diff --git a/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c b/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
index 8a2027d7aaa31..f70c5329ee6ad 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
@@ -1266,8 +1266,10 @@ static void nft_chain_stats_replace(struct nft_base_chain *chain,
 		rcu_assign_pointer(chain->stats, newstats);
 		synchronize_rcu();
 		free_percpu(oldstats);
-	} else
+	} else {
 		rcu_assign_pointer(chain->stats, newstats);
+		static_branch_inc(&nft_counters_enabled);
+	}
 }
 
 static void nf_tables_chain_destroy(struct nft_chain *chain)