diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.cpp b/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.cpp
index 5f8db45a..f9a17bcb 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.cpp
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.cpp
@@ -2860,7 +2860,7 @@ bool Blockchain::check_fee(size_t blob_size, uint64_t fee) const
   needed_fee += (blob_size % 1024) ? 1 : 0;
   needed_fee *= fee_per_kb;
 
-  if (fee < needed_fee)
+  if (fee < needed_fee * 0.98) // keep a little buffer on acceptance
   {
     MERROR_VER("transaction fee is not enough: " << print_money(fee) << ", minimum fee: " << print_money(needed_fee));
     return false;