diff --git a/malcolm/controllers/countercontroller.py b/malcolm/controllers/countercontroller.py
index c6956d660..f43cb1b99 100644
--- a/malcolm/controllers/countercontroller.py
+++ b/malcolm/controllers/countercontroller.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from malcolm.core.controller import Controller
 from malcolm.core.attribute import Attribute
 from malcolm.core.numbermeta import NumberMeta
-from malcolm.core.method import takes, returns
+from malcolm.core.method import takes
 
 import numpy as np
 
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ def create_attributes(self):
     @takes()
     def reset(self):
         self.counter.set_value(0)
+        self.block.notify_subscribers()
 
     @takes()
     def increment(self):
         self.counter.set_value(self.counter.value + 1)
+        self.block.notify_subscribers()
diff --git a/tests/test_core/test_system_core.py b/tests/test_core/test_system_core.py
index a25e6eafe..21a3de28e 100644
--- a/tests/test_core/test_system_core.py
+++ b/tests/test_core/test_system_core.py
@@ -56,7 +56,8 @@ def test_counter_controller_subscribe(self):
         q = sync_factory.create_queue()
 
         sub = Request.Subscribe(response_queue=q, context="ClientConnection",
-                                endpoint=["counting", "counter"], delta=False)
+                                endpoint=["counting", "counter"],
+                                delta=False)
         process.q.put(sub)
         resp = q.get(timeout=1)
         self.assertEqual(Response.UPDATE, resp.type_)
@@ -67,6 +68,9 @@ def test_counter_controller_subscribe(self):
                             endpoint=["counting", "increment"])
         process.q.put(post)
         resp = q.get(timeout=1)
+        self.assertEqual(Response.UPDATE, resp.type_)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.value["value"], 1)
+        resp = q.get(timeout=1)
         self.assertEqual(Response.RETURN, resp.type_)