diff --git a/isso/js/app/isso.js b/isso/js/app/isso.js
index b374614..d2b2077 100644
--- a/isso/js/app/isso.js
+++ b/isso/js/app/isso.js
@@ -157,12 +157,8 @@ define(["app/text/html", "app/dom", "app/utils", "app/config", "app/api", "app/m
         // update vote counter, but hide if votes sum to 0
         var votes = function(value) {
             var span = $("span.votes", footer);
-            if (span === null) {
-                if (value === 0) {
-                    span.remove();
-                } else {
-                    footer.prepend($.new("span.votes", value));
-                }
+            if (span === null && value === 0) {
+                footer.prepend($.new("span.votes", value));
             } else {
                 if (value === 0) {
                     span.remove();