diff --git a/includes/classes/Indexable/Comment/QueryIntegration.php b/includes/classes/Indexable/Comment/QueryIntegration.php
index 93cabe70b4..7520dfa579 100644
--- a/includes/classes/Indexable/Comment/QueryIntegration.php
+++ b/includes/classes/Indexable/Comment/QueryIntegration.php
@@ -113,6 +113,8 @@ public function maybe_filter_query( $results, WP_Comment_Query $query ) {
 			return $new_comments;
 		}
 
+		$new_comments = [];
+
 		$formatted_args = $this->indexable->format_args( $query->query_vars );
 
 		$scope = 'current';