diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php b/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php
index ab49452ed8..6d215615d8 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php
@@ -922,6 +922,11 @@ class WP_Comment_Query {
 				}
 			}
 
+			// Set the 'populated_children' flag, to ensure additional database queries aren't run.
+			foreach ( $ref as $_ref ) {
+				$_ref->populated_children( true );
+			}
+
 			$comments = $threaded_comments;
 		} else {
 			$comments = $all_comments;
diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wp-comment.php b/wp-includes/class-wp-comment.php
index 8dc9e9413b..6319ad4764 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wp-comment.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wp-comment.php
@@ -158,6 +158,15 @@ final class WP_Comment {
 	 */
 	protected $children;
 
+	/**
+	 * Whether children have been populated for this comment object.
+	 *
+	 * @since 4.4.0
+	 * @access protected
+	 * @var bool
+	 */
+	protected $populated_children = false;
+
 	/**
 	 * Post fields.
 	 *
@@ -279,7 +288,11 @@ final class WP_Comment {
 		$_args['parent'] = $this->comment_ID;
 
 		if ( is_null( $this->children ) ) {
-			$this->children = get_comments( $_args );
+			if ( $this->populated_children ) {
+				$this->children = array();
+			} else {
+				$this->children = get_comments( $_args );
+			}
 		}
 
 		if ( 'flat' === $_args['format'] ) {
@@ -330,6 +343,18 @@ final class WP_Comment {
 		return false;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Set the 'populated_children' flag.
+	 *
+	 * This flag is important for ensuring that calling `get_children()` on a childless comment will not trigger
+	 * unneeded database queries.
+	 *
+	 * @since 4.4.0
+	 */
+	public function populated_children( $set ) {
+		$this->populated_children = (bool) $set;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Check whether a non-public property is set.
 	 *
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 6676fe9e40..6ba61c2dad 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '4.4-alpha-34729';
+$wp_version = '4.4-alpha-34730';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.