diff --git a/src/riak_kv_wterl_backend.erl b/src/riak_kv_wterl_backend.erl
index 6ba21ca..d86b595 100644
--- a/src/riak_kv_wterl_backend.erl
+++ b/src/riak_kv_wterl_backend.erl
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ max_sessions(Config) ->
 establish_utility_cursors(Connection, Table) ->
     case wterl:cursor_open(Connection, Table) of
         {ok, IsEmptyCursor} ->
-            case wterl:cursor_open(Connection, "table:statistics") of
+            case wterl:cursor_open(Connection, "table:statistics", [{statistics_fast, true}]) of
                 {ok, StatusCursor} ->
                     {ok, IsEmptyCursor, StatusCursor};
                 {error, Reason1} ->
diff --git a/src/wterl.erl b/src/wterl.erl
index f2dda16..ee672a9 100644
--- a/src/wterl.erl
+++ b/src/wterl.erl
@@ -461,6 +461,7 @@ config_to_bin([{Key, Value} | Rest], Acc) ->
      {eviction_target, integer},
      {eviction_trigger, integer},
      {extensions, {list, quoted}},
+     {statistics_fast, bool},
      {force, bool},
      {from, string},
      {hazard_max, integer},