diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/action/admin/indices/stats/CommonStatsFlags.java b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/action/admin/indices/stats/CommonStatsFlags.java
index 03fb55323feec..1e1d213e7400f 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/action/admin/indices/stats/CommonStatsFlags.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/action/admin/indices/stats/CommonStatsFlags.java
@@ -332,7 +332,8 @@ public enum Flag {
         Translog("translog", 13),
         // 14 was previously used for Suggest
         RequestCache("request_cache", 15),
-        Recovery("recovery", 16);
+        Recovery("recovery", 16),
+        StatusCounter("status_counter", 17);
 
         private final String restName;
         private final int index;
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/indices/IndicesService.java b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/indices/IndicesService.java
index 4d11c8460eb7b..4a67130165d42 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/indices/IndicesService.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/indices/IndicesService.java
@@ -927,11 +927,18 @@ public NodeIndicesStats stats(CommonStatsFlags flags) {
                     break;
             }
         }
+        // Only include status_counter when it is explicitly requested (or when all flags are set).
+        // Previously it was always included regardless of the requested index metrics, causing it
+        // to appear even for targeted requests like GET _nodes/stats/indices/request_cache.
+        // See https://github.com/opensearch-project/OpenSearch/issues/22383
+        final StatusCounterStats resolvedStatusCounterStats = flags.isSet(CommonStatsFlags.Flag.StatusCounter)
+            ? statusCounterStats
+            : null;
         if (flags.getIncludeIndicesStatsByLevel()) {
             NodeIndicesStats.StatsLevel statsLevel = NodeIndicesStats.getAcceptedLevel(flags.getLevels());
-            return new NodeIndicesStats(commonStats, statsByShard(this, flags), searchRequestStats, statusCounterStats, statsLevel);
+            return new NodeIndicesStats(commonStats, statsByShard(this, flags), searchRequestStats, resolvedStatusCounterStats, statsLevel);
         } else {
-            return new NodeIndicesStats(commonStats, statsByShard(this, flags), searchRequestStats, statusCounterStats);
+            return new NodeIndicesStats(commonStats, statsByShard(this, flags), searchRequestStats, resolvedStatusCounterStats);
         }
     }