diff --git a/pkg/gcc/rate_controller.go b/pkg/gcc/rate_controller.go
index 57443610..7d8db05d 100644
--- a/pkg/gcc/rate_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gcc/rate_controller.go
@@ -149,7 +149,12 @@ func (c *rateController) increase(now time.Time) int {
 		increase := int(math.Max(1000.0, alpha*expectedPacketSizeBits))
 		c.lastUpdate = now
 
-		return int(math.Min(float64(c.target+increase), 1.5*float64(c.latestReceivedRate)))
+		rate := int(math.Min(float64(c.target+increase), 1.5*float64(c.latestReceivedRate)))
+		if rate < c.target {
+			return c.target
+		}
+
+		return rate
 	}
 	eta := math.Pow(1.08, math.Min(float64(now.Sub(c.lastUpdate).Milliseconds())/1000, 1.0))
 	c.lastUpdate = now
diff --git a/pkg/gcc/rate_controller_test.go b/pkg/gcc/rate_controller_test.go
index 019ee11b..a4bf6842 100644
--- a/pkg/gcc/rate_controller_test.go
+++ b/pkg/gcc/rate_controller_test.go
@@ -76,3 +76,16 @@ func TestRateControllerRun(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestRateControllerIncreaseDoesNotReduceTarget(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Now()
+	for _, target := range []int{1_000_000, 8_000_000} {
+		controller := newRateController(time.Now, target, 100_000, 50_000_000, func(DelayStats) {})
+		controller.latestReceivedRate = 1_350_000
+		controller.latestDecreaseRate.update(1_300_000)
+		controller.latestDecreaseRate.update(1_350_000)
+		controller.lastUpdate = now.Add(-100 * time.Millisecond)
+
+		assert.GreaterOrEqual(t, controller.increase(now), target)
+	}
+}