diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8b3c14bdfcf..f2dc35cf8fb 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ Note that this project **does not** adhere to [Semantic Versioning](https://semv
 - The ISI importer uses the field `comment` for notes (instead of `review). [#10478](https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/pull/10478)
 - If no existing document is selected for exporting "Embedded BibTeX pdf" JabRef will now create a new PDF file with a sample text and the metadata. [#10101](https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/issues/10101)
 - Translated titles format no longer raise a warning. [#10459](https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/issues/10459)
+- We re-added the empty grey containers in the groups panel to keep an indicator for the current selected group, if displaying of group item count is turned off [#9972](https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/issues/9972)
 
 ### Fixed
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/groups/GroupTreeView.java b/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/groups/GroupTreeView.java
index 9f7b98e9564..6cb538bcd8d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/groups/GroupTreeView.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/groups/GroupTreeView.java
@@ -273,6 +273,7 @@ private StackPane getArrowCell(GroupNodeViewModel viewModel) {
 
     private StackPane createNumberCell(GroupNodeViewModel group) {
         final StackPane node = new StackPane();
+        node.getStyleClass().add("hits");
         if (!group.isRoot()) {
             BindingsHelper.includePseudoClassWhen(node, PSEUDOCLASS_ANYSELECTED,
                     group.anySelectedEntriesMatchedProperty());
@@ -287,10 +288,7 @@ private StackPane createNumberCell(GroupNodeViewModel group) {
                         text.setText("");
                     }
 
-                    node.getStyleClass().clear();
-
                     if (shouldDisplayGroupCount) {
-                        node.getStyleClass().add("hits");
                         text.textProperty().bind(group.getHits().map(Number::intValue).map(this::getFormattedNumber));
                         Tooltip tooltip = new Tooltip();
                         tooltip.textProperty().bind(group.getHits().asString());