diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index fcafc5f..51f73b0 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -14,3 +14,4 @@
 debug
 
 .vscode
+.idea
diff --git a/collector/node_resources.go b/collector/node_resources.go
index 130c633..46a5bf9 100644
--- a/collector/node_resources.go
+++ b/collector/node_resources.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ type nodeResourcesCollector struct {
 	// Resource usage
 	usageCPUCoresDesc    *prometheus.Desc
 	usageMemoryBytesDesc *prometheus.Desc
+	usagePodCount        *prometheus.Desc
 }
 
 func init() {
@@ -92,6 +93,12 @@ func newNodeResourcesCollector(opts *options.Options) (Collector, error) {
 			labels,
 			prometheus.Labels{},
 		),
+		usagePodCount: prometheus.NewDesc(
+			prometheus.BuildFQName(opts.Namespace, subsystem, "usage_pod_count"),
+			"Total number of running pods for each kubernetes node",
+			labels,
+			prometheus.Labels{},
+		),
 	}, nil
 }
 
@@ -163,6 +170,7 @@ func (c *nodeResourcesCollector) updateMetrics(ch chan<- prometheus.Metric) erro
 		ch <- prometheus.MustNewConstMetric(c.requestMemoryBytesDesc, prometheus.GaugeValue, float64(podMetrics.requestedMemoryBytes), n.Name)
 		ch <- prometheus.MustNewConstMetric(c.limitCPUCoresDesc, prometheus.GaugeValue, podMetrics.limitCPUCores, n.Name)
 		ch <- prometheus.MustNewConstMetric(c.limitMemoryBytesDesc, prometheus.GaugeValue, float64(podMetrics.limitMemoryBytes), n.Name)
+		ch <- prometheus.MustNewConstMetric(c.usagePodCount, prometheus.GaugeValue, float64(podMetrics.podCount), n.Name)
 	}
 
 	return nil
@@ -194,7 +202,6 @@ func getAggregatedPodMetricsByNodeName(pods *corev1.PodList) map[string]aggregat
 	// Iterate through all pod definitions to sum and group pods' resource requests and limits by node name
 	for _, podInfo := range pods.Items {
 		nodeName := podInfo.Spec.NodeName
-		podCount := podMetrics[nodeName].podCount + 1
 
 		// skip not running pods (e. g. failed/succeeded jobs, evicted pods etc.)
 		podPhase := podInfo.Status.Phase
@@ -202,6 +209,9 @@ func getAggregatedPodMetricsByNodeName(pods *corev1.PodList) map[string]aggregat
 			continue
 		}
 
+		// Don't increment this counter for failed / non running pods
+		podCount := podMetrics[nodeName].podCount + 1
+
 		for _, c := range podInfo.Spec.Containers {
 			requestedCPUCores := float64(c.Resources.Requests.Cpu().MilliValue()) / 1000
 			requestedMemoryBytes := c.Resources.Requests.Memory().MilliValue() / 1000