diff --git a/reasoning_gym/cognition/needle_haystack.py b/reasoning_gym/cognition/needle_haystack.py
index 02596104..93cf1cb8 100644
--- a/reasoning_gym/cognition/needle_haystack.py
+++ b/reasoning_gym/cognition/needle_haystack.py
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ class NeedleHaystackConfig:
     def validate(self) -> None:
         """Validate configuration parameters"""
         assert self.num_statements > 0, "num_statements must be greater than 0"
+        assert self.num_statements < len(NAMES) * len(VERBS) * len(
+            SUBJECTS
+        ), f"num_statements must be less than {len(NAMES) * len(VERBS) * len(SUBJECTS)}"
 
 
 def generate_unique_triplets(names: List[str], verbs: List[str], subjects: List[str], n: int, rng) -> Dict[str, Any]:
@@ -44,8 +47,6 @@ def generate_unique_triplets(names: List[str], verbs: List[str], subjects: List[
         ValueError: If n exceeds the total number of unique triplets possible.
     """
     total_possible = len(names) * len(verbs) * len(subjects)
-    if n > total_possible:
-        raise ValueError("Requested n exceeds the total number of unique combinations.")
 
     # Use a range for memory efficiency and sample n unique indices.
     indices = rng.sample(range(total_possible), n)