diff --git a/src/options.go b/src/options.go
index 479d3416..223d9cf0 100644
--- a/src/options.go
+++ b/src/options.go
@@ -3593,7 +3593,7 @@ func validateOptions(opts *Options) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if opts.Height.auto {
+	if opts.Height.auto && (opts.Tmux == nil || opts.Tmux.index < opts.Height.index) {
 		for _, s := range []sizeSpec{opts.Margin[0], opts.Margin[2]} {
 			if s.percent {
 				return errors.New("adaptive height is not compatible with top/bottom percent margin")