diff --git a/src/plugins/plugin_xep_0277.py b/src/plugins/plugin_xep_0277.py
index f1e57689..c2200256 100755
--- a/src/plugins/plugin_xep_0277.py
+++ b/src/plugins/plugin_xep_0277.py
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ class XEP_0277(object):
                 raise exceptions.DataError(u"if comments_node is present, it must not be empty")
 
         try:
-            comments_service = mb_data['comments_service']
+            comments_service = jid.JID(mb_data['comments_service'])
         except KeyError:
             comments_service = self.getCommentsService(client, service)