diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/comment_tree.py b/r2/r2/lib/comment_tree.py
index b458abaa6..8c0b7ceaf 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/comment_tree.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/comment_tree.py
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ def link_comments_and_sort(link_id, sort):
                     % link_id)
         parents = {}
 
-    if not parents:
+    if not parents and len(cids) > 0:
         with g.make_lock(lock_key(link_id)):
             # reload from the cache so the sorter and parents are
             # maximally consistent