diff --git a/torchao/prototype/parq/optim/parq.py b/torchao/prototype/parq/optim/parq.py
index ade403a87d..43dd5ea149 100644
--- a/torchao/prototype/parq/optim/parq.py
+++ b/torchao/prototype/parq/optim/parq.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def __init__(
         steepness: float = 10,
         anneal_center: float = 0.5,
     ) -> None:
-        assert anneal_start < anneal_end, "PARQ annealing: start before end."
+        assert anneal_start <= anneal_end, "PARQ annealing: start before end."
         assert steepness > 0, "PARQ annealing steepness should be positive."
         self.anneal_start = anneal_start
         self.anneal_end = anneal_end