diff --git a/st.c b/st.c
index 976bcf4648..a465de4ae5 100644
--- a/st.c
+++ b/st.c
@@ -1197,6 +1197,8 @@ st_insert2(st_table *tab, st_data_t key, st_data_t value,
     if (tab->bins == NULL) {
         bin = find_entry(tab, hash_value, key);
 	new_p = bin == UNDEFINED_ENTRY_IND;
+	if (new_p)
+	    tab->num_entries++;
 	bin_ind = UNDEFINED_BIN_IND;
     }
     else {