diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/discussion/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/discussion/views.py
index 318c19325f..8fb90e1b67 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/discussion/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/discussion/views.py
@@ -153,9 +153,10 @@ def get_threads(request, course, user_info, discussion_id=None, per_page=THREADS
     # If not provided with a discussion id, filter threads by commentable ids
     # which are accessible to the current user.
     if discussion_id is None:
+        discussion_category_ids = set(utils.get_discussion_categories_ids(course, request.user))
         threads = [
             thread for thread in threads
-            if utils.discussion_category_id_access(course, request.user, thread.get('commentable_id'), thread)
+            if thread.get('commentable_id') in discussion_category_ids
         ]
 
     for thread in threads:
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/utils.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/utils.py
index 514ec002f9..24c928c349 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/utils.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/utils.py
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ def has_required_keys(xblock):
             log.debug(
                 "Required key '%s' not in discussion %s, leaving out of category map",
                 key,
-                getattr(xblock, 'location', None)
+                xblock.location
             )
             return False
     return True