diff --git a/backend/app/rest/api/admin_test.go b/backend/app/rest/api/admin_test.go
index 6398cc24..436d3a15 100644
--- a/backend/app/rest/api/admin_test.go
+++ b/backend/app/rest/api/admin_test.go
@@ -316,8 +316,8 @@ func TestAdmin_Block(t *testing.T) {
 	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, 2, len(comments.Comments), "should have 2 comments")
-	assert.Equal(t, "", comments.Comments[0].Text)
-	assert.True(t, comments.Comments[0].Deleted)
+	assert.Equal(t, "", comments.Comments[0].Text, "permanent block clear comment")
+	assert.True(t, comments.Comments[0].Deleted, "permanent block set deleted comment's status")
 
 	// unblock
 	code, body = block(-1, "")
@@ -331,14 +331,15 @@ func TestAdmin_Block(t *testing.T) {
 	code, _ = block(1, "50ms")
 	require.Equal(t, 200, code)
 
+	// get as regular user
 	res, code = get(t, ts.URL+"/api/v1/find?site=radio-t&url=https://radio-t.com/blah&sort=+time")
 	assert.Equal(t, 200, code)
 	comments = commentsWithInfo{}
 	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(res), &comments)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, 4, len(comments.Comments), "should have 4 comments")
-	assert.Equal(t, "", comments.Comments[2].Text)
-	assert.True(t, comments.Comments[2].Deleted)
+	assert.Equal(t, "test test #1", comments.Comments[2].Text, "comment not removed and not cleared")
+	assert.False(t, comments.Comments[2].Deleted, "not deleted")
 
 	srv.pubRest.cache = &cache.Nop{} // TODO: with lru cache it won't be refreshed and invalidated for long time
 	time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond)
diff --git a/backend/app/store/service/service.go b/backend/app/store/service/service.go
index 5a537bc6..fab758ed 100644
--- a/backend/app/store/service/service.go
+++ b/backend/app/store/service/service.go
@@ -729,19 +729,15 @@ func (s *DataStore) alterComments(cc []store.Comment, user store.User) (res []st
 func (s *DataStore) alterComment(c store.Comment, user store.User) (res store.Comment) {
 
 	blocReq := engine.FlagRequest{Flag: engine.Blocked, Locator: store.Locator{SiteID: c.Locator.SiteID}, UserID: c.User.ID}
-	blocked, _ := s.Engine.Flag(blocReq)
+	blocked, bErr := s.Engine.Flag(blocReq)
 
-	// process blocked users
-	if blocked {
-		if !user.Admin { // reset comment to deleted for non-admins
-			c.SetDeleted(store.SoftDelete)
-		}
-		c.User.Blocked = true
-		c.Deleted = true
+	// mark user blocked
+	if bErr == nil && blocked {
+		c.User.Blocked = blocked
 	}
 
 	// set verified status retroactively
-	if !blocked {
+	if !c.User.Blocked {
 		verifReq := engine.FlagRequest{Flag: engine.Verified, Locator: store.Locator{SiteID: c.Locator.SiteID}, UserID: c.User.ID}
 		c.User.Verified, _ = s.Engine.Flag(verifReq)
 	}
diff --git a/backend/remark.rest b/backend/remark.rest
index 93ac96cf..5136091f 100644
--- a/backend/remark.rest
+++ b/backend/remark.rest
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 
 ### find request with tree
-GET {{host}}/api/v1/find?site={{site}}&sort=-controversy&format=tree&url={{url}}
+GET {{host}}/api/v1/find?site={{site}}&sort=-time&format=tree&url={{url}}
 
 ### find request with plain
 GET {{host}}/api/v1/find?site={{site}}&sort=-controversy&format=plain&url={{url}}