diff --git a/lib/comment_tree.rb b/lib/comment_tree.rb
index f43ab7e40..eedb64d96 100644
--- a/lib/comment_tree.rb
+++ b/lib/comment_tree.rb
@@ -2,14 +2,17 @@ class CommentTree
 
   ROOT_COMMENTS_PER_PAGE = 10
 
-  attr_accessor :root_comments, :comments, :commentable, :page, :order
+  attr_reader :root_comments, :commentable, :page, :order
 
   def initialize(commentable, page, order = "confidence_score", valuations: false)
     @commentable = commentable
     @page = page
     @order = order
     @valuations = valuations
-    @comments = root_comments + root_descendants
+  end
+
+  def comments
+    @comments ||= root_comments + root_descendants
   end
 
   def root_comments
diff --git a/lib/merged_comment_tree.rb b/lib/merged_comment_tree.rb
index 30bacbaf8..efaca5f2f 100644
--- a/lib/merged_comment_tree.rb
+++ b/lib/merged_comment_tree.rb
@@ -1,14 +1,10 @@
 class MergedCommentTree < CommentTree
-  attr_accessor :commentables, :array_order
+  attr_reader :commentables, :array_order
 
   def initialize(commentables, page, order = "confidence_score")
     @commentables = commentables
-    @commentable = commentables.first
-    @page = page
-    @order = order
+    super(commentables.first, page, order)
     @array_order = set_array_order(order)
-
-    @comments = root_comments + root_descendants
   end
 
   def root_comments