diff --git a/modules/ui/improveOSM_comments.js b/modules/ui/improveOSM_comments.js
index 490d7b5d9..47608e0c5 100644
--- a/modules/ui/improveOSM_comments.js
+++ b/modules/ui/improveOSM_comments.js
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ export function uiImproveOsmComments() {
 
         // must retrieve comments from API before they can be displayed
         services.improveOSM.getComments(_error, function(err, d) {
+            if (!d.comments) { return; } // nothing to do here
+
             var commentEnter = comments.selectAll('.comment')
                 .data(d.comments)
                 .enter()