diff --git a/chia/_tests/core/mempool/test_mempool.py b/chia/_tests/core/mempool/test_mempool.py
index 9ea87d1308..077067c322 100644
--- a/chia/_tests/core/mempool/test_mempool.py
+++ b/chia/_tests/core/mempool/test_mempool.py
@@ -290,23 +290,31 @@ class TestPendingTxCache:
         for i in items:
             c.add(i)
 
+        # drain(101) uses <=, so it releases items with assert_height <= 101:
+        # items[0] (assert_height=100) and items[1] (assert_height=101)
         tx = c.drain(uint32(101))
-        assert tx == {items[0].spend_bundle_name: items[0]}
+        assert tx == {
+            items[0].spend_bundle_name: items[0],
+            items[1].spend_bundle_name: items[1],
+        }
 
+        # drain(105) releases items with assert_height <= 105:
+        # items[2] (102), items[3] (103), items[4] (104), items[5] (105)
         tx = c.drain(uint32(105))
         assert tx == {
-            items[1].spend_bundle_name: items[1],
             items[2].spend_bundle_name: items[2],
             items[3].spend_bundle_name: items[3],
             items[4].spend_bundle_name: items[4],
+            items[5].spend_bundle_name: items[5],
         }
 
         tx = c.drain(uint32(105))
         assert tx == {}
 
+        # drain(110) releases items with assert_height <= 110:
+        # items[6] (106), items[7] (107), items[8] (108), items[9] (109)
         tx = c.drain(uint32(110))
         assert tx == {
-            items[5].spend_bundle_name: items[5],
             items[6].spend_bundle_name: items[6],
             items[7].spend_bundle_name: items[7],
             items[8].spend_bundle_name: items[8],
diff --git a/chia/_tests/core/mempool/test_mempool_manager.py b/chia/_tests/core/mempool/test_mempool_manager.py
index b39200aad6..6913600d96 100644
--- a/chia/_tests/core/mempool/test_mempool_manager.py
+++ b/chia/_tests/core/mempool/test_mempool_manager.py
@@ -3449,6 +3449,11 @@ async def test_new_peak_txs_added(condition_and_error: tuple[ConditionOpcode, Er
     """
     Tests that deferred transactions because of time-lock are retried once the
     time-lock allows them to be reconsidered.
+
+    drain() uses <=, so when new_peak.height == condition_height the item is
+    promoted immediately (check_time_locks accepts ASSERT_HEIGHT_ABSOLUTE(H)
+    when peak.height >= H, and ASSERT_HEIGHT_RELATIVE(R) when
+    peak.height >= coin_confirmed + R).
     """
     coins = TestCoins([TEST_COIN], {})
     async with setup_mempool(coins) as mempool_manager:
@@ -3460,23 +3465,24 @@ async def test_new_peak_txs_added(condition_and_error: tuple[ConditionOpcode, Er
         _, status, error = result
         assert status == MempoolInclusionStatus.PENDING
         assert error == expected_error
-        # Advance the mempool beyond the asserted height to retry the test item
+        # Advance the mempool to exactly the asserted height.
+        # drain() uses <=, so the item is promoted at condition_height (not condition_height + 1).
         if optimized_path:
             spent_coins: list[bytes32] | None = []
             new_peak_info = await mempool_manager.new_peak(
                 create_test_block_record(height=uint32(condition_height)), spent_coins
             )
-            # We're not there yet (needs to be higher, not equal)
-            assert new_peak_info.spend_bundle_ids == []
-            assert mempool_manager.get_mempool_item(sb_name, include_pending=False) is None
+            # The item is retried and promoted at exactly condition_height
+            assert new_peak_info.spend_bundle_ids == [sb_name]
+            assert mempool_manager.get_mempool_item(sb_name, include_pending=False) is not None
         else:
             spent_coins = None
-        new_peak_info = await mempool_manager.new_peak(
-            create_test_block_record(height=uint32(condition_height + 1)), spent_coins
-        )
-        # The item gets retried successfully now
-        assert new_peak_info.spend_bundle_ids == [sb_name]
-        assert mempool_manager.get_mempool_item(sb_name, include_pending=False) is not None
+            new_peak_info = await mempool_manager.new_peak(
+                create_test_block_record(height=uint32(condition_height)), spent_coins
+            )
+            # The item is retried and promoted at exactly condition_height
+            assert new_peak_info.spend_bundle_ids == [sb_name]
+            assert mempool_manager.get_mempool_item(sb_name, include_pending=False) is not None
 
 
 @pytest.mark.anyio
diff --git a/chia/full_node/pending_tx_cache.py b/chia/full_node/pending_tx_cache.py
index 451dabdac2..1b1e65cd2b 100644
--- a/chia/full_node/pending_tx_cache.py
+++ b/chia/full_node/pending_tx_cache.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class PendingTxCache:
             return ret
 
         height_line = self._by_height.items()[0]
-        while height_line[0] < up_to_height:
+        while height_line[0] <= up_to_height:
             ret.update(height_line[1])
             for name, item in height_line[1].items():
                 self._cache_cost -= item.cost