diff --git a/changelog/20078.txt b/changelog/20078.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..8749354b315d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/20078.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:improvement
+core/activity: error when attempting to update retention configuration below the minimum 
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/vault/logical_system_activity.go b/vault/logical_system_activity.go
index 9c121db67829..2c1dde1ee126 100644
--- a/vault/logical_system_activity.go
+++ b/vault/logical_system_activity.go
@@ -348,6 +348,10 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleActivityConfigUpdate(ctx context.Context, req *log
 		return logical.ErrorResponse("retention_months cannot be 0 while enabled"), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
 	}
 
+	if a.core.censusLicensingEnabled && config.RetentionMonths < a.configOverrides.MinimumRetentionMonths {
+		return logical.ErrorResponse("retention_months must be at least %d while Reporting is enabled", a.configOverrides.MinimumRetentionMonths), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+	}
+
 	// Store the config
 	entry, err := logical.StorageEntryJSON(path.Join(activitySubPath, activityConfigKey), config)
 	if err != nil {