diff --git a/stats.go b/stats.go
index a21cb0d..e379270 100644
--- a/stats.go
+++ b/stats.go
@@ -331,7 +331,10 @@ func (s *statStore) Flush() {
 	s.genMtx.RUnlock()
 
 	s.counters.Range(func(key, v interface{}) bool {
-		s.sink.FlushCounter(key.(string), v.(*counter).latch())
+		// do not flush counters that are set to zero
+		if value := v.(*counter).latch(); value != 0 {
+			s.sink.FlushCounter(key.(string), value)
+		}
 		return true
 	})
 
diff --git a/stats_test.go b/stats_test.go
index 2b8a677..80f4372 100644
--- a/stats_test.go
+++ b/stats_test.go
@@ -73,14 +73,14 @@ func TestMilliTimer(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// Ensure 0 counters are flushed
+// Ensure 0 counters are not flushed
 func TestZeroCounters(t *testing.T) {
 	sink := &testStatSink{}
 	store := NewStore(sink, true)
 	store.NewCounter("test")
 	store.Flush()
 
-	expected := "test:0|c\n"
+	expected := ""
 	counter := sink.record
 	if counter != expected {
 		t.Errorf("wanted %q got %q", expected, counter)