diff --git a/lib/routes.js b/lib/routes.js
index e09b91e8..6b11a17e 100644
--- a/lib/routes.js
+++ b/lib/routes.js
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ var poll = function(req, res) {
   var rateRec = _trader.rate(req.params.currency);
   var satoshiBalanceRec = _trader.balance;
 
+  // `rateRec` and `satoshiBalanceRec` are both objects, so there's no danger
+  // of misinterpreting rate or balance === 0 as 'Server initializing'.
   if (!rateRec || !satoshiBalanceRec)
     return res.json({err: 'Server initializing'});
   if (Date.now() - rateRec.timestamp > STALE_TICKER)