diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/sitewide/comments.js b/app/assets/javascripts/sitewide/comments.js
index 26159335f..45e4a3ef9 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/sitewide/comments.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/sitewide/comments.js
@@ -65,7 +65,6 @@ var Comments = (function() {
         $el.find('textarea'),
         $el.find('.new-comment-button')
       );
-      $el.find('textarea').focus().blur();
       $el.find('.new-comment-button').off('click').click(() => {
         var errorField = $el.find('.new-message-error');
         var newButton = this;
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/themes/scinote.scss b/app/assets/stylesheets/themes/scinote.scss
index 435dabb9c..7b0069667 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/themes/scinote.scss
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/themes/scinote.scss
@@ -1608,7 +1608,7 @@ textarea.textarea-sm {
   min-height: 34px;
 
   &.form-control {
-    height: 34px;
+    height: 36px;
   }
 }