diff --git a/pkg/bdd/steps/jwt_retention_steps.go b/pkg/bdd/steps/jwt_retention_steps.go
index dbe5bd0..9dd2dca 100644
--- a/pkg/bdd/steps/jwt_retention_steps.go
+++ b/pkg/bdd/steps/jwt_retention_steps.go
@@ -631,7 +631,20 @@ func (s *JWTRetentionSteps) notCrashTheCleanupProcess() error {
 
 func (s *JWTRetentionSteps) notExceedTheMaximumRetentionLimit() error {
 	// Verify maximum retention enforcement
-	return godog.ErrPending
+	// Calculate expected retention: TTL * retentionFactor
+	expectedRetention := float64(s.expectedTTL) * s.retentionFactor
+
+	// Cap at maximum retention
+	if expectedRetention > float64(s.maxRetention) {
+		expectedRetention = float64(s.maxRetention)
+	}
+
+	// Verify the calculated retention doesn't exceed maximum
+	if int(expectedRetention) > s.maxRetention {
+		return fmt.Errorf("retention period %d hours exceeds maximum retention limit %d hours", int(expectedRetention), s.maxRetention)
+	}
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (s *JWTRetentionSteps) notExposeTheFullSecretInLogs() error {