diff --git a/src/m_menu.c b/src/m_menu.c
index a9bbc929..5fc1f83f 100644
--- a/src/m_menu.c
+++ b/src/m_menu.c
@@ -3241,7 +3241,7 @@ setup_menu_t stat_settings1[] =  // Status Bar and HUD Settings screen
 
   {"Backpack Shifts Ammo Color", S_YESNO, m_null, M_X, M_SPC, {"hud_backpack_thresholds"}},
   {"Armor Color Matches Type", S_YESNO, m_null, M_X, M_SPC, {"hud_armor_type"}},
-  {"Smooth Health/Armor Count", S_YESNO, m_null, M_X, M_SPC, {"smooth_counts"}},
+  {"Animated Health/Armor Count", S_YESNO, m_null, M_X, M_SPC, {"hud_animated_counts"}},
 
   MI_RESET,
 
diff --git a/src/m_misc.c b/src/m_misc.c
index f8ba4d33..158a38b3 100644
--- a/src/m_misc.c
+++ b/src/m_misc.c
@@ -2609,10 +2609,10 @@ default_t defaults[] = {
   },
 
   { // [Alaux]
-    "smooth_counts",
-    (config_t *) &smooth_counts, NULL,
+    "hud_animated_counts",
+    (config_t *) &hud_animated_counts, NULL,
     {0}, {0,1}, number, ss_stat, wad_yes,
-    "1 to enable smooth health/armor counts"
+    "1 to enable animated health/armor counts"
   },
 
   { // below is red
diff --git a/src/st_stuff.c b/src/st_stuff.c
index 8b3863f9..2030c39c 100644
--- a/src/st_stuff.c
+++ b/src/st_stuff.c
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ static patch_t *arms[6][2];
 static st_number_t w_ready;
 
 // [Alaux]
-int smooth_counts;
+int hud_animated_counts;
 int st_health = 100;
 int st_armor = 0;
 
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ static int SmoothCount(int shownval, int realval)
 {
   int step = realval - shownval;
 
-  if (!smooth_counts || !step)
+  if (!hud_animated_counts || !step)
   {
     return realval;
   }
diff --git a/src/st_stuff.h b/src/st_stuff.h
index 30be4ff2..e8192929 100644
--- a/src/st_stuff.h
+++ b/src/st_stuff.h
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ void ST_InitRes(void);
 // killough 5/2/98: moved from m_misc.c:
 
 // [Alaux]
-extern int smooth_counts;
+extern int hud_animated_counts;
 extern int st_health;
 extern int st_armor;