diff --git a/crates/common/src/telemetry/metrics/store.rs b/crates/common/src/telemetry/metrics/store.rs
index 849a253..a509168 100644
--- a/crates/common/src/telemetry/metrics/store.rs
+++ b/crates/common/src/telemetry/metrics/store.rs
@@ -116,8 +116,19 @@ impl StoredMetric {
 /// changes (MON-4). Per process: a restart counts from the start.
 static LAST: Mutex<Option<AHashMap<MetricType, (u64, u64)>>> = Mutex::new(None);
 
-/// One tick's samples (MON-4 to MON-6).
-pub fn sample() -> Vec<Metric> {
+/// Gauges that count the whole cluster's data, not this node's. Only the node
+/// that computes them (the metrics-calculation role) has a true reading; on
+/// the others the queue gauge only moves with local queue events and drifts
+/// below zero, and the account and domain counts stay at 0.
+const CLUSTER_GAUGES: [MetricType; 3] = [
+    MetricType::QueueCount,
+    MetricType::UserCount,
+    MetricType::DomainCount,
+];
+
+/// One tick's samples (MON-4 to MON-6). `calculates` is whether this node
+/// computes the cluster-wide gauges; a node that doesn't leaves them out.
+pub fn sample(calculates: bool) -> Vec<Metric> {
     let mut last_guard = LAST.lock().unwrap();
     let last = last_guard.get_or_insert_with(AHashMap::new);
     let mut samples = Vec::new();
@@ -140,6 +151,9 @@ pub fn sample() -> Vec<Metric> {
 
     // Gauges: the reading, always (MON-5)
     for gauge in Collector::collect_gauges() {
+        if !calculates && CLUSTER_GAUGES.contains(&gauge.id()) {
+            continue;
+        }
         samples.push(Metric::Gauge(MetricCount {
             count: gauge.get(),
             metric: gauge.id(),
@@ -181,7 +195,7 @@ impl Server {
         if store.is_none() {
             return;
         }
-        let samples = sample();
+        let samples = sample(self.core.network.roles.metrics_calculate);
         let count = samples.len();
         let started = std::time::Instant::now();
         match store.write_metrics(samples, now()).await {
@@ -271,3 +285,41 @@ impl Server {
         }
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn gauges(samples: &[Metric]) -> Vec<MetricType> {
+        samples
+            .iter()
+            .filter_map(|m| match m {
+                Metric::Gauge(g) => Some(g.metric),
+                _ => None,
+            })
+            .collect()
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn only_the_calculating_node_stores_cluster_gauges() {
+        let all = gauges(&sample(true));
+        let local = gauges(&sample(false));
+        for metric in CLUSTER_GAUGES {
+            assert!(
+                all.contains(&metric),
+                "{metric:?} missing on the calculating node"
+            );
+            assert!(
+                !local.contains(&metric),
+                "{metric:?} stored by a node that doesn't compute it"
+            );
+        }
+        // Per-node gauges are stored either way
+        for metric in [MetricType::ServerMemory, MetricType::HttpActiveConnections] {
+            assert!(
+                all.contains(&metric) && local.contains(&metric),
+                "{metric:?}"
+            );
+        }
+    }
+}