diff --git a/src/components/AppNavigationItem/AppNavigationItem.vue b/src/components/AppNavigationItem/AppNavigationItem.vue
index 5575e64286..5064f147d5 100644
--- a/src/components/AppNavigationItem/AppNavigationItem.vue
+++ b/src/components/AppNavigationItem/AppNavigationItem.vue
@@ -156,10 +156,7 @@ Just set the `pinned` prop.
 
 		<!-- Counter and Actions -->
 		<div v-if="hasUtils" class="app-navigation-entry__utils">
-			<div v-if="$slots.counter"
-				class="app-navigation-entry__counter-wrapper">
-				<slot name="counter" />
-			</div>
+			<slot name="counter" />
 			<Actions menu-align="right"
 				:placement="menuPlacement"
 				:open="menuOpen"
@@ -451,7 +448,6 @@ export default {
 	box-sizing: border-box;
 	width: 100%;
 	min-height: $clickable-area;
-	padding: 4px;
 
 	// When .active class is applied, change color background of link and utils. The
 	// !important prevents the focus state to override the active state.
@@ -586,12 +582,11 @@ export default {
 	display: flex;
 	align-items: center;
 	flex: 0 1 auto;
-}
-
-/* counter */
-.app-navigation-entry__counter-wrapper {
-	// Add slightly more space to the right of the counter
-	margin-right: 2px;
+	// visually balance the menu so it's not
+	// stuck to the scrollbar
+	.action-item {
+		margin-right: 2px;
+	}
 }
 
 // STATES