diff --git a/aphrodite/engine/args_tools.py b/aphrodite/engine/args_tools.py
index 84bdb38f24..80a488c3aa 100644
--- a/aphrodite/engine/args_tools.py
+++ b/aphrodite/engine/args_tools.py
@@ -619,9 +619,8 @@ def add_cli_args(parser: FlexibleArgumentParser) -> FlexibleArgumentParser:
         parser.add_argument(
             '--use-v2-block-manager',
             default=EngineArgs.use_v2_block_manager,
-            action='store_true',
-            help='Use BlockSpaceMangerV2. By default this is set to True. '
-            'Set to False to use BlockSpaceManagerV1')
+            type=lambda x: (str(x).lower() in ['true', '1', 'yes']),
+            help='Use BlockSpaceManagerV2 (default: True). Set explicitly to False to use BlockSpaceManagerV1')
         parser.add_argument(
             "--scheduler-delay-factor",
             "-sdf",
diff --git a/aphrodite/engine/metrics.py b/aphrodite/engine/metrics.py
index c4b66dadc4..fafc06127b 100644
--- a/aphrodite/engine/metrics.py
+++ b/aphrodite/engine/metrics.py
@@ -468,6 +468,9 @@ def _log_gauge(self, gauge, data: Union[int, float]) -> None:
 
     def _log_counter(self, counter, data: Union[int, float]) -> None:
         # Convenience function for logging to counter.
+        if data < 0:
+            logger.warning(f"Attempted to increment counter with negative value: {data}")
+            return
         counter.labels(**self.labels).inc(data)
 
     def _log_counter_labels(self, counter, data: CollectionsCounter,