diff --git a/elasticsearch_dsl/search.py b/elasticsearch_dsl/search.py
index 8a5efd712..4c7a6036a 100644
--- a/elasticsearch_dsl/search.py
+++ b/elasticsearch_dsl/search.py
@@ -666,8 +666,8 @@ def count(self):
         Return the number of hits matching the query and filters. Note that
         only the actual number is returned.
         """
-        if hasattr(self, '_response'):
-            return self._response.hits.total
+        if hasattr(self, '_response') and self._response.hits.total.relation == 'eq':
+            return self._response.hits.total.value
 
         es = connections.get_connection(self._using)
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 907c5fe16..9de16c359 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
     "mock",
     "pytest>=3.0.0",
     "pytest-cov",
+    "pytest-mock",
     "pytz",
     "coverage<5.0.0"
 ]
diff --git a/test_elasticsearch_dsl/test_integration/test_count.py b/test_elasticsearch_dsl/test_integration/test_count.py
index ce8efa0fa..2326b174a 100644
--- a/test_elasticsearch_dsl/test_integration/test_count.py
+++ b/test_elasticsearch_dsl/test_integration/test_count.py
@@ -1,9 +1,24 @@
 from elasticsearch_dsl.search import Search, Q
 
+
 def test_count_all(data_client):
     s = Search(using=data_client).index('git')
     assert 53 == s.count()
 
+
+def test_count_prefetch(data_client, mocker):
+    mocker.spy(data_client, 'count')
+
+    search = Search(using=data_client).index('git')
+    search.execute()
+    assert search.count() == 53
+    assert data_client.count.call_count == 0
+
+    search._response.hits.total.relation = 'gte'
+    assert search.count() == 53
+    assert data_client.count.call_count == 1
+
+
 def test_count_filter(data_client):
     s = Search(using=data_client).index('git').filter(~Q('exists', field='parent_shas'))
     # initial commit + repo document
diff --git a/test_elasticsearch_dsl/test_search.py b/test_elasticsearch_dsl/test_search.py
index 40a28dd98..592a932d4 100644
--- a/test_elasticsearch_dsl/test_search.py
+++ b/test_elasticsearch_dsl/test_search.py
@@ -35,12 +35,6 @@ def test_iter_iterates_over_hits():
 
     assert [1, 2, 3] == list(s)
 
-def test_count_uses_cache():
-    s = search.Search()
-    s._response = utils.AttrDict({'hits': {'total': 42}})
-
-    assert 42 == s.count()
-
 def test_cache_isnt_cloned():
     s = search.Search()
     s._response = object()
@@ -544,4 +538,4 @@ def test_update_from_dict():
             'id',
             'name'
         ]
-    } == s.to_dict()
\ No newline at end of file
+    } == s.to_dict()