diff --git a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php
index eae452f542..771123ff5a 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php
@@ -833,10 +833,9 @@ class WP_Comment_Query {
 			}
 		}
 
-		$date_query = $this->query_vars['date_query'];
-		if ( ! empty( $date_query ) && is_array( $date_query ) ) {
-			$date_query_object = new WP_Date_Query( $date_query, 'comment_date' );
-			$this->sql_clauses['where']['date_query'] = preg_replace( '/^\s*AND\s*/', '', $date_query_object->get_sql() );
+		if ( ! empty( $this->query_vars['date_query'] ) && is_array( $this->query_vars['date_query'] ) ) {
+			$this->date_query = new WP_Date_Query( $this->query_vars['date_query'], 'comment_date' );
+			$this->sql_clauses['where']['date_query'] = preg_replace( '/^\s*AND\s*/', '', $this->date_query->get_sql() );
 		}
 
 		$where = implode( ' AND ', $this->sql_clauses['where'] );