diff --git a/src/hotspot/share/gc/g1/g1RemSet.cpp b/src/hotspot/share/gc/g1/g1RemSet.cpp
index f5f65cf1c48..bb5ac5036fe 100644
--- a/src/hotspot/share/gc/g1/g1RemSet.cpp
+++ b/src/hotspot/share/gc/g1/g1RemSet.cpp
@@ -967,6 +967,10 @@ class G1MergeHeapRootsTask : public WorkerTask {
       _merged[G1GCPhaseTimes::MergeRSCards] += increment;
     }
 
+    void dec_remset_cards(size_t decrement) {
+      _merged[G1GCPhaseTimes::MergeRSCards] -= decrement;
+    }
+
     size_t merged(uint i) const { return _merged[i]; }
   };
 
@@ -1091,6 +1095,11 @@ class G1MergeHeapRootsTask : public WorkerTask {
 
     G1MergeCardSetStats stats() {
       _merge_card_set_cache.flush();
+      // Compensation for the dummy cards that were initially pushed into the
+      // card cache.
+      // We do not need to compensate for the other counters because the dummy
+      // card mark will never update another counter because it is initally "dirty".
+      _stats.dec_remset_cards(G1MergeCardSetCache::CacheSize);
       return _stats;
     }
   };