acquire it.
+    // Otherwise, acquire it only if it's within our range of
+    // desired history and we wouldn't delete it if we had it.
+    bool ret = (candidateLedger >= currentLedger) ||
+        ((candidateLedger >= ledgerHistoryIndex) &&
+        ((currentLedger - candidateLedger) <= ledgerHistory));
 
     JLOG (m_journal.trace())
         << "Missing ledger "