diff --git a/wp-content/themes/twentyeleven/comments.php b/wp-content/themes/twentyeleven/comments.php
index 63f48280b5..6b77feeacc 100644
--- a/wp-content/themes/twentyeleven/comments.php
+++ b/wp-content/themes/twentyeleven/comments.php
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
 		/* If there are no comments and comments are closed, let's leave a little note, shall we?
 		 * But we only want the note on posts and pages that had comments in the first place.
 		 */
-		if ( ! comments_open() && ! empty( $comments_by_type['comment'] ) ) : ?>
+		if ( ! comments_open() && get_comments_number() ) : ?>
 		<p class="nocomments"><?php _e( 'Comments are closed.' , 'twentyeleven' ); ?></p>
 		<?php endif; ?>