diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/helpers.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/helpers.py
index e793be27b5..c35559255d 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/helpers.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/helpers.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import urllib
 import os
 
 def pluralize(singular_term, count):
-    if int(count) >= 2:
+    if int(count) >= 2 or int(count) == 0:
         return singular_term + 's'
     return singular_term
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/mustache_helpers.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/mustache_helpers.py
index 1961bf5c90..6f04ca527c 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/mustache_helpers.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/mustache_helpers.py
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ import inspect
 
 def pluralize(content, text):
     num, word = text.split(' ')
-    if int(num or '0') >= 2:
+    num = int(num or '0')
+    if num >= 2 or num == 0:
         return word + 's'
     else:
         return word