diff --git a/tensorflow/core/kernels/data/experimental/parse_example_dataset_op.cc b/tensorflow/core/kernels/data/experimental/parse_example_dataset_op.cc
index 6eace17c7e4..151f6fd474b 100644
--- a/tensorflow/core/kernels/data/experimental/parse_example_dataset_op.cc
+++ b/tensorflow/core/kernels/data/experimental/parse_example_dataset_op.cc
@@ -75,9 +75,10 @@ class ParseExampleDatasetOp : public UnaryDatasetOpKernel {
     int64 num_parallel_calls = 0;
     OP_REQUIRES_OK(ctx, ParseScalarArgument(ctx, "num_parallel_calls",
                                             &num_parallel_calls));
-    OP_REQUIRES(ctx, num_parallel_calls > 0,
-                errors::InvalidArgument(
-                    "num_parallel_calls must be greater than zero."));
+    OP_REQUIRES(
+        ctx, num_parallel_calls > 0 || num_parallel_calls == model::kAutoTune,
+        errors::InvalidArgument(
+            "num_parallel_calls must be greater than zero."));
 
     OpInputList dense_default_tensors;
     OP_REQUIRES_OK(ctx,