diff --git a/src/optimizer/core/top_n.rs b/src/optimizer/core/top_n.rs
index eab8858c..01b59459 100644
--- a/src/optimizer/core/top_n.rs
+++ b/src/optimizer/core/top_n.rs
@@ -134,11 +134,19 @@ impl ColumnTopN {
         }
     }
 
-    fn insert_new_with_options(&mut self, capacity: usize, entry: ColumnTopNEntry) {
+    fn insert_new_with_options(&mut self, capacity: usize, mut entry: ColumnTopNEntry) {
         if capacity == 0 {
             return;
         }
 
+        if self.values.len() >= capacity {
+            let Some(min_entry) = self.prune_min() else {
+                return;
+            };
+            entry.count = min_entry.count.saturating_add(entry.count);
+            entry.error = min_entry.count.saturating_add(entry.error);
+        }
+
         let index = self.find(&entry.value).unwrap_or_else(|index| index);
         self.values.insert(index, entry);
         self.on_insert(index);
@@ -159,15 +167,12 @@ impl ColumnTopN {
         }
     }
 
-    fn prune_min(&mut self) -> Option<()> {
-        let (min_index, next_min_index) = match self.min_index.take() {
-            Some(index) if index < self.values.len() => (index, None),
-            _ => self.find_min_and_next_index()?,
-        };
-        self.values.remove(min_index);
+    fn prune_min(&mut self) -> Option<ColumnTopNEntry> {
+        let (min_index, next_min_index) = self.find_min_and_next_index()?;
+        let entry = self.values.remove(min_index);
         self.min_index =
             next_min_index.map(|index| if index > min_index { index - 1 } else { index });
-        Some(())
+        Some(entry)
     }
 
     fn on_insert(&mut self, index: usize) {
@@ -232,19 +237,17 @@ mod tests {
     use crate::types::value::DataValue;
 
     #[test]
-    fn top_n_prunes_to_capacity() {
+    fn top_n_replaces_min_counter_when_full() {
         let mut top_n = ColumnTopN::default();
         top_n.add_with_size(2, DataValue::Int32(1), 5);
         top_n.add_with_size(2, DataValue::Int32(2), 3);
         top_n.add_with_size(2, DataValue::Int32(3), 1);
 
-        assert_eq!(top_n.len(), 2);
-
-        top_n.add_with_size(2, DataValue::Int32(4), 1);
-
         assert_eq!(top_n.len(), 2);
         assert_eq!(top_n.get(&DataValue::Int32(1)), Some(5));
-        assert_eq!(top_n.get(&DataValue::Int32(2)), Some(3));
+        let entry = top_n.get_entry(&DataValue::Int32(3)).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(entry.count(), 4);
+        assert_eq!(entry.error(), 3);
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -261,7 +264,9 @@ mod tests {
             .windows(2)
             .all(|pair| pair[0].value() < pair[1].value()));
         assert_eq!(top_n.get(&DataValue::Int32(1)), Some(5));
-        assert_eq!(top_n.get(&DataValue::Int32(2)), Some(1));
+        let entry = top_n.get_entry(&DataValue::Int32(3)).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(entry.count(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(entry.error(), 1);
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -280,6 +285,27 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(left.len(), 2);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn top_n_merge_records_error_for_absent_entries() {
+        let mut left = ColumnTopN::default();
+        left.add_with_size(2, DataValue::Int32(1), 5);
+        left.add_with_size(2, DataValue::Int32(2), 3);
+
+        let mut right = ColumnTopN::default();
+        right.add_with_size(2, DataValue::Int32(3), 4);
+        right.add_with_size(2, DataValue::Int32(4), 1);
+
+        left.merge_with_size(right, 2);
+
+        assert_eq!(left.len(), 2);
+        let entry = left.get_entry(&DataValue::Int32(3)).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(entry.count(), 7);
+        assert_eq!(entry.error(), 3);
+        let entry = left.get_entry(&DataValue::Int32(4)).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(entry.count(), 6);
+        assert_eq!(entry.error(), 5);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn top_n_skips_null() {
         let mut top_n = ColumnTopN::default();