diff --git a/align_data/embeddings/pinecone/update_pinecone.py b/align_data/embeddings/pinecone/update_pinecone.py
index 321fe6b1..4e6ac03a 100644
--- a/align_data/embeddings/pinecone/update_pinecone.py
+++ b/align_data/embeddings/pinecone/update_pinecone.py
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ def process_batch(self, batch: List[Article]):
         self.pinecone_db.delete_entries([a.id for a in batch])
         logger.info('removing batch %s', len(batch))
         for article in batch:
-            article.pinecone_status = PineconeStatus.removed
+            article.pinecone_status = PineconeStatus.absent
         return batch