diff --git a/django/contrib/comments/__init__.py b/django/contrib/comments/__init__.py
index 2455d40e924..55b8bac94a0 100644
--- a/django/contrib/comments/__init__.py
+++ b/django/contrib/comments/__init__.py
@@ -10,14 +10,14 @@ def get_comment_app():
     Get the comment app (i.e. "django.contrib.comments") as defined in the settings
     """
     # Make sure the app's in INSTALLED_APPS
-    comments_app = getattr(settings, 'COMMENTS_APP', 'django.contrib.comments')
+    comments_app = get_comment_app_name()
     if comments_app not in settings.INSTALLED_APPS:
         raise ImproperlyConfigured("The COMMENTS_APP (%r) "\
                                    "must be in INSTALLED_APPS" % settings.COMMENTS_APP)
 
     # Try to import the package
     try:
-        package = __import__(settings.COMMENTS_APP, '', '', [''])
+        package = __import__(comments_app, '', '', [''])
     except ImportError:
         raise ImproperlyConfigured("The COMMENTS_APP setting refers to "\
                                    "a non-existing package.")
@@ -31,6 +31,13 @@ def get_comment_app():
 
     return package
 
+def get_comment_app_name():
+    """
+    Returns the name of the comment app (either the setting value, if it
+    exists, or the default).
+    """
+    return getattr(settings, 'COMMENTS_APP', 'django.contrib.comments')
+
 def get_model():
     from django.contrib.comments.models import Comment
     return Comment
@@ -46,7 +53,7 @@ def get_flag_url(comment):
     """
     Get the URL for the "flag this comment" view.
     """
-    if settings.COMMENTS_APP != __name__ and hasattr(get_comment_app(), "get_flag_url"):
+    if get_comment_app_name() != __name__ and hasattr(get_comment_app(), "get_flag_url"):
         return get_comment_app().get_flag_url(comment)
     else:
         return urlresolvers.reverse("django.contrib.comments.views.moderation.flag", args=(comment.id,))
@@ -55,7 +62,7 @@ def get_delete_url(comment):
     """
     Get the URL for the "delete this comment" view.
     """
-    if settings.COMMENTS_APP != __name__ and hasattr(get_comment_app(), "get_delete_url"):
+    if get_comment_app_name() != __name__ and hasattr(get_comment_app(), "get_delete_url"):
         return get_comment_app().get_flag_url(get_delete_url)
     else:
         return urlresolvers.reverse("django.contrib.comments.views.moderation.delete", args=(comment.id,))
@@ -64,7 +71,7 @@ def get_approve_url(comment):
     """
     Get the URL for the "approve this comment from moderation" view.
     """
-    if settings.COMMENTS_APP != __name__ and hasattr(get_comment_app(), "get_approve_url"):
+    if get_comment_app_name() != __name__ and hasattr(get_comment_app(), "get_approve_url"):
         return get_comment_app().get_approve_url(comment)
     else:
         return urlresolvers.reverse("django.contrib.comments.views.moderation.approve", args=(comment.id,))
diff --git a/django/contrib/comments/templatetags/comments.py b/django/contrib/comments/templatetags/comments.py
index 78f2819678c..c2a99c843b1 100644
--- a/django/contrib/comments/templatetags/comments.py
+++ b/django/contrib/comments/templatetags/comments.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class BaseCommentNode(template.Node):
             site__pk     = settings.SITE_ID,
             is_public    = True,
         )
-        if settings.COMMENTS_HIDE_REMOVED:
+        if getattr(settings, 'COMMENTS_HIDE_REMOVED', True):
             qs = qs.filter(is_removed=False)
 
         return qs