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 fff3cb0ad6..56bd3ba9ea 100644
--- a/core/modules/content_moderation/src/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/ModerationStateWidget.php
+++ b/core/modules/content_moderation/src/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/ModerationStateWidget.php
@@ -127,7 +127,6 @@ public function formElement(FieldItemListInterface $items, $delta, array $elemen
     $transitions = $this->validator->getValidTransitions($entity, $this->currentUser);
 
     $transition_labels = [];
-    $default_value = NULL;
     foreach ($transitions as $transition) {
       $transition_to_state = $transition->to();
       $transition_labels[$transition_to_state->id()] = $transition_to_state->label();
@@ -149,7 +148,7 @@ public function formElement(FieldItemListInterface $items, $delta, array $elemen
         '#title' => $entity->isNew() ? $this->t('Save as') : $this->t('Change to'),
         '#key_column' => $this->column,
         '#options' => $transition_labels,
-        '#default_value' => $default_value,
+        '#default_value' => $default->id(),
         '#access' => !empty($transition_labels),
         '#wrapper_attributes' => [
           'class' => ['container-inline'],