diff --git a/tildes/tests/test_comment.py b/tildes/tests/test_comment.py
index 7115a4b..92a56f2 100644
--- a/tildes/tests/test_comment.py
+++ b/tildes/tests/test_comment.py
@@ -189,6 +189,11 @@ def test_comment_tree(db, topic, session_user):
     assert child.replies == []
     assert child2.replies == [subchild, subchild2]
 
+    # check depth values are as expected
+    assert root.depth == 0
+    assert child.depth == 1
+    assert subchild.depth == 2
+
     # delete child2 (which has replies) and ensure it stays in the tree
     child2.is_deleted = True
     db.commit()
diff --git a/tildes/tildes/models/comment/comment_tree.py b/tildes/tildes/models/comment/comment_tree.py
index abf65ee..5ba3386 100644
--- a/tildes/tildes/models/comment/comment_tree.py
+++ b/tildes/tildes/models/comment/comment_tree.py
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ class CommentTree:
         for comment in self.comments:
             if comment.parent_comment_id:
                 parent_comment = self.comments_by_id[comment.parent_comment_id]
+
+                comment.depth = parent_comment.depth + 1
                 parent_comment.replies.append(comment)
 
                 # if this comment isn't deleted, work back up towards the root,
@@ -83,6 +85,7 @@ class CommentTree:
                         next_parent_id = parent_comment.parent_comment_id
                         parent_comment = self.comments_by_id[next_parent_id]
             else:
+                comment.depth = 0
                 self.tree.append(comment)
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -235,6 +238,7 @@ class CommentInTree(ObjectProxy):
         self.replies: List[CommentInTree] = []
         self.has_visible_descendant = False
         self.num_children = 0
+        self.depth: Optional[int] = None
 
     @property
     def has_uncollapsed_descendant(self) -> bool:
diff --git a/tildes/tildes/templates/macros/comments.jinja2 b/tildes/tildes/templates/macros/comments.jinja2
index 95b6ebc..19a1bfc 100644
--- a/tildes/tildes/templates/macros/comments.jinja2
+++ b/tildes/tildes/templates/macros/comments.jinja2
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
       {# only add depth attr if we're rendering multiple comments at once #}
       {% if not is_individual_comment %}
-        data-comment-depth="{{ loop.depth0 }}"
+        data-comment-depth="{{ comment.depth }}"
       {% endif %}
 
       {% if request.has_permission("label", comment) %}