diff --git a/changes/bug21771 b/changes/bug21771
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f814c75c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/bug21771
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+  o Minor bugfixes (guard selection):
+    - Fix a guard selection bug where Tor would refuse to bootstrap in some
+      cases if the user swapped a bridge for another bridge in their
+      configuration file.
+      Fixes bug 21771; bugfix on 0.3.0.1-alpha. Reported by "torvlnt33r".
diff --git a/src/or/entrynodes.c b/src/or/entrynodes.c
index c3c576c81..e0a3854b7 100644
--- a/src/or/entrynodes.c
+++ b/src/or/entrynodes.c
@@ -989,9 +989,11 @@ get_max_sample_size(guard_selection_t *gs,
   const int using_bridges = (gs->type == GS_TYPE_BRIDGE);
   const int min_sample = get_min_filtered_sample_size();
 
-  /* With bridges, max_sample is "all of them" */
+  /* If we are in bridge mode, expand our sample set as needed without worrying
+   * about max size. We should respect the user's wishes to use many bridges if
+   * that's what they have specified in their configuration file. */
   if (using_bridges)
-    return n_guards;
+    return INT_MAX;
 
   const int max_sample_by_pct = (int)(n_guards * get_max_sample_threshold());
   const int max_sample_absolute = get_max_sample_size_absolute();