Index: modules/comment/views_handler_field_node_new_comments.inc
--- modules/comment/views_handler_field_node_new_comments.inc Base (1.5)
+++ modules/comment/views_handler_field_node_new_comments.inc Locally Modified (Based On 1.5)
@@ -88,5 +88,8 @@
     if (!empty($values->{$this->field_alias}) || empty($this->options['no_empty'])) {
       return $this->render_link(parent::render($values), $values);
     }
+    else {
+      $this->options['alter']['make_link'] = FALSE;
+    }
   }
 }