diff --git a/ghost/core/core/server/web/comments/routes.js b/ghost/core/core/server/web/comments/routes.js
index c0b8eacabd..59f6b160b4 100644
--- a/ghost/core/core/server/web/comments/routes.js
+++ b/ghost/core/core/server/web/comments/routes.js
@@ -11,15 +11,15 @@ module.exports = function apiRoutes() {
     const router = express.Router('comment api');
     router.use(bodyParser.json({limit: '50mb'}));
 
-    // Global handling for member session, ensures a member is logged in to the frontend
-    router.use(membersService.middleware.loadMemberSession);
-
     const countsCache = shared.middleware.cacheControl(
         'public',
         {maxAge: config.get('caching:commentsCountAPI:maxAge')}
     );
     router.get('/counts', countsCache, http(api.commentsMembers.counts));
 
+    // Authenticated Routes
+    router.use(membersService.middleware.loadMemberSession);
+
     router.get('/', http(api.commentsMembers.browse));
     router.get('/:id', http(api.commentsMembers.read));
     router.post('/', http(api.commentsMembers.add));