diff --git a/tests/test_autobatching.py b/tests/test_autobatching.py
index 81d90472..d2b6fcc9 100644
--- a/tests/test_autobatching.py
+++ b/tests/test_autobatching.py
@@ -368,12 +368,11 @@ def mock_measure(*_args: Any, **_kwargs: Any) -> float:
     )
 
     # Test with a small max_atoms value to limit the sequence
-    max_size = determine_max_batch_size(si_sim_state, lj_model, max_atoms=10)
-
+    max_size = determine_max_batch_size(si_sim_state, lj_model, max_atoms=16)
     # The Fibonacci sequence up to 10 is [1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13]
     # Since we're not triggering OOM errors with our mock, it should
-    # return the largest value < max_atoms
-    assert max_size == 8
+    # return the largest value that fits within max_atoms (simstate has 8 atoms, so 2 batches)
+    assert max_size == 2
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("scale_factor", [1.1, 1.4])
@@ -395,7 +394,7 @@ def test_determine_max_batch_size_small_scale_factor_no_infinite_loop(
 
     # Verify sequence is strictly increasing (prevents infinite loop)
     sizes = [1]
-    while (next_size := max(round(sizes[-1] * scale_factor), sizes[-1] + 1)) < 20:
+    while (next_size := max(round(sizes[-1] * scale_factor), sizes[-1] + 1))*si_sim_state.n_atoms <= 20:
         sizes.append(next_size)
 
     assert all(sizes[idx] > sizes[idx - 1] for idx in range(1, len(sizes)))
diff --git a/torch_sim/autobatching.py b/torch_sim/autobatching.py
index 4f556ce0..e0410afe 100644
--- a/torch_sim/autobatching.py
+++ b/torch_sim/autobatching.py
@@ -289,7 +289,9 @@ def determine_max_batch_size(
     """
     # Create a geometric sequence of batch sizes
     sizes = [start_size]
-    while (next_size := max(round(sizes[-1] * scale_factor), sizes[-1] + 1)) < max_atoms:
+    while (
+        next_size := max(round(sizes[-1] * scale_factor), sizes[-1] + 1)
+    ) * state.n_atoms <= max_atoms:
         sizes.append(next_size)
 
     for i in range(len(sizes)):
diff --git a/torch_sim/runners.py b/torch_sim/runners.py
index 5a11f86c..423f604a 100644
--- a/torch_sim/runners.py
+++ b/torch_sim/runners.py
@@ -426,6 +426,7 @@ def optimize(  # noqa: C901
             model,
             max_memory_scaler=autobatcher.max_memory_scaler,
             memory_scales_with=autobatcher.memory_scales_with,
+            max_atoms_to_try=autobatcher.max_atoms_to_try,
         )
     autobatcher.load_states(state)
     trajectory_reporter = _configure_reporter(