diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/comments/browser/commentService.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/comments/browser/commentService.ts
index ca5a8aa59d9..b7d1cde9aea 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/comments/browser/commentService.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/comments/browser/commentService.ts
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ export class CommentService extends Disposable implements ICommentService {
 	private _commentMenus = new Map<string, CommentMenus>();
 	private _isCommentingEnabled: boolean = true;
 	private _workspaceHasCommenting: IContextKey<boolean>;
+	private _commentingEnabled: IContextKey<boolean>;
 
 	private _continueOnComments = new Map<string, PendingCommentThread[]>(); // uniqueOwner -> PendingCommentThread[]
 	private _continueOnCommentProviders = new Set<IContinueOnCommentProvider>();
@@ -190,6 +191,7 @@ export class CommentService extends Disposable implements ICommentService {
 		this._handleConfiguration();
 		this._handleZenMode();
 		this._workspaceHasCommenting = CommentContextKeys.WorkspaceHasCommenting.bindTo(contextKeyService);
+		this._commentingEnabled = CommentContextKeys.commentingEnabled.bindTo(contextKeyService);
 		const storageListener = this._register(new DisposableStore());
 
 		const storageEvent = Event.debounce(this.storageService.onDidChangeValue(StorageScope.WORKSPACE, CONTINUE_ON_COMMENTS, storageListener), (last, event) => last?.external ? last : event, 500);
@@ -277,6 +279,7 @@ export class CommentService extends Disposable implements ICommentService {
 	enableCommenting(enable: boolean): void {
 		if (enable !== this._isCommentingEnabled) {
 			this._isCommentingEnabled = enable;
+			this._commentingEnabled.set(enable);
 			this._onDidChangeCommentingEnabled.fire(enable);
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/comments/common/commentContextKeys.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/comments/common/commentContextKeys.ts
index 210465efe6f..2a5d0776c45 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/comments/common/commentContextKeys.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/comments/common/commentContextKeys.ts
@@ -66,4 +66,12 @@ export namespace CommentContextKeys {
 	 * The comment widget is focused.
 	 */
 	export const commentFocused = new RawContextKey<boolean>('commentFocused', false, { type: 'boolean', description: nls.localize('commentFocused', "Set when the comment is focused") });
+
+	/**
+	 * A context key that is set when commenting is enabled.
+	 */
+	export const commentingEnabled = new RawContextKey<boolean>('commentingEnabled', true, {
+		description: nls.localize('commentingEnabled', "Whether commenting functionality is enabled"),
+		type: 'boolean'
+	});
 }