diff --git a/infra/k8s/argo/training-workflow-template.yaml b/infra/k8s/argo/training-workflow-template.yaml
index 885396e2d..a640834d9 100644
--- a/infra/k8s/argo/training-workflow-template.yaml
+++ b/infra/k8s/argo/training-workflow-template.yaml
@@ -155,11 +155,17 @@ spec:
               *)       BINARY=hyperopt_baseline_supervised ;;
             esac
 
-            echo "Running $BINARY --model $MODEL ({{workflow.parameters.hyperopt-trials}} trials x {{workflow.parameters.hyperopt-epochs}} epochs)"
+            TRIALS={{workflow.parameters.hyperopt-trials}}
+            N_INITIAL=5
+            if [ "$TRIALS" -le "$N_INITIAL" ]; then
+              N_INITIAL=$((TRIALS > 1 ? TRIALS - 1 : 1))
+            fi
+
+            echo "Running $BINARY --model $MODEL ($TRIALS trials, $N_INITIAL initial x {{workflow.parameters.hyperopt-epochs}} epochs)"
             $BINARY \
               --model "$MODEL" \
-              --trials {{workflow.parameters.hyperopt-trials}} \
-              --n-initial 5 \
+              --trials "$TRIALS" \
+              --n-initial "$N_INITIAL" \
               --epochs {{workflow.parameters.hyperopt-epochs}} \
               --parallel 0 \
               --symbol {{workflow.parameters.symbol}} \