diff --git a/guestbook-ng.pl b/guestbook-ng.pl
index 1d0be1e..3235cbb 100755
--- a/guestbook-ng.pl
+++ b/guestbook-ng.pl
@@ -40,7 +40,13 @@ under sub ($c) {
     # https://paramdeo.com/blog/opting-your-website-out-of-googles-floc-network
     $c->res->headers->header('Permissions-Policy', 'interest-cohort=()');
 
-    $c->session(expiration => 86400);
+    unless ($c->session('counted')) {
+        $c->counter->increment_visitor_count();
+        $c->session(
+            expiration => 86400,
+            counted => 'true'
+            );
+    }
 
     $c->stash(status => 403) if $c->flash('error');
 
diff --git a/lib/GuestbookNg/Model/Counter.pm b/lib/GuestbookNg/Model/Counter.pm
index 88ce701..e99b751 100644
--- a/lib/GuestbookNg/Model/Counter.pm
+++ b/lib/GuestbookNg/Model/Counter.pm
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ sub get_visitor_count($self) {
 }
 
 sub increment_visitor_count($self) {
-    $self->pg->db->query(<<~'END_SQL')->text()
+    $self->pg->db->query(<<~'END_SQL')
         UPDATE counters
            SET counter_value = counter_value + 1
          WHERE counter_name = 'visitor';