diff --git a/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/views/discussion_thread_show_view.coffee b/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/views/discussion_thread_show_view.coffee
index a5a1deac10..56525af347 100644
--- a/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/views/discussion_thread_show_view.coffee
+++ b/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/views/discussion_thread_show_view.coffee
@@ -128,7 +128,9 @@ if Backbone?
         type: "POST"
         success: (response, textStatus) =>
           if textStatus == 'success'
-            @model.set('pinned', true)      
+            @model.set('pinned', true)
+        error: =>
+          $('.admin-pin').text("Pinning not currently available")
        
     unPin: ->
       url = @model.urlFor("unPinThread")
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/base/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/base/views.py
index 4d7b56122c..69609dcf01 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/base/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/base/views.py
@@ -116,6 +116,10 @@ def create_thread(request, course_id, commentable_id):
 
     thread.save()
 
+    #patch for backward compatibility to comments service
+    if not 'pinned' in thread.attributes:
+        thread['pinned'] = False
+    
     if post.get('auto_subscribe', 'false').lower() == 'true':
         user = cc.User.from_django_user(request.user)
         user.follow(thread)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
index 301bb141be..3eee0948da 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
@@ -98,6 +98,11 @@ def get_threads(request, course_id, discussion_id=None, per_page=THREADS_PER_PAG
         else:
             thread['group_name'] = ""
             thread['group_string'] = "This post visible to everyone."
+        
+        #patch for backward compatibility to comments service
+        if not 'pinned' in thread:
+            thread['pinned'] = False
+        
 
     query_params['page'] = page
     query_params['num_pages'] = num_pages
@@ -245,6 +250,11 @@ def single_thread(request, course_id, discussion_id, thread_id):
 
     try:
         thread = cc.Thread.find(thread_id).retrieve(recursive=True, user_id=request.user.id)
+        
+        #patch for backward compatibility with comments service
+        if not 'pinned' in thread.attributes:
+            thread['pinned'] = False
+        
     except (cc.utils.CommentClientError, cc.utils.CommentClientUnknownError) as err:
         log.error("Error loading single thread.")
         raise Http404
@@ -285,6 +295,10 @@ def single_thread(request, course_id, discussion_id, thread_id):
             if thread.get('group_id') and not thread.get('group_name'):
                 thread['group_name'] = get_cohort_by_id(course_id, thread.get('group_id')).name
 
+            #patch for backward compatibility with comments service
+            if not "pinned" in thread:
+                thread["pinned"] = False
+
         threads = [utils.safe_content(thread) for thread in threads]
 
         #recent_active_threads = cc.search_recent_active_threads(
diff --git a/lms/templates/discussion/_underscore_templates.html b/lms/templates/discussion/_underscore_templates.html
index 5fdfb8aa82..24e3b467be 100644
--- a/lms/templates/discussion/_underscore_templates.html
+++ b/lms/templates/discussion/_underscore_templates.html
@@ -45,10 +45,10 @@
       </header>
 
       <div class="post-body">${'<%- body %>'}</div>
-      
       % if course and has_permission(user, 'openclose_thread', course.id):
       <div class="admin-pin discussion-pin notpinned" data-role="thread-pin" data-tooltip="pin this thread">                
       <i class="icon"></i><span class="pin-label">Pin Thread</span></div> 
+
       %else:
       ${"<% if (pinned) { %>"}
       <div class="discussion-pin notpinned" data-role="thread-pin" data-tooltip="pin this thread">                
@@ -57,9 +57,6 @@
       % endif
       
       
-      
-      
-      
       ${'<% if (obj.courseware_url) { %>'}
       <div class="post-context">
           (this post is about <a href="${'<%- courseware_url%>'}">${'<%- courseware_title %>'}</a>)