diff --git a/src/common/session.c b/src/common/session.c
index c830e0f7e..371ef1728 100644
--- a/src/common/session.c
+++ b/src/common/session.c
@@ -1012,6 +1012,8 @@ session_load_channel (FILE *file)
                 break;
             case SESSION_CHAN_NICKS_COUNT:
                 rc = rc && (session_read_int (file, &(session_current_channel->nicks_count)));
+                /* will be incremented when adding nicks */
+                session_current_channel->nicks_count = 0;
                 break;
             case SESSION_CHAN_CHECKING_AWAY:
                 rc = rc && (session_read_int (file, &(session_current_channel->checking_away)));
diff --git a/weechat/src/common/session.c b/weechat/src/common/session.c
index c830e0f7e..371ef1728 100644
--- a/weechat/src/common/session.c
+++ b/weechat/src/common/session.c
@@ -1012,6 +1012,8 @@ session_load_channel (FILE *file)
                 break;
             case SESSION_CHAN_NICKS_COUNT:
                 rc = rc && (session_read_int (file, &(session_current_channel->nicks_count)));
+                /* will be incremented when adding nicks */
+                session_current_channel->nicks_count = 0;
                 break;
             case SESSION_CHAN_CHECKING_AWAY:
                 rc = rc && (session_read_int (file, &(session_current_channel->checking_away)));