diff --git a/wp-includes/comment-template.php b/wp-includes/comment-template.php
index 4956b64136..8944405add 100644
--- a/wp-includes/comment-template.php
+++ b/wp-includes/comment-template.php
@@ -970,7 +970,7 @@ function comments_popup_link( $zero = false, $one = false, $more = false, $css_c
 	if ( !empty( $css_class ) ) {
 		echo ' class="'.$css_class.'" ';
 	}
-	$title = esc_attr( get_the_title() );
+	$title = the_title_attribute( 'echo=0' );
 
 	echo apply_filters( 'comments_popup_link_attributes', '' );