diff --git a/wp-includes/link-template.php b/wp-includes/link-template.php
index 4409bb080a..0244cb49c4 100644
--- a/wp-includes/link-template.php
+++ b/wp-includes/link-template.php
@@ -1261,9 +1261,6 @@ function get_next_comments_link( $label = '', $max_page = 0 ) {
 
 	$page = get_query_var('cpage');
 
-	if ( !$page )
-		$page = 1;
-
 	$nextpage = intval($page) + 1;
 
 	if ( empty($max_page) )
@@ -1307,10 +1304,7 @@ function get_previous_comments_link( $label = '' ) {
 
 	$page = get_query_var('cpage');
 
-	if ( !$page )
-		$page = 1;
-
-	if ( $page <= 1 )
+	if ( intval($page) <= 1 )
 		return;
 
 	$prevpage = intval($page) - 1;