diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 73b9cf2..769cbf1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## Unreleased
+
+- Flush a nonempty `abatcher` batch when its interval expires instead of
+  waiting a full interval again for each item. An arrival exactly at the
+  deadline now flushes the batch as well.
+
 ## 4.1.2 - 2026-10-13
 
 - Count the time that passed across a daylight saving change in `timesince`
diff --git a/_python_utils_tests/test_generators.py b/_python_utils_tests/test_generators.py
index 501db0f..9fdd0a8 100644
--- a/_python_utils_tests/test_generators.py
+++ b/_python_utils_tests/test_generators.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """Tests for the batching helpers in ``python_utils.generators``."""
 
 import asyncio
+import datetime
 import gc
 import sys
 from types import SimpleNamespace
@@ -23,14 +24,22 @@ async def test_abatcher() -> None:
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
-    'arrival_times',
+    ('arrival_times', 'expected'),
     [
-        (0, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72),
-        (0, 10, 11, 21, 22, 32, 33, 43, 44, 54),
+        (
+            (0, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72),
+            [[0, 1, 2], [3, 4], [5, 6], [7, 8], [9]],
+        ),
+        (
+            (0, 10, 11, 21, 22, 32, 33, 43, 44, 54),
+            [[0, 1], [2, 3], [4, 5], [6, 7], [8, 9]],
+        ),
     ],
 )
 async def test_abatcher_timed(
-    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, arrival_times: tuple[int, ...]
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+    arrival_times: tuple[int, ...],
+    expected: list[list[int]],
 ) -> None:
     """Group async items into batches by time interval."""
     now: float = 0.0
@@ -52,7 +61,7 @@ async def generator() -> types.AsyncIterator[int]:
     async for batch in python_utils.abatcher(generator(), interval=10):
         batches.append(batch)
 
-    assert batches == [[0, 1, 2], [3, 4], [5, 6], [7, 8], [9]]
+    assert batches == expected
     assert len(batches) == 5
 
 
@@ -89,6 +98,61 @@ async def generator() -> types.AsyncIterator[int]:
         await batcher.__anext__()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('batch_size', [None, 3])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('interval', [10, datetime.timedelta(seconds=10)])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('arrival', [8.0, 10.0])
+async def test_abatcher_partial_batch_keeps_deadline(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+    batch_size: int | None,
+    interval: int | datetime.timedelta,
+    arrival: float,
+) -> None:
+    """Flush a partial batch at its deadline, including an exact arrival."""
+    now: float = 0.0
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        python_utils.generators,
+        'time',
+        SimpleNamespace(perf_counter=lambda: now),
+    )
+    original_wait = asyncio.wait
+
+    async def wait(
+        pending: set[asyncio.Future[int]],
+        *,
+        timeout: float,
+        return_when: str,
+    ) -> tuple[set[asyncio.Future[int]], set[asyncio.Future[int]]]:
+        """Run ready items, or let the requested timeout elapse."""
+        nonlocal now
+        done, remaining = await original_wait(
+            pending, timeout=0, return_when=return_when
+        )
+        if not done:
+            now += timeout
+        return done, remaining
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(asyncio, 'wait', wait)
+
+    async def generator() -> types.AsyncGenerator[int, None]:
+        """Yield twice on the fake clock, then leave one item pending."""
+        nonlocal now
+        yield 0
+        now = arrival
+        yield 1
+        await asyncio.Event().wait()
+
+    batcher = python_utils.abatcher(
+        generator(), batch_size=batch_size, interval=interval
+    )
+    try:
+        first = await batcher.__anext__()
+        assert first == [0, 1]
+        assert now == 10.0
+    finally:
+        await batcher.aclose()
+
+
 async def blocked_generator(
     started: asyncio.Event, closed: types.List[str]
 ) -> types.AsyncIterator[int]:
diff --git a/python_utils/generators.py b/python_utils/generators.py
index e6571bb..30fc1a7 100644
--- a/python_utils/generators.py
+++ b/python_utils/generators.py
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ async def abatcher(
     request for it. A source that is an async generator ends at that point.
     A source with nothing on its way stays usable.
 
+    Items arriving within an interval share its deadline. Waiting for the
+    next item does not restart the interval of a nonempty batch.
+
     Args:
         generator: The async generator or iterator to batch.
         batch_size (typing.Optional[int], optional): The number of items per
@@ -110,9 +113,13 @@ async def abatcher(
                     # `create_task` insists on a coroutine.
                     pending = {asyncio.ensure_future(generator.__anext__())}
 
+                timeout = interval_s
+                if interval and batch:
+                    timeout = max(0.0, next_yield - time.perf_counter())
+
                 done, pending = await asyncio.wait(
                     pending,
-                    timeout=interval_s,
+                    timeout=timeout,
                     return_when=asyncio.FIRST_COMPLETED,
                 )
 
@@ -132,7 +139,7 @@ async def abatcher(
                 # next item is flushed on its own once the old one ran out.
                 next_yield = time.perf_counter() + interval_s
 
-            if interval and batch and time.perf_counter() > next_yield:
+            if interval and batch and time.perf_counter() >= next_yield:
                 yield batch
                 batch = []
                 # Always set the next yield time to the current time. If the