diff --git a/src/wp-includes/comment-template.php b/src/wp-includes/comment-template.php
index f8ebaecdcc..f3e55bf03e 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/comment-template.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/comment-template.php
@@ -1240,6 +1240,8 @@ function comments_template( $file = '/comments.php', $separate_comments = false
 	if ( $separate_comments ) {
 		$wp_query->comments_by_type = separate_comments($comments);
 		$comments_by_type = &$wp_query->comments_by_type;
+	} else {
+		$wp_query->comments_by_type = array();
 	}
 
 	$overridden_cpage = false;