diff --git a/dev-test/backends/default-workflow-status/config.yml b/dev-test/backends/default-workflow-status/config.yml
index 18d686453409..5b44c1177ead 100644
--- a/dev-test/backends/default-workflow-status/config.yml
+++ b/dev-test/backends/default-workflow-status/config.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 backend:
-  name: git-gateway
-  branch: master
+  name: test-repo
 
 publish_mode: editorial_workflow
 default_workflow_status: pending_publish
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/__tests__/config.spec.js b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/__tests__/config.spec.js
index 107a4188c0c5..a766d71aa3e0 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/__tests__/config.spec.js
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/__tests__/config.spec.js
@@ -131,6 +131,14 @@ describe('config', () => {
         expect(applyDefaults(config).default_workflow_status).toEqual(Statues.DRAFT);
       });
 
+      it('should set default_workflow_status to "draft" if the given one is unknown', () => {
+        const config = {
+          publish_mode: 'editorial_workflow',
+          default_workflow_status: 'unknown',
+        };
+        expect(applyDefaults(config).default_workflow_status).toEqual(Statues.DRAFT);
+      });
+
       it('should set default_workflow_status from config', () => {
         const config = {
           publish_mode: 'editorial_workflow',
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/config.ts b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/config.ts
index f45ef865fccf..0515553ba307 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/config.ts
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/config.ts
@@ -215,7 +215,11 @@ export function applyDefaults(originalConfig: CmsConfig) {
     config.collections = config.collections || [];
 
     if (config.publish_mode === EDITORIAL_WORKFLOW) {
-      config.default_workflow_status = config.default_workflow_status || Statues.DRAFT;
+      config.default_workflow_status =
+        config.default_workflow_status &&
+        Object.values(Statues).includes(config.default_workflow_status)
+          ? config.default_workflow_status
+          : Statues.DRAFT;
     }
 
     // Use `site_url` as default `display_url`.
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/constants/publishModes.ts b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/constants/publishModes.ts
index 49c1faf1a481..56fba78ffb3d 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/constants/publishModes.ts
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/constants/publishModes.ts
@@ -20,4 +20,3 @@ export const statusDescriptions = Map({
 });
 
 export type Status = keyof typeof Statues;
-export type StatusValues = typeof Statues[Status];
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/types/redux.ts b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/types/redux.ts
index b587cd797cce..e58d64bfd947 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/types/redux.ts
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/types/redux.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import type { Action } from 'redux';
 import type { StaticallyTypedRecord } from './immutable';
 import type { Map, List, OrderedMap, Set } from 'immutable';
 import type { FILES, FOLDER } from '../constants/collectionTypes';
-import type { StatusValues as PublishStatusValues } from '../constants/publishModes';
 import type { MediaFile as BackendMediaFile } from '../backend';
 import type { Auth } from '../reducers/auth';
 import type { Status } from '../reducers/status';
@@ -401,7 +400,7 @@ export interface CmsConfig {
   media_folder_relative?: boolean;
   media_library?: CmsMediaLibrary;
   publish_mode?: CmsPublishMode;
-  default_workflow_status?: PublishStatusValues;
+  default_workflow_status?: string;
   load_config_file?: boolean;
   integrations?: {
     hooks: string[];