diff --git a/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_record/association_matchers/counter_cache_matcher.rb b/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_record/association_matchers/counter_cache_matcher.rb
index dc28f009e..414002454 100644
--- a/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_record/association_matchers/counter_cache_matcher.rb
+++ b/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_record/association_matchers/counter_cache_matcher.rb
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ def normalize_value
               when String, Symbol
                 { active: true, column: counter_cache.to_s }
               when Hash
-                { active: true }.merge(counter_cache)
+                { active: true, column: nil }.merge(counter_cache)
               else
                 raise ArgumentError, 'Invalid counter_cache option'
               end
diff --git a/spec/unit/shoulda/matchers/active_record/association_matcher_spec.rb b/spec/unit/shoulda/matchers/active_record/association_matcher_spec.rb
index 7027b7222..daea71cdf 100644
--- a/spec/unit/shoulda/matchers/active_record/association_matcher_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/shoulda/matchers/active_record/association_matcher_spec.rb
@@ -113,6 +113,28 @@
       expect(belonging_to_parent).not_to belong_to(:parent).counter_cache
     end
 
+    if rails_version > 7.1
+      it 'accepts :counter_cache with a hash' do
+        expect(belonging_to_parent(counter_cache: { active: true })).
+          to belong_to(:parent).counter_cache
+      end
+
+      it 'accepts :counter_cache with active false when passed' do
+        expect(belonging_to_parent(counter_cache: { active: false })).
+          to belong_to(:parent).counter_cache(active: false)
+      end
+
+      it 'rejects :counter_cache with active false when mismatch' do
+        expect(belonging_to_parent(counter_cache: { active: true })).
+          not_to belong_to(:parent).counter_cache(active: false)
+      end
+
+      it 'rejects :counter_cache with when column mismatch' do
+        expect(belonging_to_parent(counter_cache: { column: :attribute_count })).
+          not_to belong_to(:parent).counter_cache(true)
+      end
+    end
+
     it 'accepts an association with a valid :inverse_of option' do
       expect(belonging_to_with_inverse(:parent, :children)).
         to belong_to(:parent).inverse_of(:children)