diff --git a/numpy/core/_methods.py b/numpy/core/_methods.py
index a239e2c87eb7..eda00147d053 100644
--- a/numpy/core/_methods.py
+++ b/numpy/core/_methods.py
@@ -71,9 +71,10 @@ def _count_reduce_items(arr, axis, keepdims=False, where=True):
             axis = tuple(range(arr.ndim))
         elif not isinstance(axis, tuple):
             axis = (axis,)
-        items = nt.intp(1)
+        items = 1
         for ax in axis:
             items *= arr.shape[mu.normalize_axis_index(ax, arr.ndim)]
+        items = nt.intp(items)
     else:
         # TODO: Optimize case when `where` is broadcast along a non-reduction
         # axis and full sum is more excessive than needed.