diff --git a/test/types/expressions.test.ts b/test/types/expressions.test.ts
index be57ddaf38e..c74cfb84446 100644
--- a/test/types/expressions.test.ts
+++ b/test/types/expressions.test.ts
@@ -217,3 +217,7 @@ const switchExpr: Expression.Switch = {
     ]
   };
 })();
+
+(function gh12149() {
+  const count: Expression.Count = { $count: '$value' };
+})();
diff --git a/types/expressions.d.ts b/types/expressions.d.ts
index bce492cfe5d..0a721436786 100644
--- a/types/expressions.d.ts
+++ b/types/expressions.d.ts
@@ -1977,7 +1977,7 @@ declare module 'mongoose' {
        * @version 5.0
        * @see https://docs.mongodb.com/manual/reference/operator/aggregation/count/#mongodb-expression-exp.-count
        */
-      $count: Record<string | number | symbol, never>;
+      $count: Record<string | number | symbol, never> | Path;
     }
 
     export interface CovariancePop {