diff --git a/certbot/storage.py b/certbot/storage.py
index fdbdf7a0e..42cbfc2c9 100644
--- a/certbot/storage.py
+++ b/certbot/storage.py
@@ -79,9 +79,8 @@ def write_renewal_config(o_filename, n_filename, target, relevant_data):
             del config["renewalparams"][k]
 
     if "renew_before_expiry" not in config["renewalparams"]:
-        config["renewalparams"]["renew_before_expiry"] = (
+        config["renewalparams"].comments["renew_before_expiry"] = (
             constants.RENEWER_DEFAULTS["renew_before_expiry"])
-    config["renewalparams"].comments["renew_before_expiry"] = ["Renewal interval"]
 
     # TODO: add human-readable comments explaining other available
     #       parameters