Index: modules/comment/comment.module
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/drupal/drupal/modules/comment/comment.module,v
retrieving revision 1.673
diff -u -p -r1.673 comment.module
--- modules/comment/comment.module	20 Dec 2008 18:24:35 -0000	1.673
+++ modules/comment/comment.module	30 Dec 2008 02:21:58 -0000
@@ -1043,7 +1043,8 @@ function comment_render($node, $cid = 0)
         $output .= theme('comment_view', $comment, $node, $links);
       }
     }
-    else {
+    // Only attempt to render comments if the node has been commented upon.
+    elseif ($node->comment_count) {
 
       //TODO Convert to dynamic queries once the pager query is updated to the new DBTNG API.