diff --git a/opentech/apply/review/blocks.py b/opentech/apply/review/blocks.py
index 7384c56590a639f032bf2a8f6dd6386f2ed123c2..1edebc7db987e4753a9c69ad8fac1348bf6f55f2 100644
--- a/opentech/apply/review/blocks.py
+++ b/opentech/apply/review/blocks.py
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ class RecommendationCommentsBlock(ReviewMustIncludeFieldBlock):
         icon = 'openquote'
         template = 'stream_forms/render_unsafe_field.html'
 
+    def get_field_kwargs(self, struct_value):
+        kwargs = super().get_field_kwargs(struct_value)
+        kwargs['required'] = False
+        return kwargs
+
 
 class ReviewCustomFormFieldsBlock(CustomFormFieldsBlock):
     char = CharFieldBlock(group=_('Fields'))