diff --git a/api/regen/ecocredit/marketplace/v1/tx.pulsar.go b/api/regen/ecocredit/marketplace/v1/tx.pulsar.go
index ef081c6d13..3dfb4393d6 100644
--- a/api/regen/ecocredit/marketplace/v1/tx.pulsar.go
+++ b/api/regen/ecocredit/marketplace/v1/tx.pulsar.go
@@ -9344,8 +9344,6 @@ type MsgBuyDirect_Order struct {
 	RetirementReason string `protobuf:"bytes,7,opt,name=retirement_reason,json=retirementReason,proto3" json:"retirement_reason,omitempty"`
 	// max_fee_amount is the maximum amount of buyer side fees being paid to the marketplace.
 	// If the marketplace fees end up being greater than this amount, the transaction will fail.
-	// If this field is left empty, the marketplace fees will be calculated based on the bid price
-	// and quantity and automatically deducted from the buyer's account.
 	// Fees are always paid in the same denomination as the bid price.
 	//
 	// Since Revision 3
diff --git a/proto/regen/ecocredit/marketplace/v1/tx.proto b/proto/regen/ecocredit/marketplace/v1/tx.proto
index d1f8bc721a..cb5cfcdfb3 100644
--- a/proto/regen/ecocredit/marketplace/v1/tx.proto
+++ b/proto/regen/ecocredit/marketplace/v1/tx.proto
@@ -184,8 +184,6 @@ message MsgBuyDirect {
 
     // max_fee_amount is the maximum amount of buyer side fees being paid to the marketplace.
     // If the marketplace fees end up being greater than this amount, the transaction will fail.
-    // If this field is left empty, the marketplace fees will be calculated based on the bid price
-    // and quantity and automatically deducted from the buyer's account.
     // Fees are always paid in the same denomination as the bid price.
     //
     // Since Revision 3
diff --git a/x/ecocredit/marketplace/keeper/features/msg_buy_direct.feature b/x/ecocredit/marketplace/keeper/features/msg_buy_direct.feature
index bacfcd50a3..ae755f06e1 100644
--- a/x/ecocredit/marketplace/keeper/features/msg_buy_direct.feature
+++ b/x/ecocredit/marketplace/keeper/features/msg_buy_direct.feature
@@ -409,6 +409,7 @@ Feature: Msg/BuyDirect
       * bob has bank balance "110foo"
       * alice has bank balance "0foo"
       * buyer fees are 0.1 and seller fees are 0.05
+      * bob sets a max fee of "10foo"
       When bob attempts to buy credits with quantity "10" and bid price "10foo"
       Then expect no error
       * expect alice bank balance "95foo"
@@ -438,6 +439,7 @@ Feature: Msg/BuyDirect
       * bob has bank balance "240uregen"
       * alice has bank balance "0regen"
       * buyer fees are 0.2 and seller fees are 0.1
+      * bob sets a max fee of "40uregen"
       When bob attempts to buy credits with quantity "10" and bid price "20uregen"
       Then expect no error
       * expect alice bank balance "180uregen"
diff --git a/x/ecocredit/marketplace/keeper/msg_buy_direct.go b/x/ecocredit/marketplace/keeper/msg_buy_direct.go
index 7be39f457d..5ba4b1d3e8 100644
--- a/x/ecocredit/marketplace/keeper/msg_buy_direct.go
+++ b/x/ecocredit/marketplace/keeper/msg_buy_direct.go
@@ -110,14 +110,16 @@ func (k Keeper) BuyDirect(ctx context.Context, req *types.MsgBuyDirect) (*types.
 		totalCost := sdk.Coin{Amount: total.SdkIntTrim(), Denom: market.BankDenom}
 
 		// check max fee
-		if maxFee := order.MaxFeeAmount; maxFee != nil {
-			buyerFeeCoin := sdk.Coin{Amount: buyerFee.SdkIntTrim(), Denom: market.BankDenom}
-			if maxFee.IsLT(buyerFeeCoin) {
-				return nil, sdkerrors.ErrInvalidRequest.Wrapf(
-					"%s: max fee: %s, required fee: %s",
-					orderIndex, maxFee, buyerFeeCoin,
-				)
-			}
+		maxFee := order.MaxFeeAmount
+		if maxFee == nil {
+			maxFee = &sdk.Coin{Amount: sdk.NewInt(0), Denom: market.BankDenom}
+		}
+		buyerFeeCoin := sdk.Coin{Amount: buyerFee.SdkIntTrim(), Denom: market.BankDenom}
+		if maxFee.IsLT(buyerFeeCoin) {
+			return nil, sdkerrors.ErrInvalidRequest.Wrapf(
+				"%s: max fee: %s, required fee: %s",
+				orderIndex, maxFee, buyerFeeCoin,
+			)
 		}
 
 		// check address has the total cost
diff --git a/x/ecocredit/marketplace/types/v1/tx.pb.go b/x/ecocredit/marketplace/types/v1/tx.pb.go
index 50e94b6b53..56f768dbe7 100644
--- a/x/ecocredit/marketplace/types/v1/tx.pb.go
+++ b/x/ecocredit/marketplace/types/v1/tx.pb.go
@@ -576,8 +576,6 @@ type MsgBuyDirect_Order struct {
 	RetirementReason string `protobuf:"bytes,7,opt,name=retirement_reason,json=retirementReason,proto3" json:"retirement_reason,omitempty"`
 	// max_fee_amount is the maximum amount of buyer side fees being paid to the marketplace.
 	// If the marketplace fees end up being greater than this amount, the transaction will fail.
-	// If this field is left empty, the marketplace fees will be calculated based on the bid price
-	// and quantity and automatically deducted from the buyer's account.
 	// Fees are always paid in the same denomination as the bid price.
 	//
 	// Since Revision 3