diff --git a/dpnegf/negf/lead_property.py b/dpnegf/negf/lead_property.py
index b91a4c4..80575dd 100644
--- a/dpnegf/negf/lead_property.py
+++ b/dpnegf/negf/lead_property.py
@@ -517,7 +517,7 @@ def _estimate_worker_memory(lead_L, lead_R, kpoint=None, temp_allocation_factor=
     return total_estimate
 
 
-def _get_safe_n_jobs(lead_L, lead_R, requested_n_jobs=-1, max_memory_fraction=0.7, min_workers=1, kpoint=None):
+def _get_safe_n_jobs(lead_L, lead_R, requested_n_jobs=-1, max_memory_fraction=0.7, min_workers=1, kpoint=None, n_cpus=None):
     """
     Calculate safe number of parallel workers based on available system memory.
 
@@ -533,6 +533,9 @@ def _get_safe_n_jobs(lead_L, lead_R, requested_n_jobs=-1, max_memory_fraction=0.
         Minimum number of workers to use. Default 1.
     kpoint : array-like, optional
         A sample k-point for fetching Hamiltonian matrices to estimate memory.
+    n_cpus : int or None, optional
+        Optional upper bound on CPU cores to consider. If provided, caps the
+        available CPU count before memory-based limiting.
 
     Returns
     -------
@@ -543,6 +546,11 @@ def _get_safe_n_jobs(lead_L, lead_R, requested_n_jobs=-1, max_memory_fraction=0.
     if cpu_count is None or cpu_count < 1:
         cpu_count = 1
         log.warning("os.cpu_count() returned None or invalid value. Defaulting to 1 CPU core.")
+    if n_cpus is not None:
+        if isinstance(n_cpus, int) and n_cpus > 0:
+            cpu_count = min(cpu_count, n_cpus)
+        else:
+            log.warning(f"Requested n_cpus={n_cpus} is not a positive integer. Ignoring.")
 
     available_memory = psutil.virtual_memory().available
     memory_per_worker = _estimate_worker_memory(lead_L, lead_R, kpoint=kpoint)
@@ -592,7 +600,7 @@ def _get_safe_n_jobs(lead_L, lead_R, requested_n_jobs=-1, max_memory_fraction=0.
 
 
 def compute_all_self_energy(eta, lead_L, lead_R, kpoints_grid, energy_grid,
-                            self_energy_save_path=None, n_jobs=-1, batch_size=200):
+                            self_energy_save_path=None, n_jobs=-1, batch_size=200, n_cpus=None):
     """
     Computes and saves self-energy matrices for all combinations of k-points and energy values
     for left and right leads.
@@ -615,9 +623,15 @@ def compute_all_self_energy(eta, lead_L, lead_R, kpoints_grid, energy_grid,
     self_energy_save_path : str or None, optional
         Directory to save self-energy files. If None, uses lead_L's results_path.
     n_jobs : int, optional
-        Number of parallel jobs to use. Default is -1 (use all available CPUs).
+        Requested number of parallel jobs. Default is -1 (auto-detect). The
+        final worker count may be capped by ``n_cpus`` and reduced further by
+        memory-based limiting.
     batch_size : int, optional
         Number of (k, e) tasks per parallel batch. Default is 200.
+    n_cpus : int or None, optional
+        Optional upper bound on CPU cores to consider when auto-detecting or
+        capping ``n_jobs``. If None, uses all available CPUs. Memory-based
+        limiting may still reduce the final worker count.
 
     Returns
     -------
@@ -633,7 +647,7 @@ def compute_all_self_energy(eta, lead_L, lead_R, kpoints_grid, energy_grid,
     # Calculate safe number of workers based on available memory
     # Use first k-point for memory estimation
     sample_kpoint = kpoints_grid[0] if len(kpoints_grid) > 0 else None
-    safe_n_jobs = _get_safe_n_jobs(lead_L, lead_R, requested_n_jobs=n_jobs, kpoint=sample_kpoint)
+    safe_n_jobs = _get_safe_n_jobs(lead_L, lead_R, requested_n_jobs=n_jobs, kpoint=sample_kpoint, n_cpus=n_cpus)
     if n_jobs == -1:
         log.info(f"Auto-detected safe n_jobs={safe_n_jobs} based on available memory")
     elif safe_n_jobs < n_jobs:
diff --git a/dpnegf/tests/test_auto_memory.py b/dpnegf/tests/test_auto_memory.py
index 42c05b5..859e0d9 100644
--- a/dpnegf/tests/test_auto_memory.py
+++ b/dpnegf/tests/test_auto_memory.py
@@ -358,6 +358,20 @@ def test_capped_by_cpu_count(self, mock_os, mock_psutil):
         # Should be capped at CPU count
         assert result <= 4
 
+    @patch('dpnegf.negf.lead_property.psutil')
+    @patch('dpnegf.negf.lead_property.os')
+    def test_respects_n_cpus_cap(self, mock_os, mock_psutil):
+        """Test that n_cpus caps available CPU count."""
+        mock_os.cpu_count.return_value = 8
+        mock_psutil.virtual_memory.return_value = Mock(available=128 * 1024**3)
+
+        lead_L = MockLead("lead_L", matrix_size=10)
+        lead_R = MockLead("lead_R", matrix_size=10)
+
+        result = _get_safe_n_jobs(lead_L, lead_R, requested_n_jobs=-1, n_cpus=2)
+
+        assert result == 2
+
 
 # =============================================================================
 # Integration tests