diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/counter_cache.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/counter_cache.rb
index 1363c1c955d6c..0220788fb317c 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/counter_cache.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/counter_cache.rb
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ def counter_cache_column?(name) # :nodoc:
         _counter_cache_columns.include?(name)
       end
 
-      def load_schema # :nodoc:
+      def load_schema! # :nodoc:
         super
 
         association_names = _reflections.filter_map do |name, reflection|