Did a fluid change on the auto box but it's so difficult getting the level right.

The dipstick has a cold min and max mark and a hot min and max mark. I am checking the oil exactly according to the Haynes manual: making sure the oil is hot by driving for a few miles, then with the engine running going through the gears, then removing and wiping the dipstick, then reinserting and checking that the level is between the min and max on hot. Haynes says the oil can be checked when cold and it should be between min and max cold but to always recheck once hot, the cold marks are 'for reference only' whatever that means?

Anyway, in my particular case, when the engine is hot the level is just below the min hot mark, but when cold the mark is just above the max hot mark, it doesn't make sense.

I don't want to add any more oil as that would bring the cold mark even higher - why is it showing higher cold than hot, that's what I want to know.