diff --git a/backend/app/migrator/commento.go b/backend/app/migrator/commento.go
index a5c06fce50..464d853bd9 100644
--- a/backend/app/migrator/commento.go
+++ b/backend/app/migrator/commento.go
@@ -110,6 +110,12 @@ func (d *Commento) convert(r io.Reader, siteID string) (ch chan store.Comment) {
 				continue
 			}
 
+			parentID := comment.ParentHex
+			// comments with ParentHex == "root" are top-level comments
+			if parentID == "root" {
+				parentID = ""
+			}
+
 			c := store.Comment{
 				ID: comment.CommentHex,
 				Locator: store.Locator{
@@ -119,7 +125,7 @@ func (d *Commento) convert(r io.Reader, siteID string) (ch chan store.Comment) {
 				User:      u,
 				Text:      comment.Markdown,
 				Timestamp: comment.CreationDate,
-				ParentID:  comment.ParentHex,
+				ParentID:  parentID,
 				Imported:  true,
 			}
 
diff --git a/backend/app/rest/api/migrator_test.go b/backend/app/rest/api/migrator_test.go
index d3cd4e441a..7146250b52 100644
--- a/backend/app/rest/api/migrator_test.go
+++ b/backend/app/rest/api/migrator_test.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"mime/multipart"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
+	"os"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -49,6 +50,22 @@ func TestMigrator_Import(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, resp.Body.Close())
 
 	waitForMigrationCompletion(t, ts)
+
+	res, code := get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&url=https://radio-t.com/blah1")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	comments := commentsWithInfo{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, len(comments.Comments))
+
+	res, code = get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&format=tree&url=https://radio-t.com/blah1")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	comments = commentsWithInfo{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, len(comments.Comments))
 }
 
 func TestMigrator_ImportForm(t *testing.T) {
@@ -84,6 +101,22 @@ func TestMigrator_ImportForm(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, resp.Body.Close())
 
 	waitForMigrationCompletion(t, ts)
+
+	res, code := get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&url=https://radio-t.com/blah1")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	comments := commentsWithInfo{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, len(comments.Comments))
+
+	res, code = get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&format=tree&url=https://radio-t.com/blah1")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	comments = commentsWithInfo{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, len(comments.Comments))
 }
 
 func TestMigrator_ImportFromWP(t *testing.T) {
@@ -108,6 +141,22 @@ func TestMigrator_ImportFromWP(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, resp.Body.Close())
 
 	waitForMigrationCompletion(t, ts)
+
+	res, code := get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&url=https://realmenweardress.es/2010/07/do-you-rp/")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	comments := commentsWithInfo{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 3, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 3, len(comments.Comments))
+
+	res, code = get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&format=tree&url=https://realmenweardress.es/2010/07/do-you-rp/")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	comments = commentsWithInfo{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 3, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 2, len(comments.Comments), "2 comments with 1 reply")
 }
 
 func TestMigrator_ImportFromCommento(t *testing.T) {
@@ -137,6 +186,63 @@ func TestMigrator_ImportFromCommento(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, resp.Body.Close())
 
 	waitForMigrationCompletion(t, ts)
+
+	res, code := get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&url=https://example.com/blog/post/1")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	comments := commentsWithInfo{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, len(comments.Comments))
+
+	res, code = get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&format=tree&url=https://example.com/blog/post/1")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	comments = commentsWithInfo{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, len(comments.Comments))
+}
+
+func TestMigrator_ImportFromCommentoJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	ts, _, teardown := startupT(t)
+	defer teardown()
+
+	r, err := os.Open("testdata/commento.json")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	client := &http.Client{Timeout: 1 * time.Second}
+	defer client.CloseIdleConnections()
+	req, err := http.NewRequest("POST", ts.URL+"/api/v1/admin/import?site=remark42&provider=commento", r)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	req.Header.Add("Content-Type", "application/json; charset=utf-8")
+	req.SetBasicAuth("admin", "password")
+	resp, err := client.Do(req)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusAccepted, resp.StatusCode)
+
+	b, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "{\"status\":\"import request accepted\"}\n", string(b))
+	assert.NoError(t, resp.Body.Close())
+
+	waitForMigrationCompletion(t, ts)
+
+	res, code := get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&url=https://example.com/example")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	comments := commentsWithInfo{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 7, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 7, len(comments.Comments))
+
+	res, code = get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&format=tree&url=https://example.com/example")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	comments = commentsWithInfo{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 7, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 5, len(comments.Comments), "five comments with two replies")
 }
 
 func TestMigrator_ImportRejected(t *testing.T) {
@@ -197,6 +303,20 @@ func TestMigrator_ImportDouble(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, resp.Body.Close())
 	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusConflict, resp.StatusCode)
 	waitForMigrationCompletion(t, ts)
+
+	res, code := get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&url=https://radio-t.com/blah1")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	comments := commentsWithInfo{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 50, comments.Info.Count)
+
+	res, code = get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&url=https://radio-t.com/blah1")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	comments = commentsWithInfo{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 50, comments.Info.Count)
 }
 
 func TestMigrator_ImportWaitExpired(t *testing.T) {
@@ -236,6 +356,14 @@ func TestMigrator_ImportWaitExpired(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, http.StatusGatewayTimeout, resp.StatusCode)
 
 	waitForMigrationCompletion(t, ts)
+
+	res, code := get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&url=https://example.com/example")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	comments := commentsWithInfo{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 0, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 0, len(comments.Comments))
 }
 
 func TestMigrator_Export(t *testing.T) {
@@ -339,6 +467,7 @@ func TestMigrator_Remap(t *testing.T) {
 	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, 2, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 2, len(comments.Comments))
 	require.False(t, comments.Info.ReadOnly)
 
 	res, code = get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&url=https://remark42.com/demo-another/")
@@ -347,6 +476,7 @@ func TestMigrator_Remap(t *testing.T) {
 	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, 1, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, len(comments.Comments))
 	require.True(t, comments.Info.ReadOnly)
 
 	// we want remap urls to another domain - www.remark42.com
@@ -364,6 +494,16 @@ func TestMigrator_Remap(t *testing.T) {
 	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, 2, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 2, len(comments.Comments))
+	require.False(t, comments.Info.ReadOnly)
+
+	res, code = get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&format=tree&url=https://www.remark42.com/demo/")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	comments = commentsWithInfo{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 2, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 2, len(comments.Comments))
 	require.False(t, comments.Info.ReadOnly)
 
 	res, code = get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&url=https://www.remark42.com/demo-another/")
@@ -372,6 +512,16 @@ func TestMigrator_Remap(t *testing.T) {
 	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, 1, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, len(comments.Comments))
+	require.True(t, comments.Info.ReadOnly)
+
+	res, code = get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&format=tree&url=https://www.remark42.com/demo-another/")
+	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
+	comments = commentsWithInfo{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, len(comments.Comments))
 	require.True(t, comments.Info.ReadOnly)
 
 	// should find nothing from previous url
@@ -381,6 +531,7 @@ func TestMigrator_Remap(t *testing.T) {
 	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, 0, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 0, len(comments.Comments))
 
 	res, code = get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=remark42&url=https://remark42.com/demo-another/")
 	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, code)
@@ -388,6 +539,7 @@ func TestMigrator_Remap(t *testing.T) {
 	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, 0, comments.Info.Count)
+	require.Equal(t, 0, len(comments.Comments))
 }
 
 func TestMigrator_RemapReject(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/backend/app/rest/api/testdata/commento.json b/backend/app/rest/api/testdata/commento.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b584460457
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/rest/api/testdata/commento.json
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+{
+  "version": 1,
+  "comments": [
+    {
+      "commentHex": "e7a2ef4b4aa1414a7ee65a989889aaecd9d5e7e3bca598ea7a967b4dbcaa8e11",
+      "domain": "example.com",
+      "url": "https://example.com/example",
+      "commenterHex": "018407e4b12b35f43b1d804d82607b341bef80c4325dd047d93f2cbb439cff85",
+      "markdown": "",
+      "html": "",
+      "parentHex": "root",
+      "score": 0,
+      "state": "approved",
+      "creationDate": "2022-10-25T07:25:46.807555Z",
+      "direction": 0,
+      "deleted": false
+    },
+    {
+      "commentHex": "a29e741145daceb4ca5b3e5e279e05b56f73c04703d93b944718ef757e15317f",
+      "domain": "example.com",
+      "url": "https://example.com/example",
+      "commenterHex": "018407e4b12b35f43b1d804d82607b341bef80c4325dd047d93f2cbb439cff85",
+      "markdown": "",
+      "html": "",
+      "parentHex": "root",
+      "score": 0,
+      "state": "approved",
+      "creationDate": "2023-07-26T12:24:55.058552Z",
+      "direction": 0,
+      "deleted": false
+    },
+    {
+      "commentHex": "46baf36433830a4e8bda1de56290cf5fd74c08bfa844fee4ec1744985dc77010",
+      "domain": "example.com",
+      "url": "https://example.com/example",
+      "commenterHex": "018407e4b12b35f43b1d804d82607b341bef80c4325dd047d93f2cbb439cff85",
+      "markdown": "",
+      "html": "",
+      "parentHex": "root",
+      "score": 0,
+      "state": "approved",
+      "creationDate": "2023-10-31T11:03:25.403282Z",
+      "direction": 0,
+      "deleted": false
+    },
+    {
+      "commentHex": "6d3bb64ff73b5f9d6a959212ffde472a51abf8bdefaa5ed843659796bceef9de",
+      "domain": "example.com",
+      "url": "https://example.com/example",
+      "commenterHex": "018407e4b12b35f43b1d804d82607b341bef80c4325dd047d93f2cbb439cff85",
+      "markdown": "",
+      "html": "",
+      "parentHex": "46baf36433830a4e8bda1de56290cf5fd74c08bfa844fee4ec1744985dc77010",
+      "score": 0,
+      "state": "approved",
+      "creationDate": "2023-11-01T22:23:47.112062Z",
+      "direction": 0,
+      "deleted": false
+    },
+    {
+      "commentHex": "23fcfcd03745ed71a9d23a9b59387a313df57e5c0faad8ba5dc96112766312c5",
+      "domain": "example.com",
+      "url": "https://example.com/example",
+      "commenterHex": "018407e4b12b35f43b1d804d82607b341bef80c4325dd047d93f2cbb439cff85",
+      "markdown": "",
+      "html": "",
+      "parentHex": "root",
+      "score": 0,
+      "state": "approved",
+      "creationDate": "2023-10-23T12:33:03.370182Z",
+      "direction": 0,
+      "deleted": false
+    },
+    {
+      "commentHex": "d0ad6f11cf0c5f8e17457a378a6bb789f412c6b7ef7ada4ae06ec8451f7a18aa",
+      "domain": "example.com",
+      "url": "https://example.com/example",
+      "commenterHex": "018407e4b12b35f43b1d804d82607b341bef80c4325dd047d93f2cbb439cff85",
+      "markdown": "",
+      "html": "",
+      "parentHex": "root",
+      "score": 0,
+      "state": "approved",
+      "creationDate": "2023-10-18T01:18:38.193625Z",
+      "direction": 0,
+      "deleted": false
+    },
+    {
+      "commentHex": "098960fd01c1fc7c0d3ea428f52fab97ea5c18aa52f3565bba679224daddc687",
+      "domain": "example.com",
+      "url": "https://example.com/example",
+      "commenterHex": "018407e4b12b35f43b1d804d82607b341bef80c4325dd047d93f2cbb439cff85",
+      "markdown": "",
+      "html": "",
+      "parentHex": "23fcfcd03745ed71a9d23a9b59387a313df57e5c0faad8ba5dc96112766312c5",
+      "score": 0,
+      "state": "approved",
+      "creationDate": "2023-11-01T22:24:04.639965Z",
+      "direction": 0,
+      "deleted": false
+    }
+  ],
+  "commenters": [
+    {
+      "commenterHex": "018407e4b12b35f43b1d804d82607b341bef80c4325dd047d93f2cbb439cff85",
+      "email": "undefined",
+      "name": "blank",
+      "link": "undefined",
+      "photo": "undefined",
+      "provider": "anon",
+      "joinDate": "2022-06-09T15:54:29.865919Z",
+      "isModerator": false,
+      "deleted": false
+    }
+  ]
+}