diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/sequence/17-split.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/sequence/17-split.js
index 3f774d68c..fbbae8048 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/sequence/17-split.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/sequence/17-split.js
@@ -677,7 +677,10 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
                 }
                 group.msg = Object.assign(group.msg, msg);
                 var tcnt = group.targetCount;
-                if (msg.hasOwnProperty("parts")) { tcnt = group.targetCount || msg.parts.count; }
+                if (msg.hasOwnProperty("parts")) {
+                    tcnt = group.targetCount || msg.parts.count;
+                    group.targetCount = tcnt;
+                }
                 if ((tcnt > 0 && group.currentCount >= tcnt) || msg.hasOwnProperty('complete')) {
                     completeSend(partId);
                 }
@@ -697,3 +700,4 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
     }
     RED.nodes.registerType("join",JoinNode);
 }
+