diff --git a/synapse/cortex.py b/synapse/cortex.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/synapse/cortex.py
+++ b/synapse/cortex.py
@@ -2665,6 +2665,8 @@ class Cortex(s_cell.Cell):  # type: ignore
 
     async def count(self, text, opts=None):
 
+        opts = self._initStormOpts(opts)
+
         view = self._viewFromOpts(opts)
 
         i = 0
diff --git a/synapse/tests/test_cortex.py b/synapse/tests/test_cortex.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/synapse/tests/test_cortex.py
+++ b/synapse/tests/test_cortex.py
@@ -1571,6 +1571,7 @@ class CortexBasicTest(s_t_utils.SynTest):
             # test the remote storm result counting API
             self.eq(0, await proxy.count('test:pivtarg'))
             self.eq(1, await proxy.count('inet:user'))
+            self.eq(1, await core.count('inet:user'))
 
             # Test the getFeedFuncs command to enumerate feed functions.
             ret = await proxy.getFeedFuncs()
fix for local count() api (#<I>)