diff --git a/src/nested_dask/utils/utils.py b/src/nested_dask/utils/utils.py
index f115cac..e6c250d 100644
--- a/src/nested_dask/utils/utils.py
+++ b/src/nested_dask/utils/utils.py
@@ -49,6 +49,6 @@ def count_nested(df, nested, by=None, join=True) -> NestedFrame:
     # and second depending on join
     if join:
         # adds the meta onto the existing meta
-        meta = pd.concat([df.head(0), meta])
+        meta = pd.concat([df._meta, meta])
 
     return df.map_partitions(lambda x: npd_utils.count_nested(x, nested, by=by, join=join), meta=meta)