diff --git a/examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp b/examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp
index ea8e8443..6452137f 100644
--- a/examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ class MyMesh : public mesh::Mesh, public CommonCLICallbacks {
       case REQ_TYPE_GET_STATUS: {   // guests can also access this now
         RepeaterStats stats;
         stats.batt_milli_volts = board.getBattMilliVolts();
-        stats.curr_tx_queue_len = _mgr->getOutboundCount();
+        stats.curr_tx_queue_len = _mgr->getOutboundCount(0xFFFFFFFF);
         stats.curr_free_queue_len = _mgr->getFreeCount();
         stats.last_rssi = (int16_t) radio_driver.getLastRSSI();
         stats.n_packets_recv = radio_driver.getPacketsRecv();
diff --git a/examples/simple_room_server/main.cpp b/examples/simple_room_server/main.cpp
index 05a076b3..9849ba25 100644
--- a/examples/simple_room_server/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_room_server/main.cpp
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ class MyMesh : public mesh::Mesh, public CommonCLICallbacks {
       case REQ_TYPE_GET_STATUS: {
         ServerStats stats;
         stats.batt_milli_volts = board.getBattMilliVolts();
-        stats.curr_tx_queue_len = _mgr->getOutboundCount();
+        stats.curr_tx_queue_len = _mgr->getOutboundCount(0xFFFFFFFF);
         stats.curr_free_queue_len = _mgr->getFreeCount();
         stats.last_rssi = (int16_t) radio_driver.getLastRSSI();
         stats.n_packets_recv = radio_driver.getPacketsRecv();
diff --git a/src/Dispatcher.cpp b/src/Dispatcher.cpp
index 53a5b2ad..3d5b04fc 100644
--- a/src/Dispatcher.cpp
+++ b/src/Dispatcher.cpp
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ void Dispatcher::processRecvPacket(Packet* pkt) {
 }
 
 void Dispatcher::checkSend() {
-  if (_mgr->getOutboundCount() == 0) return;  // nothing waiting to send
+  if (_mgr->getOutboundCount(_ms->getMillis()) == 0) return;  // nothing waiting to send
   if (!millisHasNowPassed(next_tx_time)) return;   // still in 'radio silence' phase (from airtime budget setting)
   if (_radio->isReceiving()) {   // LBT - check if radio is currently mid-receive, or if channel activity
     if (cad_busy_start == 0) {
diff --git a/src/Dispatcher.h b/src/Dispatcher.h
index bcfba389..d03c9f73 100644
--- a/src/Dispatcher.h
+++ b/src/Dispatcher.h
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ public:
 
   virtual void queueOutbound(Packet* packet, uint8_t priority, uint32_t scheduled_for) = 0;
   virtual Packet* getNextOutbound(uint32_t now) = 0;    // by priority
-  virtual int getOutboundCount() const = 0;
+  virtual int getOutboundCount(uint32_t now) const = 0;
   virtual int getFreeCount() const = 0;
   virtual Packet* getOutboundByIdx(int i) = 0;
   virtual Packet* removeOutboundByIdx(int i) = 0;
diff --git a/src/helpers/StaticPoolPacketManager.cpp b/src/helpers/StaticPoolPacketManager.cpp
index 07bc8f2e..4f28eac6 100644
--- a/src/helpers/StaticPoolPacketManager.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers/StaticPoolPacketManager.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,15 @@ PacketQueue::PacketQueue(int max_entries) {
   _num = 0;
 }
 
+int PacketQueue::countBefore(uint32_t now) const {
+  int n = 0;
+  for (int j = 0; j < _num; j++) {
+    if (_schedule_table[j] > now) continue;   // scheduled for future... ignore for now
+    n++;
+  }
+  return n;
+}
+
 mesh::Packet* PacketQueue::get(uint32_t now) {
   uint8_t min_pri = 0xFF;
   int best_idx = -1;
@@ -81,8 +90,8 @@ mesh::Packet* StaticPoolPacketManager::getNextOutbound(uint32_t now) {
   return send_queue.get(now);
 }
 
-int  StaticPoolPacketManager::getOutboundCount() const {
-  return send_queue.count();
+int  StaticPoolPacketManager::getOutboundCount(uint32_t now) const {
+  return send_queue.countBefore(now);
 }
 
 int StaticPoolPacketManager::getFreeCount() const {
diff --git a/src/helpers/StaticPoolPacketManager.h b/src/helpers/StaticPoolPacketManager.h
index 09c2fdec..bbf4b193 100644
--- a/src/helpers/StaticPoolPacketManager.h
+++ b/src/helpers/StaticPoolPacketManager.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ public:
   mesh::Packet* get(uint32_t now);
   void add(mesh::Packet* packet, uint8_t priority, uint32_t scheduled_for);
   int count() const { return _num; }
+  int countBefore(uint32_t now) const;
   mesh::Packet* itemAt(int i) const { return _table[i]; }
   mesh::Packet* removeByIdx(int i);
 };
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ public:
   void free(mesh::Packet* packet) override;
   void queueOutbound(mesh::Packet* packet, uint8_t priority, uint32_t scheduled_for) override;
   mesh::Packet* getNextOutbound(uint32_t now) override;
-  int getOutboundCount() const override;
+  int getOutboundCount(uint32_t now) const override;
   int getFreeCount() const override;
   mesh::Packet* getOutboundByIdx(int i) override;
   mesh::Packet* removeOutboundByIdx(int i) override;