But Pearce insists City will not relax and will instead focus on extending their unbeaten run of four games, which have included away wins at Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Fulham.
"We haven't thought about that (the 40-point barrier)," he said. "What we have thought about is that we have had a reasonable run, we're on 40 points now and can we go into the summer undefeated? Finishing as high as we can has been our only thought.
"I'm not going to say that we are happy just with 40 points and then stop motivating my group of players."
Fulham's late consolation goal denied City a fourth straight clean sheet, which would have put us above Blackburn in 11th place, rather than in 12th.
However, with six league games remaining, City are eight points off Spurs in 7th place, which should guarantee a place in Europe next season.
"I'm disappointed that we have let a goal in, if we had kept a clean sheet we would be a place higher in the league and we need to finish as high as we can," added Pearce.
"I want to nail the teams above us, but with our run-in, it's going to be tough. I've seen this year that you never know when the next victory or draw is coming from, and I have to keep a balanced view as a manager."