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..1ba5141401 100644
--- a/core/modules/content_moderation/src/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/ModerationStateWidget.php
+++ b/core/modules/content_moderation/src/Plugin/Field/FieldWidget/ModerationStateWidget.php
@@ -131,6 +131,9 @@ public function formElement(FieldItemListInterface $items, $delta, array $elemen
     foreach ($transitions as $transition) {
       $transition_to_state = $transition->to();
       $transition_labels[$transition_to_state->id()] = $transition_to_state->label();
+      if ($default->id() === $transition_to_state->id()) {
+        $default_value = $default->id();
+      }
     }
 
     $element += [