diff --git a/src/sentry/migrations/0739_backfill_group_info_to_group_attributes.py b/src/sentry/migrations/0739_backfill_group_info_to_group_attributes.py
index ee5f93ee757637..94c36007a03f48 100644
--- a/src/sentry/migrations/0739_backfill_group_info_to_group_attributes.py
+++ b/src/sentry/migrations/0739_backfill_group_info_to_group_attributes.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def _bulk_retrieve_group_values(group_ids: list[int], Group: type[Group]) -> lis
                 status=group_values["status"],
                 substatus=group_values["substatus"],
                 first_seen=group_values["first_seen"],
-                num_comments=group_values["num_comments"],
+                num_comments=group_values["num_comments"] or 0,
                 priority=group_values["priority"],
                 first_release_id=(group_values["first_release"] or None),
             )