diff --git a/elasticsearch-model/lib/elasticsearch/model/response/pagination/kaminari.rb b/elasticsearch-model/lib/elasticsearch/model/response/pagination/kaminari.rb
index 66de07cc..b0e9f2ad 100644
--- a/elasticsearch-model/lib/elasticsearch/model/response/pagination/kaminari.rb
+++ b/elasticsearch-model/lib/elasticsearch/model/response/pagination/kaminari.rb
@@ -106,10 +106,17 @@ def offset(value)
             self
           end
 
+          # Set the "total_count" value
+          #
+          def total(value)
+            @total_count = value.to_i
+            self
+          end
+
           # Returns the total number of results
           #
           def total_count
-            results.total
+            @total_count || results.total
           end
 
           # Returns the models's `per_page` value or the default
diff --git a/elasticsearch-model/lib/elasticsearch/model/response/pagination/will_paginate.rb b/elasticsearch-model/lib/elasticsearch/model/response/pagination/will_paginate.rb
index 2d465854..2eef2599 100644
--- a/elasticsearch-model/lib/elasticsearch/model/response/pagination/will_paginate.rb
+++ b/elasticsearch-model/lib/elasticsearch/model/response/pagination/will_paginate.rb
@@ -55,9 +55,11 @@ def paginate(options)
             param_name = options[:param_name] || :page
             page       = [options[param_name].to_i, 1].max
             per_page   = (options[:per_page] || __default_per_page).to_i
+            total      = options[:total_entries]
 
             search.definition.update size: per_page,
                                      from: (page - 1) * per_page
+            @total_entries = total.to_i if total.present?
             self
           end
 
@@ -94,7 +96,7 @@ def per_page(num = nil)
           # Returns the total number of results
           #
           def total_entries
-            results.total
+            @total_entries || results.total
           end
 
           # Returns the models's `per_page` value or the default
diff --git a/elasticsearch-model/spec/elasticsearch/model/response/pagination/kaminari_spec.rb b/elasticsearch-model/spec/elasticsearch/model/response/pagination/kaminari_spec.rb
index 15ee6113..e0bcab99 100644
--- a/elasticsearch-model/spec/elasticsearch/model/response/pagination/kaminari_spec.rb
+++ b/elasticsearch-model/spec/elasticsearch/model/response/pagination/kaminari_spec.rb
@@ -298,8 +298,20 @@ def self.document_type; 'bar'; end
         allow(response.results).to receive(:total).and_return(100)
       end
 
-      it 'returns the total number of hits' do
-        expect(response.total_count).to eq(100)
+      context 'when a custom value is not set' do
+        it 'returns the total number of hits' do
+          expect(response.total_count).to eq(100)
+        end
+      end
+
+      context 'when a value is set via the #total method' do
+        before do
+          response.total(50)
+        end
+
+        it 'returns the total number of hits' do
+          expect(response.total_count).to eq(50)
+        end
       end
     end
 
diff --git a/elasticsearch-model/spec/elasticsearch/model/response/pagination/will_paginate_spec.rb b/elasticsearch-model/spec/elasticsearch/model/response/pagination/will_paginate_spec.rb
index 25f1f0d1..8da294a5 100644
--- a/elasticsearch-model/spec/elasticsearch/model/response/pagination/will_paginate_spec.rb
+++ b/elasticsearch-model/spec/elasticsearch/model/response/pagination/will_paginate_spec.rb
@@ -245,8 +245,20 @@ class WillPaginateResponse < Elasticsearch::Model::Response::Response
         allow(response).to receive(:results).and_return(double('results', total: 100))
       end
 
-      it 'returns the total results' do
-        expect(response.total_entries).to eq(100)
+      context 'when a custom value is not set' do
+        it 'returns the total results' do
+          expect(response.total_entries).to eq(100)
+        end
+      end
+
+      context 'when a value is set via the #paginate method' do
+        before do
+          response.paginate(total_entries: 50)
+        end
+
+        it 'returns the total_entries value' do
+          expect(response.total_entries).to eq(50)
+        end
       end
     end
   end