diff --git a/libp2p/src/main/kotlin/io/libp2p/pubsub/gossip/GossipRouter.kt b/libp2p/src/main/kotlin/io/libp2p/pubsub/gossip/GossipRouter.kt
index f5e9c45d..7843564a 100644
--- a/libp2p/src/main/kotlin/io/libp2p/pubsub/gossip/GossipRouter.kt
+++ b/libp2p/src/main/kotlin/io/libp2p/pubsub/gossip/GossipRouter.kt
@@ -416,17 +416,24 @@ open class GossipRouter(
                         val topicMeshPeers = mesh[topic]
                         if (topicMeshPeers != null) {
                             // we are subscribed to the topic
-                            val nonMeshTopicPeers = getTopicPeers(topic) - topicMeshPeers
-                            val (nonMeshTopicPeersAbovePublishThreshold, nonMeshTopicPeersBelowPublishThreshold) =
-                                nonMeshTopicPeers.partition { score.score(it.peerId) >= scoreParams.publishThreshold }
-                            // this deviates from the original spec but we want at least D peers for publishing
-                            // prioritizing mesh peers, then non-mesh peers with acceptable score,
-                            // and then underscored non-mesh peers as a last resort
-                            (
-                                topicMeshPeers +
-                                    nonMeshTopicPeersAbovePublishThreshold.shuffled(random) +
+                            if (topicMeshPeers.size < params.D) {
+                                // we need extra non-mesh peers for more reliable publishing
+                                val nonMeshTopicPeers = getTopicPeers(topic) - topicMeshPeers
+                                val (nonMeshTopicPeersAbovePublishThreshold, nonMeshTopicPeersBelowPublishThreshold) =
+                                    nonMeshTopicPeers.partition { score.score(it.peerId) >= scoreParams.publishThreshold }
+                                // this deviates from the original spec but we want at least D peers for publishing
+                                // prioritizing mesh peers, then non-mesh peers with acceptable score,
+                                // and then underscored non-mesh peers as a last resort
+                                listOf(
+                                    topicMeshPeers,
+                                    nonMeshTopicPeersAbovePublishThreshold.shuffled(random),
                                     nonMeshTopicPeersBelowPublishThreshold.shuffled(random)
-                                ).take(params.D)
+                                )
+                                    .flatten()
+                                    .take(params.D)
+                            } else {
+                                topicMeshPeers
+                            }
                         } else {
                             // we are not subscribed to the topic
                             fanout[topic] ?: getTopicPeers(topic).shuffled(random).take(params.D)
diff --git a/libp2p/src/test/kotlin/io/libp2p/pubsub/gossip/GossipV1_1Tests.kt b/libp2p/src/test/kotlin/io/libp2p/pubsub/gossip/GossipV1_1Tests.kt
index ec2c98ad..9c33c948 100644
--- a/libp2p/src/test/kotlin/io/libp2p/pubsub/gossip/GossipV1_1Tests.kt
+++ b/libp2p/src/test/kotlin/io/libp2p/pubsub/gossip/GossipV1_1Tests.kt
@@ -1167,6 +1167,46 @@ class GossipV1_1Tests : GossipTestsBase() {
         test.mockRouter.waitForMessage { it.publishCount > 0 }
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun `should publish to all mesh peers when mesh exceeds D`() {
+        val gossipParams = GossipParams(D = 6, DHigh = 10)
+        val test = ManyRoutersTest(params = gossipParams, mockRouterCount = gossipParams.DHigh)
+        val topic = "topic1"
+        test.connectAll()
+
+        test.mockRouters.forEach {
+            it.subscribe(topic)
+//            it.sendToSingle(createGraftMessage(topic))
+        }
+        test.gossipRouter.subscribe(topic)
+
+        // 2 heartbeats - the topic should be GRAFTed
+        test.fuzz.timeController.addTime(2.seconds)
+
+        assertTrue((test.gossipRouter.mesh[topic]?.size ?: 0) == gossipParams.D)
+
+        test.mockRouters.forEach {
+            it.sendToSingle(createGraftMessage(topic))
+        }
+
+        test.fuzz.timeController.addTime(2.seconds)
+
+        assertTrue((test.gossipRouter.mesh[topic]?.size ?: 0) == gossipParams.DHigh)
+
+        // remote peer leaves the mesh
+        val message1 = newMessage(topic, 0L, "Hello-0".toByteArray())
+        test.gossipRouter.publish(message1)
+
+        val routerReceivedMessageCount =
+            test.mockRouters.count { mockRouter ->
+                mockRouter.inboundMessages.any { msg ->
+                    msg.publishCount > 0
+                }
+            }
+
+        assertTrue(routerReceivedMessageCount == gossipParams.DHigh)
+    }
+
     @Test
     fun `publishing should collect at least D peers if mesh is smaller`() {
         val params = GossipParams()
@@ -1266,6 +1306,15 @@ class GossipV1_1Tests : GossipTestsBase() {
         assertTrue(peersReceivedMessage.containsAll(goodScoredPeers))
     }
 
+    private fun createGraftMessage(topic: String): Rpc.RPC {
+        return Rpc.RPC.newBuilder().setControl(
+            Rpc.ControlMessage.newBuilder().addGraft(
+                Rpc.ControlGraft.newBuilder()
+                    .setTopicID(topic)
+            )
+        ).build()
+    }
+
     private fun createPruneMessage(topic: String, pxPeersCount: Int = 0): Rpc.RPC {
         val peerInfos = List(pxPeersCount) {
             Rpc.PeerInfo.newBuilder()