diff --git a/lib/Models/Subscriber.php b/lib/Models/Subscriber.php
index 23900198e3..c98f653813 100644
--- a/lib/Models/Subscriber.php
+++ b/lib/Models/Subscriber.php
@@ -875,7 +875,8 @@ class Subscriber extends Model {
   static function setRequiredFieldsDefaultValues($data) {
     $required_field_default_values = array(
       'first_name' => '',
-      'last_name' => ''
+      'last_name' => '',
+      'status' => (!Setting::getValue('signup_confirmation.enabled')) ? self::STATUS_SUBSCRIBED : self::STATUS_UNCONFIRMED
     );
     foreach($required_field_default_values as $field => $value) {
       if(!isset($data[$field])) {
diff --git a/tests/unit/Models/SubscriberTest.php b/tests/unit/Models/SubscriberTest.php
index 698a764b5a..4efa5039e9 100644
--- a/tests/unit/Models/SubscriberTest.php
+++ b/tests/unit/Models/SubscriberTest.php
@@ -1020,7 +1020,40 @@ class SubscriberTest extends \MailPoetTest {
     expect(Subscriber::setRequiredFieldsDefaultValues(array()))->equals(
       array(
         'first_name' => '',
-        'last_name' => ''
+        'last_name' => '',
+        'status' => Subscriber::STATUS_UNCONFIRMED
+      )
+    );
+  }
+
+  function testItSetsDefaultStatusDependingOnSingupConfirmationOption() {
+    // when signup confirmation is disabled, status should be 'subscribed'
+    Setting::setValue('signup_confirmation.enabled', false);
+    expect(Subscriber::setRequiredFieldsDefaultValues(array()))->equals(
+      array(
+        'first_name' => '',
+        'last_name' => '',
+        'status' => Subscriber::STATUS_SUBSCRIBED
+      )
+    );
+
+    Setting::setValue('signup_confirmation.enabled', true);
+    // when signup confirmation is enabled, status should be 'unconfirmed'
+    expect(Subscriber::setRequiredFieldsDefaultValues(array()))->equals(
+      array(
+        'first_name' => '',
+        'last_name' => '',
+        'status' => Subscriber::STATUS_UNCONFIRMED
+      )
+    );
+
+    // when status is specified, it should not change regardless of signup confirmation option
+    Setting::setValue('signup_confirmation.enabled', true);
+    expect(Subscriber::setRequiredFieldsDefaultValues(array('status' => Subscriber::STATUS_SUBSCRIBED)))->equals(
+      array(
+        'first_name' => '',
+        'last_name' => '',
+        'status' => Subscriber::STATUS_SUBSCRIBED
       )
     );
   }
@@ -1034,6 +1067,7 @@ class SubscriberTest extends \MailPoetTest {
     expect($result->getErrors())->false();
     expect($result->first_name)->isEmpty();
     expect($result->last_name)->isEmpty();
+    expect($result->status)->equals(Subscriber::STATUS_UNCONFIRMED);
   }
 
   function testItDoesNotSetDefaultValuesForExistingSubscribers() {