diff --git a/netbox/dcim/apps.py b/netbox/dcim/apps.py
index 0868f031c..2323f55af 100644
--- a/netbox/dcim/apps.py
+++ b/netbox/dcim/apps.py
@@ -9,10 +9,7 @@ class DCIMConfig(AppConfig):
 
     def ready(self):
         from . import signals, search
-        from .models import (
-            CableTermination, ConsolePort, ConsoleServerPort, DeviceBay, FrontPort,
-            Interface, InventoryItem, PowerOutlet, PowerPort, RearPort,
-        )
+        from .models import CableTermination, Device
 
         from utilities.counter import connect_counters
 
@@ -30,4 +27,4 @@ class DCIMConfig(AppConfig):
             '_site': 'site',
         })
 
-        connect_counters(self)
+        connect_counters([Device,])
diff --git a/netbox/dcim/models/device_components.py b/netbox/dcim/models/device_components.py
index 68c7eb436..d7509a7ac 100644
--- a/netbox/dcim/models/device_components.py
+++ b/netbox/dcim/models/device_components.py
@@ -470,7 +470,7 @@ class PowerOutlet(ModularComponentModel, CabledObjectModel, PathEndpoint, Tracki
 # Interfaces
 #
 
-class BaseInterface(models.Model, TrackingModelMixin):
+class BaseInterface(models.Model):
     """
     Abstract base class for fields shared by dcim.Interface and virtualization.VMInterface.
     """
@@ -538,7 +538,7 @@ class BaseInterface(models.Model, TrackingModelMixin):
         return self.fhrp_group_assignments.count()
 
 
-class Interface(ModularComponentModel, BaseInterface, CabledObjectModel, PathEndpoint):
+class Interface(ModularComponentModel, BaseInterface, CabledObjectModel, PathEndpoint, TrackingModelMixin):
     """
     A network interface within a Device. A physical Interface can connect to exactly one other Interface.
     """
diff --git a/netbox/utilities/counter.py b/netbox/utilities/counter.py
index 9396f49c8..ed761732e 100644
--- a/netbox/utilities/counter.py
+++ b/netbox/utilities/counter.py
@@ -78,13 +78,11 @@ class Counter:
         return self.set_counter_field(parent_id, F(self.counter_name) + amount)
 
 
-def connect_counters(app_config):
-    models = app_config.get_models()
+def connect_counters(models):
     for model in models:
-        if issubclass(model, TrackingModelMixin):
-            fields = model._meta.get_fields()
-            for field in fields:
-                if type(field) is CounterCacheField:
-                    to_model = apps.get_model(field.to_model_name)
-                    to_field = getattr(to_model, field.to_field_name)
-                    Counter(field.name, to_field)
+        fields = model._meta.get_fields()
+        for field in fields:
+            if type(field) is CounterCacheField:
+                to_model = apps.get_model(field.to_model_name)
+                to_field = getattr(to_model, field.to_field_name)
+                Counter(field.name, to_field)
diff --git a/netbox/utilities/tests/test_counters.py b/netbox/utilities/tests/test_counters.py
index d492f7935..f554fc07f 100644
--- a/netbox/utilities/tests/test_counters.py
+++ b/netbox/utilities/tests/test_counters.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class CountersTest(TestCase):
 
     def test_interface_count_addition(self):
         """
-        When a new Cable is created, it must be cached on either termination point.
+        When a tracked object (Interface) is added the tracking counter should be updated.
         """
         device1 = Device.objects.get(name='TestDevice1')
         device2 = Device.objects.get(name='TestDevice2')
@@ -43,8 +43,7 @@ class CountersTest(TestCase):
 
     def test_interface_count_deletion(self):
         """
-        When a Cable is deleted, the `cable` field on its termination points must be nullified. The str() method
-        should still return the PK of the string even after being nullified.
+        When a tracked object (Interface) is deleted the tracking counter should be updated.
         """
         device1 = Device.objects.get(name='TestDevice1')
         device2 = Device.objects.get(name='TestDevice2')
diff --git a/netbox/virtualization/apps.py b/netbox/virtualization/apps.py
index 32e895b0b..6dae005c7 100644
--- a/netbox/virtualization/apps.py
+++ b/netbox/virtualization/apps.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ class VirtualizationConfig(AppConfig):
 
     def ready(self):
         from . import search
+        from .models import VirtualMachine
         from utilities.counter import connect_counters
 
-        connect_counters(self)
+        connect_counters([VirtualMachine,])