Index: wp-includes/taxonomy.php
===================================================================
--- wp-includes/taxonomy.php	(revision 17309)
+++ wp-includes/taxonomy.php	(working copy)
@@ -1258,6 +1258,9 @@
 		$where .= " AND tt.parent = '$parent'";
 	}
 
+	if ( 'count' == $fields )
+		$hierarchical = false;
+
 	if ( $hide_empty && !$hierarchical )
 		$where .= ' AND tt.count > 0';