diff --git a/src/main/java/org/olat/core/commons/services/commentAndRating/ui/UserCommentsAndRatingsController.java b/src/main/java/org/olat/core/commons/services/commentAndRating/ui/UserCommentsAndRatingsController.java
index 305cbe7da4b65315a1c17988e1b3f58eb3190ebb..df18714648720ba54dfa28d60b030160e047880b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/olat/core/commons/services/commentAndRating/ui/UserCommentsAndRatingsController.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/olat/core/commons/services/commentAndRating/ui/UserCommentsAndRatingsController.java
@@ -212,7 +212,11 @@ public class UserCommentsAndRatingsController extends BasicController implements
 	 * @return
 	 */
 	long getCommentsCount() {
-		return commentsCount.longValue();
+		if (commentsCount != null) {			
+			return commentsCount.longValue();
+		} else {
+			return 0l;
+		}
 	}
 
 	/**