diff --git a/wp-includes/template-functions.php b/wp-includes/template-functions.php
index 63eca98ae0..7dd036ac64 100644
--- a/wp-includes/template-functions.php
+++ b/wp-includes/template-functions.php
@@ -1785,7 +1785,8 @@ function comment_text_rss() {
 	$comment_text = convert_chars($comment_text);
 	$comment_text = convert_bbcode($comment_text);
 	$comment_text = convert_gmcode($comment_text);
-	$comment_text = convert_smilies($comment_text);
+// smiley conversion is breaking things
+//	$comment_text = convert_smilies($comment_text);
 	$comment_text = apply_filters('comment_text', $comment_text);
 	$comment_text = strip_tags($comment_text);
 	$comment_text = htmlspecialchars($comment_text);