diff --git a/src/txmempool.cpp b/src/txmempool.cpp
index f87713006a8..f11a36fd409 100644
--- a/src/txmempool.cpp
+++ b/src/txmempool.cpp
@@ -1145,7 +1145,7 @@ void CTxMemPool::TrimToSize(size_t sizelimit, std::vector<uint256>* pvNoSpendsRe
 
 bool CTxMemPool::TransactionWithinChainLimit(const uint256& txid, size_t chainLimit) const {
     LOCK(cs);
-    if (exists(txid) && std::max(mapTx.find(txid)->GetCountWithAncestors(), mapTx.find(txid)->GetCountWithDescendants()) >= chainLimit)
-        return false;
-    return true;
+    auto it = mapTx.find(txid);
+    return it == mapTx.end() || (it->GetCountWithAncestors() < chainLimit &&
+       it->GetCountWithDescendants() < chainLimit);
 }