diff --git a/src/mesh/FloodingRouter.cpp b/src/mesh/FloodingRouter.cpp
index 14d17778e..dc211b20a 100644
--- a/src/mesh/FloodingRouter.cpp
+++ b/src/mesh/FloodingRouter.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 #include "NodeDB.h"
 #include "configuration.h"
 #include "mesh-pb-constants.h"
+#include "meshUtils.h"
+#if !MESHTASTIC_EXCLUDE_TRACEROUTE
+#include "modules/TraceRouteModule.h"
+#endif
 
 FloodingRouter::FloodingRouter() {}
 
@@ -22,7 +26,37 @@ ErrorCode FloodingRouter::send(meshtastic_MeshPacket *p)
 
 bool FloodingRouter::shouldFilterReceived(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *p)
 {
-    if (wasSeenRecently(p)) { // Note: this will also add a recent packet record
+    bool wasUpgraded = false;
+    bool seenRecently =
+        wasSeenRecently(p, true, nullptr, nullptr, &wasUpgraded); // Updates history; returns false when an upgrade is detected
+
+    // Handle hop_limit upgrade scenario for rebroadcasters
+    // isRebroadcaster() is duplicated in perhapsRebroadcast(), but this avoids confusing log messages
+    if (wasUpgraded && isRebroadcaster() && iface && p->hop_limit > 0) {
+        // wasSeenRecently() reports false in upgrade cases so we handle replacement before the duplicate short-circuit
+        // If we overhear a duplicate copy of the packet with more hops left than the one we are waiting to
+        // rebroadcast, then remove the packet currently sitting in the TX queue and use this one instead.
+        uint8_t dropThreshold = p->hop_limit; // remove queued packets that have fewer hops remaining
+        if (iface->removePendingTXPacket(getFrom(p), p->id, dropThreshold)) {
+            LOG_DEBUG("Processing upgraded packet 0x%08x for rebroadcast with hop limit %d (dropping queued < %d)", p->id,
+                      p->hop_limit, dropThreshold);
+
+            if (nodeDB)
+                nodeDB->updateFrom(*p);
+#if !MESHTASTIC_EXCLUDE_TRACEROUTE
+            if (traceRouteModule && p->which_payload_variant == meshtastic_MeshPacket_decoded_tag &&
+                p->decoded.portnum == meshtastic_PortNum_TRACEROUTE_APP)
+                traceRouteModule->processUpgradedPacket(*p);
+#endif
+
+            perhapsRebroadcast(p);
+
+            // We already enqueued the improved copy, so make sure the incoming packet stops here.
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (seenRecently) {
         printPacket("Ignore dupe incoming msg", p);
         rxDupe++;
 
@@ -134,4 +168,4 @@ void FloodingRouter::sniffReceived(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *p, const meshtas
 
     // handle the packet as normal
     Router::sniffReceived(p, c);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/mesh/MeshPacketQueue.cpp b/src/mesh/MeshPacketQueue.cpp
index a64678a7f..ef5380eb8 100644
--- a/src/mesh/MeshPacketQueue.cpp
+++ b/src/mesh/MeshPacketQueue.cpp
@@ -103,12 +103,26 @@ meshtastic_MeshPacket *MeshPacketQueue::getFront()
     return p;
 }
 
-/** Attempt to find and remove a packet from this queue.  Returns a pointer to the removed packet, or NULL if not found */
-meshtastic_MeshPacket *MeshPacketQueue::remove(NodeNum from, PacketId id, bool tx_normal, bool tx_late)
+/** Get a packet from this queue. Returns a pointer to the packet, or NULL if not found. */
+meshtastic_MeshPacket *MeshPacketQueue::getPacketFromQueue(NodeNum from, PacketId id)
 {
     for (auto it = queue.begin(); it != queue.end(); it++) {
         auto p = (*it);
-        if (getFrom(p) == from && p->id == id && ((tx_normal && !p->tx_after) || (tx_late && p->tx_after))) {
+        if (getFrom(p) == from && p->id == id) {
+            return p;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return NULL;
+}
+
+/** Attempt to find and remove a packet from this queue.  Returns a pointer to the removed packet, or NULL if not found */
+meshtastic_MeshPacket *MeshPacketQueue::remove(NodeNum from, PacketId id, bool tx_normal, bool tx_late, uint8_t hop_limit_lt)
+{
+    for (auto it = queue.begin(); it != queue.end(); it++) {
+        auto p = (*it);
+        if (getFrom(p) == from && p->id == id && ((tx_normal && !p->tx_after) || (tx_late && p->tx_after)) &&
+            (!hop_limit_lt || p->hop_limit < hop_limit_lt)) {
             queue.erase(it);
             return p;
         }
@@ -120,14 +134,7 @@ meshtastic_MeshPacket *MeshPacketQueue::remove(NodeNum from, PacketId id, bool t
 /* Attempt to find a packet from this queue. Return true if it was found. */
 bool MeshPacketQueue::find(const NodeNum from, const PacketId id)
 {
-    for (auto it = queue.begin(); it != queue.end(); it++) {
-        const auto *p = *it;
-        if (getFrom(p) == from && p->id == id) {
-            return true;
-        }
-    }
-
-    return false;
+    return getPacketFromQueue(from, id) != NULL;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/mesh/MeshPacketQueue.h b/src/mesh/MeshPacketQueue.h
index 1b338f9ed..ea52eb5bf 100644
--- a/src/mesh/MeshPacketQueue.h
+++ b/src/mesh/MeshPacketQueue.h
@@ -35,8 +35,12 @@ class MeshPacketQueue
 
     meshtastic_MeshPacket *getFront();
 
+    /** Get a packet from this queue. Returns a pointer to the packet, or NULL if not found. */
+    meshtastic_MeshPacket *getPacketFromQueue(NodeNum from, PacketId id);
+
     /** Attempt to find and remove a packet from this queue.  Returns the packet which was removed from the queue */
-    meshtastic_MeshPacket *remove(NodeNum from, PacketId id, bool tx_normal = true, bool tx_late = true);
+    meshtastic_MeshPacket *remove(NodeNum from, PacketId id, bool tx_normal = true, bool tx_late = true,
+                                  uint8_t hop_limit_lt = 0);
 
     /* Attempt to find a packet from this queue. Return true if it was found. */
     bool find(const NodeNum from, const PacketId id);
diff --git a/src/mesh/MeshService.cpp b/src/mesh/MeshService.cpp
index 96782cda5..a138ad1d1 100644
--- a/src/mesh/MeshService.cpp
+++ b/src/mesh/MeshService.cpp
@@ -453,4 +453,4 @@ uint32_t MeshService::GetTimeSinceMeshPacket(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *mp)
         delta = 0;
 
     return delta;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/mesh/MeshService.h b/src/mesh/MeshService.h
index 5d074368f..66d9d9679 100644
--- a/src/mesh/MeshService.h
+++ b/src/mesh/MeshService.h
@@ -190,4 +190,4 @@ class MeshService
     friend class RoutingModule;
 };
 
-extern MeshService *service;
\ No newline at end of file
+extern MeshService *service;
diff --git a/src/mesh/NextHopRouter.cpp b/src/mesh/NextHopRouter.cpp
index 791b6a749..a90fe7ad2 100644
--- a/src/mesh/NextHopRouter.cpp
+++ b/src/mesh/NextHopRouter.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
 #include "NextHopRouter.h"
+#include "MeshTypes.h"
+#include "meshUtils.h"
+#if !MESHTASTIC_EXCLUDE_TRACEROUTE
+#include "modules/TraceRouteModule.h"
+#endif
 #include "NodeDB.h"
 
 NextHopRouter::NextHopRouter() {}
@@ -33,7 +38,35 @@ bool NextHopRouter::shouldFilterReceived(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *p)
 {
     bool wasFallback = false;
     bool weWereNextHop = false;
-    if (wasSeenRecently(p, true, &wasFallback, &weWereNextHop)) { // Note: this will also add a recent packet record
+    bool wasUpgraded = false;
+    bool seenRecently = wasSeenRecently(p, true, &wasFallback, &weWereNextHop,
+                                        &wasUpgraded); // Updates history; returns false when an upgrade is detected
+
+    // Handle hop_limit upgrade scenario for rebroadcasters
+    // isRebroadcaster() is duplicated in perhapsRelay(), but this avoids confusing log messages
+    if (wasUpgraded && isRebroadcaster() && iface && p->hop_limit > 0) {
+        // Upgrade detection bypasses the duplicate short-circuit so we replace the queued packet before exiting
+        uint8_t dropThreshold = p->hop_limit; // remove queued packets that have fewer hops remaining
+        if (iface->removePendingTXPacket(getFrom(p), p->id, dropThreshold)) {
+            LOG_DEBUG("Processing upgraded packet 0x%08x for relay with hop limit %d (dropping queued < %d)", p->id, p->hop_limit,
+                      dropThreshold);
+
+            if (nodeDB)
+                nodeDB->updateFrom(*p);
+#if !MESHTASTIC_EXCLUDE_TRACEROUTE
+            if (traceRouteModule && p->which_payload_variant == meshtastic_MeshPacket_decoded_tag &&
+                p->decoded.portnum == meshtastic_PortNum_TRACEROUTE_APP)
+                traceRouteModule->processUpgradedPacket(*p);
+#endif
+
+            perhapsRelay(p);
+
+            // We already enqueued the improved copy, so make sure the incoming packet stops here.
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (seenRecently) {
         printPacket("Ignore dupe incoming msg", p);
 
         if (p->transport_mechanism == meshtastic_MeshPacket_TransportMechanism_TRANSPORT_LORA) {
@@ -298,4 +331,4 @@ void NextHopRouter::setNextTx(PendingPacket *pending)
     LOG_DEBUG("Setting next retransmission in %u msecs: ", d);
     printPacket("", pending->packet);
     setReceivedMessage(); // Run ASAP, so we can figure out our correct sleep time
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/mesh/PacketHistory.cpp b/src/mesh/PacketHistory.cpp
index 735386d79..6d14856da 100644
--- a/src/mesh/PacketHistory.cpp
+++ b/src/mesh/PacketHistory.cpp
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ PacketHistory::~PacketHistory()
 }
 
 /** Update recentPackets and return true if we have already seen this packet */
-bool PacketHistory::wasSeenRecently(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *p, bool withUpdate, bool *wasFallback, bool *weWereNextHop)
+bool PacketHistory::wasSeenRecently(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *p, bool withUpdate, bool *wasFallback, bool *weWereNextHop,
+                                    bool *wasUpgraded)
 {
     if (!initOk()) {
         LOG_ERROR("Packet History - Was Seen Recently: NOT INITIALIZED!");
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ bool PacketHistory::wasSeenRecently(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *p, bool withUpd
     r.id = p->id;
     r.sender = getFrom(p); // If 0 then use our ID
     r.next_hop = p->next_hop;
+    r.hop_limit = p->hop_limit;
     r.relayed_by[0] = p->relay_node;
 
     r.rxTimeMsec = millis(); //
@@ -81,6 +83,16 @@ bool PacketHistory::wasSeenRecently(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *p, bool withUpd
     PacketRecord *found = find(r.sender, r.id); // Find the packet record in the recentPackets array
     bool seenRecently = (found != NULL);        // If found -> the packet was seen recently
 
+    // Check for hop_limit upgrade scenario
+    if (seenRecently && wasUpgraded && found->hop_limit < p->hop_limit) {
+        LOG_DEBUG("Packet History - Hop limit upgrade: packet 0x%08x from hop_limit=%d to hop_limit=%d", p->id, found->hop_limit,
+                  p->hop_limit);
+        *wasUpgraded = true;
+        seenRecently = false; // Allow router processing but prevent duplicate app delivery
+    } else if (wasUpgraded) {
+        *wasUpgraded = false; // Initialize to false if not an upgrade
+    }
+
     if (seenRecently) {
         uint8_t ourRelayID = nodeDB->getLastByteOfNodeNum(nodeDB->getNodeNum()); // Get our relay ID from our node number
 
@@ -126,6 +138,11 @@ bool PacketHistory::wasSeenRecently(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *p, bool withUpd
                       millis() - found->rxTimeMsec);
 #endif
 
+            // Preserve the highest hop_limit we've ever seen for this packet so upgrades aren't lost when a later copy has
+            // fewer hops remaining.
+            if (found->hop_limit > r.hop_limit)
+                r.hop_limit = found->hop_limit;
+
             // Add the existing relayed_by to the new record
             for (uint8_t i = 0; i < (NUM_RELAYERS - 1); i++) {
                 if (found->relayed_by[i] != 0)
diff --git a/src/mesh/PacketHistory.h b/src/mesh/PacketHistory.h
index 4b53c8f6a..3ff7a893d 100644
--- a/src/mesh/PacketHistory.h
+++ b/src/mesh/PacketHistory.h
@@ -16,8 +16,9 @@ class PacketHistory
         PacketId id;
         uint32_t rxTimeMsec;              // Unix time in msecs - the time we received it,  0 means empty
         uint8_t next_hop;                 // The next hop asked for this packet
+        uint8_t hop_limit;                // Highest hop limit observed for this packet
         uint8_t relayed_by[NUM_RELAYERS]; // Array of nodes that relayed this packet
-    };                                    // 4B + 4B + 4B + 1B + 3B = 16B
+    };                                    // 4B + 4B + 4B + 1B + 1B + 3B = 17B (will be padded to 20B)
 
     uint32_t recentPacketsCapacity =
         0; // Can be set in constructor, no need to recompile. Used to allocate memory for mx_recentPackets.
@@ -50,9 +51,10 @@ class PacketHistory
      * @param withUpdate if true and not found we add an entry to recentPackets
      * @param wasFallback if not nullptr, packet will be checked for fallback to flooding and value will be set to true if so
      * @param weWereNextHop if not nullptr, packet will be checked for us being the next hop and value will be set to true if so
+     * @param wasUpgraded if not nullptr, will be set to true if this packet has better hop_limit than previously seen
      */
     bool wasSeenRecently(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *p, bool withUpdate = true, bool *wasFallback = nullptr,
-                         bool *weWereNextHop = nullptr);
+                         bool *weWereNextHop = nullptr, bool *wasUpgraded = nullptr);
 
     /* Check if a certain node was a relayer of a packet in the history given an ID and sender
      * If wasSole is not nullptr, it will be set to true if the relayer was the only relayer of that packet
diff --git a/src/mesh/RadioInterface.h b/src/mesh/RadioInterface.h
index eff284747..0c5b6cd1a 100644
--- a/src/mesh/RadioInterface.h
+++ b/src/mesh/RadioInterface.h
@@ -189,6 +189,12 @@ class RadioInterface
     /** If the packet is not already in the late rebroadcast window, move it there */
     virtual void clampToLateRebroadcastWindow(NodeNum from, PacketId id) { return; }
 
+    /**
+     * If there is a packet pending TX in the queue with a worse hop limit, remove it pending replacement with a better version
+     * @return Whether a pending packet was removed
+     */
+    virtual bool removePendingTXPacket(NodeNum from, PacketId id, uint32_t hop_limit_lt) { return false; }
+
     /**
      * Calculate airtime per
      * https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/rel-assets/ds-assets/uploads/knowledge-items/application-notes-for-the-internet-of-things/LoRa%20Design%20Guide.pdf
@@ -266,4 +272,4 @@ class RadioInterface
 };
 
 /// Debug printing for packets
-void printPacket(const char *prefix, const meshtastic_MeshPacket *p);
\ No newline at end of file
+void printPacket(const char *prefix, const meshtastic_MeshPacket *p);
diff --git a/src/mesh/RadioLibInterface.cpp b/src/mesh/RadioLibInterface.cpp
index 19d0f794a..3717e8780 100644
--- a/src/mesh/RadioLibInterface.cpp
+++ b/src/mesh/RadioLibInterface.cpp
@@ -362,6 +362,26 @@ void RadioLibInterface::clampToLateRebroadcastWindow(NodeNum from, PacketId id)
     }
 }
 
+/**
+ * If there is a packet pending TX in the queue with a worse hop limit, remove it pending replacement with a better version
+ * @return Whether a pending packet was removed
+ */
+bool RadioLibInterface::removePendingTXPacket(NodeNum from, PacketId id, uint32_t hop_limit_lt)
+{
+    meshtastic_MeshPacket *p = txQueue.remove(from, id, true, true, hop_limit_lt);
+    if (p) {
+        LOG_DEBUG("Dropping pending-TX packet 0x%08x with hop limit %d", p->id, p->hop_limit);
+        packetPool.release(p);
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Remove a packet that is eligible for replacement from the TX queue
+ */
+// void RadioLibInterface::removePending
+
 void RadioLibInterface::handleTransmitInterrupt()
 {
     // This can be null if we forced the device to enter standby mode.  In that case
diff --git a/src/mesh/RadioLibInterface.h b/src/mesh/RadioLibInterface.h
index 9f497812f..3444b1a2c 100644
--- a/src/mesh/RadioLibInterface.h
+++ b/src/mesh/RadioLibInterface.h
@@ -215,4 +215,11 @@ class RadioLibInterface : public RadioInterface, protected concurrency::Notified
      * If the packet is not already in the late rebroadcast window, move it there
      */
     void clampToLateRebroadcastWindow(NodeNum from, PacketId id);
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+
+    /**
+     * If there is a packet pending TX in the queue with a worse hop limit, remove it pending replacement with a better version
+     * @return Whether a pending packet was removed
+     */
+
+    bool removePendingTXPacket(NodeNum from, PacketId id, uint32_t hop_limit_lt) override;
+};
diff --git a/src/mesh/Router.h b/src/mesh/Router.h
index 075248af9..92a5a06e5 100644
--- a/src/mesh/Router.h
+++ b/src/mesh/Router.h
@@ -174,4 +174,4 @@ PacketId generatePacketId();
 #define BITFIELD_WANT_RESPONSE_SHIFT 1
 #define BITFIELD_OK_TO_MQTT_SHIFT 0
 #define BITFIELD_WANT_RESPONSE_MASK (1 << BITFIELD_WANT_RESPONSE_SHIFT)
-#define BITFIELD_OK_TO_MQTT_MASK (1 << BITFIELD_OK_TO_MQTT_SHIFT)
\ No newline at end of file
+#define BITFIELD_OK_TO_MQTT_MASK (1 << BITFIELD_OK_TO_MQTT_SHIFT)
diff --git a/src/modules/TextMessageModule.cpp b/src/modules/TextMessageModule.cpp
index 72df330c5..aee359158 100644
--- a/src/modules/TextMessageModule.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/TextMessageModule.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ ProcessMessage TextMessageModule::handleReceived(const meshtastic_MeshPacket &mp
     auto &p = mp.decoded;
     LOG_INFO("Received text msg from=0x%0x, id=0x%x, msg=%.*s", mp.from, mp.id, p.payload.size, p.payload.bytes);
 #endif
+
     // We only store/display messages destined for us.
     // Keep a copy of the most recent text message.
     devicestate.rx_text_message = mp;
@@ -30,4 +31,4 @@ ProcessMessage TextMessageModule::handleReceived(const meshtastic_MeshPacket &mp
 bool TextMessageModule::wantPacket(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *p)
 {
     return MeshService::isTextPayload(p);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/modules/TraceRouteModule.cpp b/src/modules/TraceRouteModule.cpp
index d7df90bb5..8f69c504a 100644
--- a/src/modules/TraceRouteModule.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/TraceRouteModule.cpp
@@ -153,6 +153,20 @@ void TraceRouteModule::alterReceivedProtobuf(meshtastic_MeshPacket &p, meshtasti
     }
 }
 
+void TraceRouteModule::processUpgradedPacket(const meshtastic_MeshPacket &mp)
+{
+    if (mp.which_payload_variant != meshtastic_MeshPacket_decoded_tag || mp.decoded.portnum != meshtastic_PortNum_TRACEROUTE_APP)
+        return;
+
+    meshtastic_RouteDiscovery decoded = meshtastic_RouteDiscovery_init_zero;
+    if (!pb_decode_from_bytes(mp.decoded.payload.bytes, mp.decoded.payload.size, &meshtastic_RouteDiscovery_msg, &decoded))
+        return;
+
+    handleReceivedProtobuf(mp, &decoded);
+    // Intentionally modify the packet in-place so downstream relays see our updates.
+    alterReceivedProtobuf(const_cast<meshtastic_MeshPacket &>(mp), &decoded);
+}
+
 void TraceRouteModule::insertUnknownHops(meshtastic_MeshPacket &p, meshtastic_RouteDiscovery *r, bool isTowardsDestination)
 {
     pb_size_t *route_count;
@@ -760,4 +774,4 @@ int32_t TraceRouteModule::runOnce()
     }
 
     return INT32_MAX;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/modules/TraceRouteModule.h b/src/modules/TraceRouteModule.h
index 51d98826e..a069f7157 100644
--- a/src/modules/TraceRouteModule.h
+++ b/src/modules/TraceRouteModule.h
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ class TraceRouteModule : public ProtobufModule<meshtastic_RouteDiscovery>,
     virtual bool wantUIFrame() override { return shouldDraw(); }
     virtual Observable<const UIFrameEvent *> *getUIFrameObservable() override { return this; }
 
+    void processUpgradedPacket(const meshtastic_MeshPacket &mp);
+
   protected:
     bool handleReceivedProtobuf(const meshtastic_MeshPacket &mp, meshtastic_RouteDiscovery *r) override;
 
@@ -70,4 +72,4 @@ class TraceRouteModule : public ProtobufModule<meshtastic_RouteDiscovery>,
     bool initialized = false;
 };
 
-extern TraceRouteModule *traceRouteModule;
\ No newline at end of file
+extern TraceRouteModule *traceRouteModule;