diff --git a/app/lib/actions/katello/capsule_content/sync_capsule.rb b/app/lib/actions/katello/capsule_content/sync_capsule.rb
index eb6f34bf728..b01d0e2d898 100644
--- a/app/lib/actions/katello/capsule_content/sync_capsule.rb
+++ b/app/lib/actions/katello/capsule_content/sync_capsule.rb
@@ -69,8 +69,13 @@ def repos_to_sync(smart_proxy, environment, content_view, repository, skip_metat
         end
 
         def update_content_counts(_execution_plan)
-          smart_proxy = ::SmartProxy.unscoped.find(input[:smart_proxy_id])
-          ::ForemanTasks.async_task(::Actions::Katello::CapsuleContent::UpdateContentCounts, smart_proxy)
+          if Setting[:automatic_content_count_updates]
+            smart_proxy = ::SmartProxy.unscoped.find(input[:smart_proxy_id])
+            ::ForemanTasks.async_task(::Actions::Katello::CapsuleContent::UpdateContentCounts, smart_proxy)
+          else
+            Rails.logger.info "Skipping content counts update as automatic content count updates are disabled. To enable automatic content count updates, set the 'automatic_content_count_updates' setting to true.
+To update content counts manually, run the 'Update Content Counts' action."
+          end
         end
 
         def resource_locks
diff --git a/lib/katello/plugin.rb b/lib/katello/plugin.rb
index ce4e56bba7d..5d07c6fc940 100644
--- a/lib/katello/plugin.rb
+++ b/lib/katello/plugin.rb
@@ -657,6 +657,12 @@ def katello_template_setting_values(name)
         default: true,
         full_name: N_('Distribute archived content view versions'),
         description: N_("If this is enabled, repositories of content view versions without environments (\"archived\") will be distributed at '/pulp/content/<organization>/content_views/<content view>/X.Y/...'.")
+
+      setting 'automatic_content_count_updates',
+        type: :boolean,
+        default: true,
+        full_name: N_('Calculate content counts on smart proxies automatically'),
+        description: N_("If this is enabled, content counts on smart proxies will be updated automatically after content sync.")
     end
   end