diff --git a/src/industry.h b/src/industry.h
index 99ba24924e..63c647a77f 100644
--- a/src/industry.h
+++ b/src/industry.h
@@ -78,6 +78,48 @@ struct Industry : IndustryPool::PoolItem<&_industry_pool> {
 
 	static Industry *GetRandom();
 	static void PostDestructor(size_t index);
+
+	/**
+	 * Increment the count of industries for this type.
+	 * @param type IndustryType to increment
+	 * @pre type < NUM_INDUSTRYTYPES
+	 */
+	static inline void IncIndustryTypeCount(IndustryType type)
+	{
+		assert(type < NUM_INDUSTRYTYPES);
+		counts[type]++;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Decrement the count of industries for this type.
+	 * @param type IndustryType to decrement
+	 * @pre type < NUM_INDUSTRYTYPES
+	 */
+	static inline void DecIndustryTypeCount(IndustryType type)
+	{
+		assert(type < NUM_INDUSTRYTYPES);
+		counts[type]--;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Get the count of industries for this type.
+	 * @param type IndustryType to query
+	 * @pre type < NUM_INDUSTRYTYPES
+	 */
+	static inline uint16 GetIndustryTypeCount(IndustryType type)
+	{
+		assert(type < NUM_INDUSTRYTYPES);
+		return counts[type];
+	}
+
+	/** Resets industry counts. */
+	static inline void ResetIndustryCounts()
+	{
+		memset(&counts, 0, sizeof(counts));
+	}
+
+protected:
+	static uint16 counts[NUM_INDUSTRYTYPES]; ///< Number of industries per type ingame
 };
 
 void PlantRandomFarmField(const Industry *i);
diff --git a/src/industry_cmd.cpp b/src/industry_cmd.cpp
index 93f508aac6..999194762a 100644
--- a/src/industry_cmd.cpp
+++ b/src/industry_cmd.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ void BuildOilRig(TileIndex tile);
 static byte _industry_sound_ctr;
 static TileIndex _industry_sound_tile;
 
-uint16 _industry_counts[NUM_INDUSTRYTYPES]; ///< Number of industries per type ingame
+uint16 Industry::counts[NUM_INDUSTRYTYPES];
 
 IndustrySpec _industry_specs[NUM_INDUSTRYTYPES];
 IndustryTileSpec _industry_tile_specs[NUM_INDUSTRYTILES];
@@ -134,7 +134,8 @@ Industry::~Industry()
 	if (CleaningPool()) return;
 
 	/* Industry can also be destroyed when not fully initialized.
-	 * This means that we do not have to clear tiles either. */
+	 * This means that we do not have to clear tiles either.
+	 * Also we must not decrement industry counts in that case. */
 	if (this->location.w == 0) return;
 
 	TILE_AREA_LOOP(tile_cur, this->location) {
@@ -1584,7 +1585,7 @@ static void DoCreateNewIndustry(Industry *i, TileIndex tile, int type, const Ind
 
 	i->location = TileArea(tile, 1, 1);
 	i->type = type;
-	IncIndustryTypeCount(type);
+	Industry::IncIndustryTypeCount(type);
 
 	i->produced_cargo[0] = indspec->produced_cargo[0];
 	i->produced_cargo[1] = indspec->produced_cargo[1];
@@ -2059,7 +2060,7 @@ static bool CheckIndustryCloseDownProtection(IndustryType type)
 
 	/* oil wells (or the industries with that flag set) are always allowed to closedown */
 	if ((indspec->behaviour & INDUSTRYBEH_DONT_INCR_PROD) && _settings_game.game_creation.landscape == LT_TEMPERATE) return false;
-	return (indspec->behaviour & INDUSTRYBEH_CANCLOSE_LASTINSTANCE) == 0 && GetIndustryTypeCount(type) <= 1;
+	return (indspec->behaviour & INDUSTRYBEH_CANCLOSE_LASTINSTANCE) == 0 && Industry::GetIndustryTypeCount(type) <= 1;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -2469,7 +2470,7 @@ void InitializeIndustries()
 {
 	_industry_pool.CleanPool();
 
-	ResetIndustryCounts();
+	Industry::ResetIndustryCounts();
 	_industry_sound_tile = 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/industrytype.h b/src/industrytype.h
index c3570d7854..f454836341 100644
--- a/src/industrytype.h
+++ b/src/industrytype.h
@@ -204,42 +204,6 @@ static inline IndustryGfx GetTranslatedIndustryTileID(IndustryGfx gfx)
 	}
 }
 
-extern uint16 _industry_counts[NUM_INDUSTRYTYPES]; // Number of industries per type ingame
-
-/** Increment the count of industries for this type
- * @param type IndustryType to increment
- * @pre type < INVALID_INDUSTRYTYPE */
-static inline void IncIndustryTypeCount(IndustryType type)
-{
-	assert(type < INVALID_INDUSTRYTYPE);
-	_industry_counts[type]++;
-}
-
-/** Decrement the count of industries for this type
- * @param type IndustryType to decrement
- * @pre type < INVALID_INDUSTRYTYPE */
-static inline void DecIndustryTypeCount(IndustryType type)
-{
-	assert(type < INVALID_INDUSTRYTYPE);
-	_industry_counts[type]--;
-}
-
-/** get the count of industries for this type
- * @param type IndustryType to query
- * @pre type < INVALID_INDUSTRYTYPE */
-static inline uint8 GetIndustryTypeCount(IndustryType type)
-{
-	assert(type < INVALID_INDUSTRYTYPE);
-	return min(_industry_counts[type], 0xFF); // callback expects only a byte, so cut it
-}
-
-/** Resets both the total_industries and the _industry_counts
- * This way, we centralize all counts activities */
-static inline void ResetIndustryCounts()
-{
-	memset(&_industry_counts, 0, sizeof(_industry_counts));
-}
-
 static const uint8 IT_INVALID = 255;
 
 #endif /* INDUSTRYTYPE_H */
diff --git a/src/newgrf_industries.cpp b/src/newgrf_industries.cpp
index ceff4923f4..f5d5301fa1 100644
--- a/src/newgrf_industries.cpp
+++ b/src/newgrf_industries.cpp
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ static uint32 GetCountAndDistanceOfClosestInstance(byte param_setID, byte layout
 		/* If the filter is 0, it could be because none was specified as well as being really a 0.
 		 * In either case, just do the regular var67 */
 		closest_dist = GetClosestIndustry(current->location.tile, ind_index, current);
-		count = GetIndustryTypeCount(ind_index);
+		count = min(Industry::GetIndustryTypeCount(ind_index), UINT8_MAX); // clamp to 8 bit
 	} else {
 		/* Count only those who match the same industry type and layout filter
 		 * Unfortunately, we have to do it manually */
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ CommandCost CheckIfCallBackAllowsCreation(TileIndex tile, IndustryType type, uin
 	Industry ind;
 	ind.index = INVALID_INDUSTRY;
 	ind.location.tile = tile;
-	ind.location.w = 0;
+	ind.location.w = 0; // important to mark the industry invalid
 	ind.type = type;
 	ind.selected_layout = layout;
 	ind.town = ClosestTownFromTile(tile, UINT_MAX);
diff --git a/src/saveload/industry_sl.cpp b/src/saveload/industry_sl.cpp
index 9b4dd2b3db..42c8fda328 100644
--- a/src/saveload/industry_sl.cpp
+++ b/src/saveload/industry_sl.cpp
@@ -107,12 +107,12 @@ static void Load_INDY()
 {
 	int index;
 
-	ResetIndustryCounts();
+	Industry::ResetIndustryCounts();
 
 	while ((index = SlIterateArray()) != -1) {
 		Industry *i = new (index) Industry();
 		SlObject(i, _industry_desc);
-		IncIndustryTypeCount(i->type);
+		Industry::IncIndustryTypeCount(i->type);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/saveload/oldloader_sl.cpp b/src/saveload/oldloader_sl.cpp
index e6dc18660e..68c3daf7a3 100644
--- a/src/saveload/oldloader_sl.cpp
+++ b/src/saveload/oldloader_sl.cpp
@@ -841,7 +841,7 @@ static bool LoadOldIndustry(LoadgameState *ls, int num)
 			i->random_colour = RemapTTOColour(i->random_colour);
 		}
 
-		IncIndustryTypeCount(i->type);
+		Industry::IncIndustryTypeCount(i->type);
 	} else {
 		delete i;
 	}
diff --git a/src/smallmap_gui.cpp b/src/smallmap_gui.cpp
index 40d238c9b0..e449572171 100644
--- a/src/smallmap_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/smallmap_gui.cpp
@@ -1092,8 +1092,7 @@ public:
 						/* Industry name must be formatted, since it's not in tiny font in the specs.
 						 * So, draw with a parameter and use the STR_SMALLMAP_INDUSTRY string, which is tiny font */
 						SetDParam(0, tbl->legend);
-						assert(tbl->type < NUM_INDUSTRYTYPES);
-						SetDParam(1, _industry_counts[tbl->type]);
+						SetDParam(1, Industry::GetIndustryTypeCount(tbl->type));
 						if (!tbl->show_on_map) {
 							/* Simply draw the string, not the black border of the legend colour.
 							 * This will enforce the idea of the disabled item */