diff --git a/wp-includes/comment-template.php b/wp-includes/comment-template.php
index f8ebaecdcc..f3e55bf03e 100644
--- a/wp-includes/comment-template.php
+++ b/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;
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index b48079bc47..1dc52bdfbc 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '4.4-alpha-34502';
+$wp_version = '4.4-alpha-34503';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.