diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/TranscriptionBlock.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/TranscriptionBlock.svelte
index 6c11626e..90d7c0bc 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/TranscriptionBlock.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/TranscriptionBlock.svelte
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ type Props = {
 	saveState: SaveState;
 	canComment: boolean;
 	currentUserId: string | null;
+	commentCount: number;
 	onTextChange: (text: string) => void;
 	onFocus: () => void;
 	onDeleteClick: () => void;
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ let {
 	saveState,
 	canComment,
 	currentUserId,
+	commentCount,
 	onTextChange,
 	onFocus,
 	onDeleteClick,
@@ -37,7 +39,7 @@ let {
 }: Props = $props();
 
 let localText = $state(text);
-let commentOpen = $state(false);
+let commentOpen = $state(commentCount > 0);
 let selectedQuote = $state<string | null>(null);
 let textareaEl = $state<HTMLTextAreaElement | null>(null);
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/TranscriptionBlock.svelte.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/components/TranscriptionBlock.svelte.spec.ts
index 7489ed52..bd536d4d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/TranscriptionBlock.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/TranscriptionBlock.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ function renderBlock(overrides: Record<string, unknown> = {}) {
 		saveState: 'idle' as const,
 		canComment: true,
 		currentUserId: 'user-1',
+		commentCount: 0,
 		onTextChange: vi.fn(),
 		onFocus: vi.fn(),
 		onDeleteClick: vi.fn(),
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/TranscriptionEditView.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/TranscriptionEditView.svelte
index 65fba8f0..31c40f5f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/TranscriptionEditView.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/TranscriptionEditView.svelte
@@ -30,10 +30,34 @@ let activeBlockId: string | null = $state(null);
 let saveStates = new SvelteMap<string, SaveState>();
 let debounceTimers = new SvelteMap<string, ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>>();
 let pendingTexts = new SvelteMap<string, string>();
+let commentCounts = new SvelteMap<string, number>();
 
 let sortedBlocks = $derived([...blocks].sort((a, b) => a.sortOrder - b.sortOrder));
 let hasBlocks = $derived(blocks.length > 0);
 
+async function loadCommentCounts() {
+	for (const block of blocks) {
+		try {
+			const res = await fetch(
+				`/api/documents/${documentId}/transcription-blocks/${block.id}/comments`
+			);
+			if (res.ok) {
+				const comments = (await res.json()) as Array<{ replies: unknown[] }>;
+				const total = comments.reduce((s, c) => s + 1 + (c.replies?.length ?? 0), 0);
+				commentCounts.set(block.id, total);
+			}
+		} catch {
+			// ignore
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+$effect(() => {
+	if (blocks.length > 0) {
+		loadCommentCounts();
+	}
+});
+
 function getSaveState(blockId: string): SaveState {
 	return saveStates.get(blockId) ?? 'idle';
 }
@@ -167,6 +191,7 @@ $effect(() => {
 						saveState={getSaveState(block.id)}
 						canComment={canComment}
 						currentUserId={currentUserId}
+						commentCount={commentCounts.get(block.id) ?? 0}
 						onTextChange={(text) => handleTextChange(block.id, text)}
 						onFocus={() => handleFocus(block.id)}
 						onDeleteClick={() => handleDelete(block.id)}