diff --git a/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/java/testing/assertj/CollapseConsecutiveAssertThatStatements.java b/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/java/testing/assertj/CollapseConsecutiveAssertThatStatements.java
index c969ad597..64089d13d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/java/testing/assertj/CollapseConsecutiveAssertThatStatements.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/java/testing/assertj/CollapseConsecutiveAssertThatStatements.java
@@ -161,12 +161,13 @@ private J.MethodInvocation getCollapsedAssertThat(List<Statement> consecutiveAss
                     J.MethodInvocation assertThat = (J.MethodInvocation) assertion.getSelect();
                     assert assertThat != null;
                     J.MethodInvocation newSelect = collapsed == null ? assertThat : collapsed;
+                    List<Comment> chainedComments = collapsed == null ? emptyList() : st.getPrefix().getComments();
 
                     collapsed = assertion.getPadding().withSelect(JRightPadded
                             .build((Expression) newSelect.withPrefix(Space.EMPTY))
-                            .withAfter(Space.build(chainedIndent, ListUtils.map(st.getPrefix().getComments(), c -> c.withSuffix(chainedIndent)))));
+                            .withAfter(Space.build(chainedIndent, ListUtils.map(chainedComments, c -> c.withSuffix(chainedIndent)))));
                 }
-                return requireNonNull(collapsed).withPrefix(originalPrefix.withComments(emptyList()));
+                return requireNonNull(collapsed).withPrefix(originalPrefix);
             }
         });
     }
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/java/testing/assertj/CollapseConsecutiveAssertThatStatementsTest.java b/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/java/testing/assertj/CollapseConsecutiveAssertThatStatementsTest.java
index 8a9af0ff9..2b822ba6e 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/java/testing/assertj/CollapseConsecutiveAssertThatStatementsTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/java/testing/assertj/CollapseConsecutiveAssertThatStatementsTest.java
@@ -108,8 +108,8 @@ void test() {
               class MyTest {
                   void test() {
                       List<String> listA = Arrays.asList("a", "b", "c");
+                      // Comment nor whitespace below duplicated
                       assertThat(listA)
-                              // Comment nor whitespace below duplicated
                               .isNotNull()
                               .hasSize(3)
                               .containsExactly("a", "b", "c");
@@ -444,8 +444,8 @@ void test() {
               class MyTest {
                   void test() {
                       List<String> listA = Arrays.asList("a", "b", "c");
+                      // Check not null
                       assertThat(listA)
-                              // Check not null
                               .isNotNull()
                               // Check size is 3
                               .hasSize(3)
@@ -457,4 +457,35 @@ void test() {
           )
         );
     }
+
+    @Test
+    void preservesSectionCommentBeforeCollapsedChain() {
+        rewriteRun(
+          java(
+            """
+              import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+
+              class Test {
+                  void verify(String value) {
+                      // then
+                      assertThat(value).isNotNull();
+                      assertThat(value).isEqualTo("expected");
+                  }
+              }
+              """,
+            """
+              import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+
+              class Test {
+                  void verify(String value) {
+                      // then
+                      assertThat(value)
+                              .isNotNull()
+                              .isEqualTo("expected");
+                  }
+              }
+              """
+          )
+        );
+    }
 }