diff --git a/core/modules/content_moderation/src/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/ModerationStateWidget.php b/core/modules/content_moderation/src/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/ModerationStateWidget.php
index 3a4e478..8c6aadf 100644
--- a/core/modules/content_moderation/src/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/ModerationStateWidget.php
+++ b/core/modules/content_moderation/src/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/ModerationStateWidget.php
@@ -134,8 +134,8 @@ public function formElement(FieldItemListInterface $items, $delta, array $elemen
     $element += [
       '#type' => 'select',
       '#options' => $target_states,
-      '#default_value' => $default->id(),
-      '#published' => $default->isPublishedState(),
+      '#default_value' => isset($target_states[$default->id()]) ? $default->id() : NULL,
+      '#empty_option' => '-- Select moderation state --',
       '#key_column' => $this->column,
     ];
     $element['#element_validate'][] = array(get_class($this), 'validateElement');
@@ -147,6 +147,10 @@ public function formElement(FieldItemListInterface $items, $delta, array $elemen
    * {@inheritdoc}
    */
   public static function validateElement(array $element, FormStateInterface $form_state) {
+    if (empty($element['#value'])) {
+      $form_state->setError($element, t('Please select a moderation state.'));
+      return;
+    }
     $form_state->setValueForElement($element, [$element['#key_column'] => $element['#value']]);
   }