diff --git a/specutils/io/parsing_utils.py b/specutils/io/parsing_utils.py
index 9fd8702ec..b2d4437ca 100644
--- a/specutils/io/parsing_utils.py
+++ b/specutils/io/parsing_utils.py
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ def _find_spectral_column(table, columns_to_search, spectral_axis):
         u.spectral_density() equivalencies. If none meet that criterion,
         look for other likely length units such as 'adu' or 'cts/s'.
         """
-        additional_valid_units = [u.Unit('adu'), u.Unit('ct/s')]
+        additional_valid_units = [u.Unit('adu'), u.Unit('ct/s'), u.Unit('count')]
         found_column = None
 
         # First, search for a column with units compatible with Janskies
diff --git a/specutils/tests/test_spectrum1d.py b/specutils/tests/test_spectrum1d.py
index cc6856760..07b535c0a 100644
--- a/specutils/tests/test_spectrum1d.py
+++ b/specutils/tests/test_spectrum1d.py
@@ -357,6 +357,18 @@ def test_create_with_uncertainty():
         Spectrum1D(spectral_axis=wavelengths*u.um, flux=flux, uncertainty=uncertainty)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("flux_unit", ["adu", "ct/s", "count"])
+def test_flux_unit_io_roundtrip(tmp_path, flux_unit):
+    # regression test for https://github.com/astropy/specutils/pull/1018
+    fname = str(tmp_path / 'flux_unit_io_roundtrip.fits')
+    sp = Spectrum1D(flux=np.ones(11) * u.Unit(flux_unit),
+                    spectral_axis=np.arange(1, 12) * u.Unit('Hz'))
+    sp.write(fname, overwrite=True)
+
+    sp_load = Spectrum1D.read(fname)
+    assert sp_load.flux.unit == sp.flux.unit
+
+
 @pytest.mark.filterwarnings('ignore::astropy.io.fits.verify.VerifyWarning')
 @remote_access([{'id': '1481190', 'filename': 'L5g_0355+11_Cruz09.fits'}])
 def test_read_linear_solution(remote_data_path):