diff --git a/core/modules/content_moderation/src/Plugin/WorkflowType/ContentModeration.php b/core/modules/content_moderation/src/Plugin/WorkflowType/ContentModeration.php
index 4a416312ea..b80ccdda87 100644
--- a/core/modules/content_moderation/src/Plugin/WorkflowType/ContentModeration.php
+++ b/core/modules/content_moderation/src/Plugin/WorkflowType/ContentModeration.php
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ public function getConfiguration() {
    */
   public function getInitialState(WorkflowInterface $workflow, $entity = NULL) {
     if ($entity instanceof EntityPublishedInterface) {
-      return $workflow->getState($entity->isPublished() ? 'published' : 'draft');
+      return $workflow->getState($entity->isPublished() && !$entity->isNew() ? 'published' : 'draft');
     }
     return parent::getInitialState($workflow);
   }