diff --git a/functions.php b/functions.php
index 5e789bfae..d977745f9 100644
--- a/functions.php
+++ b/functions.php
@@ -324,9 +324,7 @@
 				$entry_link = db_escape_string($entry_link);
 				$entry_comments = db_escape_string($entry_comments);
 
-				if (defined($item["slash"])) {
-					$num_comments = db_escape_string($item["slash"]["comments"]);
-				}
+				$num_comments = db_escape_string($item["slash"]["comments"]);
 
 				if (!$num_comments) $num_comments = 0;