diff --git a/core/tx_pool.go b/core/tx_pool.go
index f097b25501..fab4995c36 100644
--- a/core/tx_pool.go
+++ b/core/tx_pool.go
@@ -110,9 +110,9 @@ var (
 	invalidTxMeter     = metrics.NewRegisteredMeter("txpool/invalid", nil)
 	underpricedTxMeter = metrics.NewRegisteredMeter("txpool/underpriced", nil)
 
-	pendingCounter = metrics.NewRegisteredCounter("txpool/pending", nil)
-	queuedCounter  = metrics.NewRegisteredCounter("txpool/queued", nil)
-	localCounter   = metrics.NewRegisteredCounter("txpool/local", nil)
+	pendingGauge = metrics.NewRegisteredGauge("txpool/pending", nil)
+	queuedGauge  = metrics.NewRegisteredGauge("txpool/queued", nil)
+	localGauge   = metrics.NewRegisteredGauge("txpool/local", nil)
 )
 
 // TxStatus is the current status of a transaction as seen by the pool.
@@ -730,7 +730,7 @@ func (pool *TxPool) add(tx *types.Transaction, local bool) (replaced bool, err e
 		}
 	}
 	if local || pool.locals.contains(from) {
-		localCounter.Inc(1)
+		localGauge.Inc(1)
 	}
 	pool.journalTx(from, tx)
 
@@ -760,7 +760,7 @@ func (pool *TxPool) enqueueTx(hash common.Hash, tx *types.Transaction) (bool, er
 		queuedReplaceMeter.Mark(1)
 	} else {
 		// Nothing was replaced, bump the queued counter
-		queuedCounter.Inc(1)
+		queuedGauge.Inc(1)
 	}
 	if pool.all.Get(hash) == nil {
 		pool.all.Add(tx)
@@ -809,7 +809,7 @@ func (pool *TxPool) promoteTx(addr common.Address, hash common.Hash, tx *types.T
 		pendingReplaceMeter.Mark(1)
 	} else {
 		// Nothing was replaced, bump the pending counter
-		pendingCounter.Inc(1)
+		pendingGauge.Inc(1)
 	}
 	// Failsafe to work around direct pending inserts (tests)
 	if pool.all.Get(hash) == nil {
@@ -840,7 +840,7 @@ func (pool *TxPool) promoteSpecialTx(addr common.Address, tx *types.Transaction)
 		pendingReplaceMeter.Mark(1)
 	} else {
 		// Nothing was replaced, bump the pending counter
-		pendingCounter.Inc(1)
+		pendingGauge.Inc(1)
 	}
 	list.txs.Put(tx)
 	if cost := tx.Cost(); list.costcap.Cmp(cost) < 0 {
@@ -980,7 +980,7 @@ func (pool *TxPool) removeTx(hash common.Hash, outofbound bool) {
 		pool.priced.Removed(1)
 	}
 	if pool.locals.contains(addr) {
-		localCounter.Dec(1)
+		localGauge.Dec(1)
 	}
 	// Remove the transaction from the pending lists and reset the account nonce
 	if pending := pool.pending[addr]; pending != nil {
@@ -997,7 +997,7 @@ func (pool *TxPool) removeTx(hash common.Hash, outofbound bool) {
 			// Update the account nonce if needed
 			pool.pendingNonces.setIfLower(addr, tx.Nonce())
 			// Reduce the pending counter
-			pendingCounter.Dec(int64(1 + len(invalids)))
+			pendingGauge.Dec(int64(1 + len(invalids)))
 			return
 		}
 	}
@@ -1005,7 +1005,7 @@ func (pool *TxPool) removeTx(hash common.Hash, outofbound bool) {
 	if future := pool.queue[addr]; future != nil {
 		if removed, _ := future.Remove(tx); removed {
 			// Reduce the queued counter
-			queuedCounter.Dec(1)
+			queuedGauge.Dec(1)
 		}
 		if future.Empty() {
 			delete(pool.queue, addr)
@@ -1313,7 +1313,7 @@ func (pool *TxPool) promoteExecutables(accounts []common.Address) []*types.Trans
 				promoted = append(promoted, tx)
 			}
 		}
-		queuedCounter.Dec(int64(len(readies)))
+		queuedGauge.Dec(int64(len(readies)))
 
 		// Drop all transactions over the allowed limit
 		var caps types.Transactions
@@ -1328,9 +1328,9 @@ func (pool *TxPool) promoteExecutables(accounts []common.Address) []*types.Trans
 		}
 		// Mark all the items dropped as removed
 		pool.priced.Removed(len(forwards) + len(drops) + len(caps))
-		queuedCounter.Dec(int64(len(forwards) + len(drops) + len(caps)))
+		queuedGauge.Dec(int64(len(forwards) + len(drops) + len(caps)))
 		if pool.locals.contains(addr) {
-			localCounter.Dec(int64(len(forwards) + len(drops) + len(caps)))
+			localGauge.Dec(int64(len(forwards) + len(drops) + len(caps)))
 		}
 		// Delete the entire queue entry if it became empty.
 		if list.Empty() {
@@ -1389,9 +1389,9 @@ func (pool *TxPool) truncatePending() {
 						log.Trace("Removed fairness-exceeding pending transaction", "hash", hash)
 					}
 					pool.priced.Removed(len(caps))
-					pendingCounter.Dec(int64(len(caps)))
+					pendingGauge.Dec(int64(len(caps)))
 					if pool.locals.contains(offenders[i]) {
-						localCounter.Dec(int64(len(caps)))
+						localGauge.Dec(int64(len(caps)))
 					}
 					pending--
 				}
@@ -1416,9 +1416,9 @@ func (pool *TxPool) truncatePending() {
 					log.Trace("Removed fairness-exceeding pending transaction", "hash", hash)
 				}
 				pool.priced.Removed(len(caps))
-				pendingCounter.Dec(int64(len(caps)))
+				pendingGauge.Dec(int64(len(caps)))
 				if pool.locals.contains(addr) {
-					localCounter.Dec(int64(len(caps)))
+					localGauge.Dec(int64(len(caps)))
 				}
 				pending--
 			}
@@ -1506,9 +1506,9 @@ func (pool *TxPool) demoteUnexecutables() {
 			log.Trace("Demoting pending transaction", "hash", hash)
 			pool.enqueueTx(hash, tx)
 		}
-		pendingCounter.Dec(int64(len(olds) + len(drops) + len(invalids)))
+		pendingGauge.Dec(int64(len(olds) + len(drops) + len(invalids)))
 		if pool.locals.contains(addr) {
-			localCounter.Dec(int64(len(olds) + len(drops) + len(invalids)))
+			localGauge.Dec(int64(len(olds) + len(drops) + len(invalids)))
 		}
 		// If there's a gap in front, alert (should never happen) and postpone all transactions
 		if list.Len() > 0 && list.txs.Get(nonce) == nil {
@@ -1518,7 +1518,7 @@ func (pool *TxPool) demoteUnexecutables() {
 				log.Warn("Demoting invalidated transaction", "hash", hash)
 				pool.enqueueTx(hash, tx)
 			}
-			pendingCounter.Dec(int64(len(gapped)))
+			pendingGauge.Dec(int64(len(gapped)))
 		}
 		// Delete the entire queue entry if it became empty.
 		if list.Empty() {
diff --git a/metrics/gauge.go b/metrics/gauge.go
index 0fbfdb8603..b6b2758b0d 100644
--- a/metrics/gauge.go
+++ b/metrics/gauge.go
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import "sync/atomic"
 type Gauge interface {
 	Snapshot() Gauge
 	Update(int64)
+	Dec(int64)
+	Inc(int64)
 	Value() int64
 }
 
@@ -65,6 +67,16 @@ func (GaugeSnapshot) Update(int64) {
 	panic("Update called on a GaugeSnapshot")
 }
 
+// Dec panics.
+func (GaugeSnapshot) Dec(int64) {
+	panic("Dec called on a GaugeSnapshot")
+}
+
+// Inc panics.
+func (GaugeSnapshot) Inc(int64) {
+	panic("Inc called on a GaugeSnapshot")
+}
+
 // Value returns the value at the time the snapshot was taken.
 func (g GaugeSnapshot) Value() int64 { return int64(g) }
 
@@ -77,6 +89,12 @@ func (NilGauge) Snapshot() Gauge { return NilGauge{} }
 // Update is a no-op.
 func (NilGauge) Update(v int64) {}
 
+// Dec is a no-op.
+func (NilGauge) Dec(i int64) {}
+
+// Inc is a no-op.
+func (NilGauge) Inc(i int64) {}
+
 // Value is a no-op.
 func (NilGauge) Value() int64 { return 0 }
 
@@ -101,6 +119,16 @@ func (g *StandardGauge) Value() int64 {
 	return atomic.LoadInt64(&g.value)
 }
 
+// Dec decrements the gauge's current value by the given amount.
+func (g *StandardGauge) Dec(i int64) {
+	atomic.AddInt64(&g.value, -i)
+}
+
+// Inc increments the gauge's current value by the given amount.
+func (g *StandardGauge) Inc(i int64) {
+	atomic.AddInt64(&g.value, i)
+}
+
 // FunctionalGauge returns value from given function
 type FunctionalGauge struct {
 	value func() int64
@@ -118,3 +146,13 @@ func (g FunctionalGauge) Snapshot() Gauge { return GaugeSnapshot(g.Value()) }
 func (FunctionalGauge) Update(int64) {
 	panic("Update called on a FunctionalGauge")
 }
+
+// Dec panics.
+func (FunctionalGauge) Dec(int64) {
+	panic("Dec called on a FunctionalGauge")
+}
+
+// Inc panics.
+func (FunctionalGauge) Inc(int64) {
+	panic("Inc called on a FunctionalGauge")
+}