diff --git a/litellm/llms/base_llm/auth/token_exchange.py b/litellm/llms/base_llm/auth/token_exchange.py
index 1bf29b00cd6..8518fe88905 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/base_llm/auth/token_exchange.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/base_llm/auth/token_exchange.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import time
 from collections.abc import Callable, Coroutine, Mapping
 from concurrent.futures import Executor, ThreadPoolExecutor
 from dataclasses import dataclass
+from math import inf
 from types import MappingProxyType
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Final, Protocol, TypeAlias
 from urllib.parse import urlencode, urlsplit
@@ -577,7 +578,7 @@ class JwtBearerTokenExchangeEngine:
                 case _Lead(call_type=call_type):
                     return self._lead(spec, entry, call_type)
                 case _Follow():
-                    followed: Final = self._await_leader(spec, entry)
+                    followed = self._await_leader(spec, entry)  # rebind-ok: one leader wait per round
                     if followed is not None:
                         return followed
                 case _:
@@ -615,13 +616,20 @@ class JwtBearerTokenExchangeEngine:
             del self._entries[key]
         if len(self._entries) < self._max_entries:
             return
-        evictable: Final = tuple(
-            (entry.token.expires_at, key)
+        # Evict soonest-to-expire first, and take as many as the overshoot needs rather than one, so a
+        # burst of distinct identities does not leave the map permanently above max_entries. An entry
+        # a leader owns or a follower waits on is never a candidate, so a moment where every entry is
+        # in flight still over-inserts; that residue is bounded by the concurrent mints themselves.
+        evictable: Final = sorted(
+            (
+                entry.token.expires_at if entry.token is not None and entry.token.expires_at is not None else -inf,
+                key,
+            )
             for key, entry in self._entries.items()
-            if not entry.in_flight and entry.token is not None and entry.token.expires_at is not None
+            if not entry.in_flight
         )
-        if evictable:
-            del self._entries[min(evictable)[1]]
+        for _, key in evictable[: len(self._entries) - self._max_entries + 1]:
+            del self._entries[key]
 
     def _classify_and_arm_locked(self, entry: _Entry) -> _Decision:
         token: Final = entry.token
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/llms/base_llm/auth/test_token_exchange.py b/tests/test_litellm/llms/base_llm/auth/test_token_exchange.py
index 0d61863689d..697997a5faa 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/llms/base_llm/auth/test_token_exchange.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/llms/base_llm/auth/test_token_exchange.py
@@ -889,6 +889,24 @@ def test_cache_key_semantics():
     assert cached.access_token.get_secret_value() == "sk-ant-oat01-minted"
 
 
+def test_the_cache_returns_to_its_bound_after_an_all_in_flight_burst():
+    """An entry a leader owns is never evictable, so a burst of distinct identities can push the map
+    past max_entries. It must come back down once those entries are idle, rather than holding the
+    high-water mark for the life of the process."""
+    clock = FakeClock()
+    engine = make_engine(ScriptedPoster([token_response(expires_in=3600)]), clock=clock, max_entries=4)
+
+    def spec_for(index: int) -> TokenExchangeSpec:
+        return make_spec(cache_key_identity=("fdrl_1", f"org-{index}", "", ""))
+
+    for index in range(12):
+        mint(engine, spec_for(index))
+
+    assert len(engine._entries) <= 4, (  # noqa: SLF001  # the bound under test is internal state
+        f"the cap is enforced once entries are idle, saw {len(engine._entries)}"
+    )
+
+
 def test_bounded_eviction():
     clock = FakeClock()