diff --git a/panels/histogram/module.js b/panels/histogram/module.js
index 1f9b02286b0..b45a82d67d5 100644
--- a/panels/histogram/module.js
+++ b/panels/histogram/module.js
@@ -86,13 +86,15 @@ angular.module('kibana.histogram', [])
     // Populate scope when we have results
     results.then(function(results) {
       $scope.panel.loading = false;
-      $scope.hits = results.hits.total;
       if(_segment == 0) {
+        $scope.hits = 0;
         $scope.data = [];
         query_id = $scope.query_id = new Date().getTime();
       }
       
       if($scope.query_id === query_id) {
+        $scope.hits += results.hits.total;
+
         _.each(results.facets, function(v, k) {
           // Null values at each end of the time range ensure we see entire range
           if(_.isUndefined($scope.data[k]) || _segment == 0) {
@@ -122,6 +124,7 @@ angular.module('kibana.histogram', [])
           $scope.data[k] = series.data
         });
 
+        eventBus.broadcast($scope.$id,$scope.panel.group,'hits',$scope.hits)
         $scope.$emit('render')
         if(_segment < $scope.panel.index.length-1) {
           $scope.get_data(_segment+1,query_id)
diff --git a/panels/hits/editor.html b/panels/hits/editor.html
index e8719de08fb..d4833703c26 100644
--- a/panels/hits/editor.html
+++ b/panels/hits/editor.html
@@ -1,11 +1,17 @@
   <div class="row-fluid" ng-controller="hits">
-    <div class="span11">
-    The hits panel shows a simple count of how many records match your filtered query. If multiple queries are sent from a single panel the <strong>first query will be displayed</strong>
+    <div class="span2"> 
+      <label class="small">Run Query</label><input type="checkbox" ng-model="panel.run_query" ng-checked="panel.run_query">
+    </div>
+    <div class="span9" ng-show='!panel.run_query'>
+      With query running disabled, this panel receives its hit count from a histogram panel. If multiple queries are running this <strong>will show the total of all queries</strong>.
+    </div>
+    <div class="span9" ng-show='panel.run_query'>
+      This shows a simple count of how many records match your filtered query. If multiple queries are sent from a single panel the <strong>first query will be displayed</strong>
     </div>
   </div>
 
   <div class="row-fluid">    
-    <div class="span9">
+    <div class="span9" ng-show='panel.run_query'>
       <form class="input-append">
         <h6>Query</h6>
         <input type="text" style="width:85%" ng-model="panel.query">
diff --git a/panels/hits/module.js b/panels/hits/module.js
index 35b740012b8..cb697fb76b4 100644
--- a/panels/hits/module.js
+++ b/panels/hits/module.js
@@ -6,15 +6,24 @@ angular.module('kibana.hits', [])
     query   : "*",
     group   : "default",
     style   : { "font-size": '36pt', "font-weight": "bold" },
+    run_query : false
   }
   _.defaults($scope.panel,_d)
 
   $scope.init = function () {
-    eventBus.register($scope,'time', function(event,time){set_time(time)});
+    $scope.hits = 0;
+    eventBus.register($scope,'time', function(event,time){
+      if($scope.panel.run_query)
+        set_time(time)
+    });
     eventBus.register($scope,'query', function(event, query) {
       $scope.panel.query = _.isArray(query) ? query[0] : query;
-      $scope.get_data();
+      if($scope.panel.run_query)
+        $scope.get_data();
     });
+    eventBus.register($scope,'hits', function(event, hits) {
+      $scope.hits = hits;
+    })
     // Now that we're all setup, request the time from our group
     eventBus.broadcast($scope.$id,$scope.panel.group,'get_time')
   }