diff --git a/ythdd_extractor.py b/ythdd_extractor.py
index 49abeb8..67fd4fc 100644
--- a/ythdd_extractor.py
+++ b/ythdd_extractor.py
@@ -518,6 +518,13 @@ def WEBgetVideoComments(ctoken: str) -> tuple:
 		reply_ctoken = safeTraverse(reply_renderer, ["commentThreadRenderer", "replies", "commentRepliesRenderer", "contents", 0, "continuationItemRenderer", "continuationEndpoint", "continuationCommand", "token"], default="")
 		reply_count  = safeTraverse(reply_renderer, ["commentThreadRenderer", "replies", "commentRepliesRenderer", "viewReplies", "buttonRenderer", "text", "runs", 0, "text"], default="0 replies").split(" ")[0]
 
+		# suspected a/b test. can be worked arount with on-demand ctoken creation.
+		# workaround for yt not showing replies when sorting for "top" comments
+		try:
+			int(reply_count) # can be just "Replies"
+		except:
+			reply_count = "0"
+
 		for comment in actual_comments:
 			found_key = safeTraverse(comment, ["entityKey"], default="unknown-key")
 			# try to link a relevant ctoken if a comment has response