diff --git a/src/proto_http.c b/src/proto_http.c
index c49c4f489..ccd52ad0b 100644
--- a/src/proto_http.c
+++ b/src/proto_http.c
@@ -10014,15 +10014,19 @@ smp_fetch_fhdr_cnt(struct proxy *px, struct session *l4, void *l7, unsigned int
 	struct hdr_ctx ctx;
 	const struct http_msg *msg = ((opt & SMP_OPT_DIR) == SMP_OPT_DIR_REQ) ? &txn->req : &txn->rsp;
 	int cnt;
+	const char *name = NULL;
+	int len = 0;
 
-	if (!args || args->type != ARGT_STR)
-		return 0;
+	if (args && args->type == ARGT_STR) {
+		name = args->data.str.str;
+		len = args->data.str.len;
+	}
 
 	CHECK_HTTP_MESSAGE_FIRST();
 
 	ctx.idx = 0;
 	cnt = 0;
-	while (http_find_full_header2(args->data.str.str, args->data.str.len, msg->chn->buf->p, idx, &ctx))
+	while (http_find_full_header2(name, len, msg->chn->buf->p, idx, &ctx))
 		cnt++;
 
 	smp->type = SMP_T_UINT;
@@ -10101,15 +10105,19 @@ smp_fetch_hdr_cnt(struct proxy *px, struct session *l4, void *l7, unsigned int o
 	struct hdr_ctx ctx;
 	const struct http_msg *msg = ((opt & SMP_OPT_DIR) == SMP_OPT_DIR_REQ) ? &txn->req : &txn->rsp;
 	int cnt;
+	const char *name = NULL;
+	int len = 0;
 
-	if (!args || args->type != ARGT_STR)
-		return 0;
+	if (args && args->type == ARGT_STR) {
+		name = args->data.str.str;
+		len = args->data.str.len;
+	}
 
 	CHECK_HTTP_MESSAGE_FIRST();
 
 	ctx.idx = 0;
 	cnt = 0;
-	while (http_find_header2(args->data.str.str, args->data.str.len, msg->chn->buf->p, idx, &ctx))
+	while (http_find_header2(name, len, msg->chn->buf->p, idx, &ctx))
 		cnt++;
 
 	smp->type = SMP_T_UINT;