diff --git a/src/feature/relay/relay_metrics.c b/src/feature/relay/relay_metrics.c
index 814afa6006..392100e4b9 100644
--- a/src/feature/relay/relay_metrics.c
+++ b/src/feature/relay/relay_metrics.c
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ static const relay_metrics_entry_t base_metrics[] =
   },
   {
     .key = RELAY_METRICS_NUM_CONNECTIONS,
-    .type = METRICS_TYPE_COUNTER,
+    .type = METRICS_TYPE_GAUGE,
     .name = METRICS_NAME(relay_connections_total),
     .help = "Total number of connections",
     .fill_fn = fill_connections_values,