diff --git a/backend/handlers/bookings/admin_reserve.go b/backend/handlers/bookings/admin_reserve.go
index 8028954..ff2c82c 100644
--- a/backend/handlers/bookings/admin_reserve.go
+++ b/backend/handlers/bookings/admin_reserve.go
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ func AdminReserveSlotHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 	var cnt int
 	db.DB.QueryRow(r.Context(), `
-		SELECT COUNT(*) FROM bookings WHERE status IN ('confirmed','in_progress','completed')
+		SELECT COUNT(*) FROM bookings WHERE status IN ('pending','confirmed','in_progress','completed')
 		AND start_time < $2
 		AND start_time + (INTERVAL '1 minute' * (
 			SELECT COALESCE(SUM(dur),60) FROM (
@@ -147,15 +147,23 @@ func AdminReserveSlotHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	blockerOverlap, blockerDesc, err := scheduling.CheckTimeBlockerOverlap(r.Context(), req.StartTime, endTime)
+	blockerOverlap, _, err := scheduling.CheckTimeBlockerOverlap(r.Context(), req.StartTime, endTime)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Printf("Failed to check time blocker overlap: %v", err)
 	} else if blockerOverlap {
-		http.Error(w, fmt.Sprintf("Cannot book this time - slot is blocked: %s", blockerDesc), http.StatusConflict)
+		http.Error(w, "Cannot book this time - slot is blocked", http.StatusConflict)
 		return
 	}
 
-	_, err = db.DB.Exec(r.Context(), `
+	tx, err := db.DB.Begin(r.Context())
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("Failed to start transaction: %v", err)
+		http.Error(w, "Internal server error", http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		return
+	}
+	defer tx.Rollback(r.Context())
+
+	_, err = tx.Exec(r.Context(), `
 		DELETE FROM time_blockers
 		WHERE description LIKE 'RESERVATION:admin:%'
 		  AND created_by = $1
@@ -174,7 +182,7 @@ func AdminReserveSlotHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	description := fmt.Sprintf("RESERVATION:admin:%s:%s:%d", req.ReservationType, customerID, time.Now().UnixNano())
 	var reservationID string
 	var createdAt time.Time
-	err = db.DB.QueryRow(r.Context(), `
+	err = tx.QueryRow(r.Context(), `
 		INSERT INTO time_blockers (start_time, duration_minutes, description, created_by)
 		VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4)
 		RETURNING id, created_at
@@ -185,6 +193,12 @@ func AdminReserveSlotHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	if err := tx.Commit(r.Context()); err != nil {
+		log.Printf("Failed to commit transaction: %v", err)
+		http.Error(w, "Internal server error", http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		return
+	}
+
 	expiresAt := createdAt.Add(time.Duration(req.TTLMinutes) * time.Minute)
 
 	response := AdminReserveSlotResponse{
diff --git a/backend/handlers/bookings/admin_reserve_test.go b/backend/handlers/bookings/admin_reserve_test.go
index 8d83b83..878b4cb 100644
--- a/backend/handlers/bookings/admin_reserve_test.go
+++ b/backend/handlers/bookings/admin_reserve_test.go
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-//go:build test
-// +build test
+//go:build test && dev
+// +build test,dev
 
 package bookings