diff --git a/files/routes/posts.py b/files/routes/posts.py
index daea8ff6ba..94ccf1aa83 100644
--- a/files/routes/posts.py
+++ b/files/routes/posts.py
@@ -182,7 +182,9 @@ def post_id(pid, anything=None, v=None):
 		post.preloaded_comments = [x for x in comments if not (x.author and x.author.shadowbanned) or (v and v.id == x.author_id)]
 
 
-	read = session["read_comments"]
+	if session.get("read_comments"): read = session["read_comments"]
+	else: read = None
+
 	read_comments = [x.id for x in post.preloaded_comments]
 	if session.get("read_comments"): session["read_comments"] += read_comments
 	else: session["read_comments"] = read_comments