diff --git a/daft/runners/ray_runner.py b/daft/runners/ray_runner.py
index afcbcc3f39..d765a313d5 100644
--- a/daft/runners/ray_runner.py
+++ b/daft/runners/ray_runner.py
@@ -397,14 +397,14 @@ def _ray_num_cpus_provider(ttl_seconds: int = 1) -> Generator[int, None, None]:
     >>> next(p)
     """
     last_checked_time = time.time()
-    last_num_cpus_queried = int(ray.cluster_resources()["CPU"])
+    last_num_cpus_queried = int(ray.cluster_resources().get("CPU", 0))
     while True:
         currtime = time.time()
         if currtime - last_checked_time < ttl_seconds:
             yield last_num_cpus_queried
         else:
             last_checked_time = currtime
-            last_num_cpus_queried = int(ray.cluster_resources()["CPU"])
+            last_num_cpus_queried = int(ray.cluster_resources().get("CPU", 0))
             yield last_num_cpus_queried
 
 
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ def place_in_queue(item):
                     while is_active():  # Loop: Dispatch (get tasks -> batch dispatch).
                         tasks_to_dispatch: list[PartitionTask] = []
 
-                        cores: int = next(num_cpus_provider) - self.reserved_cores
+                        cores: int = max(next(num_cpus_provider) - self.reserved_cores, 0)
                         max_inflight_tasks = cores + self.max_task_backlog
                         dispatches_allowed = max_inflight_tasks - len(inflight_tasks)
                         dispatches_allowed = min(cores, dispatches_allowed)