diff --git a/marko/page/story-content/components/create-comment-modal/component.js b/marko/page/story-content/components/create-comment-modal/component.js
index 3617ce1..4c7c1cd 100644
--- a/marko/page/story-content/components/create-comment-modal/component.js
+++ b/marko/page/story-content/components/create-comment-modal/component.js
@@ -30,9 +30,11 @@ module.exports = class {
 
     const comments = this.input.chapter.comments || []
     const lastComment = comments[comments.length - 1]
-    let date = lastComment.fictionalDate || chapter.fictionalDate
-    if (date != null) {
-      this.change("fictionalDate", {target: {value: moment(date).format("MMM D, YYYY")}})
+    if (lastComment != null) {
+      let date = lastComment.fictionalDate || this.input.chapter.fictionalDate
+      if (date != null) {
+        this.change("fictionalDate", {target: {value: moment(date).format("MMM D, YYYY")}})
+      }
     }
   }