diff --git a/app/models/post.rb b/app/models/post.rb
index b23464cd3..034812ad3 100644
--- a/app/models/post.rb
+++ b/app/models/post.rb
@@ -1036,7 +1036,6 @@ class Post < ApplicationRecord
     def with_flag_stats
       relation = left_outer_joins(:flags).group(:id).select("posts.*")
       relation.select("COUNT(post_flags.id) AS flag_count")
-      relation
     end
 
     def with_appeal_stats
diff --git a/test/unit/post_query_builder_test.rb b/test/unit/post_query_builder_test.rb
index 01a6afc87..775b38537 100644
--- a/test/unit/post_query_builder_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/post_query_builder_test.rb
@@ -465,6 +465,23 @@ class PostQueryBuilderTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
       assert_tag_match([posts[2]], "-note_count:1")
     end
 
+    should "return posts for the flag_count:<N> metatag" do
+      posts = create_list(:post, 3)
+      create(:post_flag, post: posts[1], status: :succeeded)
+      create(:post_flag, post: posts[2], status: :rejected, created_at: 4.days.ago)
+      create(:post_flag, post: posts[2], status: :pending)
+
+      assert_tag_match([posts[0]], "flag_count:0")
+      assert_tag_match([posts[1]], "flag_count:1")
+      assert_tag_match([posts[2]], "flag_count:2")
+
+      assert_tag_match([posts[0]], "flags:0")
+      assert_tag_match([posts[1]], "flags:1")
+      assert_tag_match([posts[2]], "flags:2")
+
+      assert_tag_match([posts[2], posts[0]], "-flags:1")
+    end
+
     should "return posts for the commentaryupdater:<name> metatag" do
       user1 = create(:user)
       user2 = create(:user)