diff --git a/plugins/woocommerce/includes/abstracts/abstract-wc-order.php b/plugins/woocommerce/includes/abstracts/abstract-wc-order.php
index 717800b4c4c..e4afa9c5be7 100644
--- a/plugins/woocommerce/includes/abstracts/abstract-wc-order.php
+++ b/plugins/woocommerce/includes/abstracts/abstract-wc-order.php
@@ -638,7 +638,7 @@ abstract class WC_Abstract_Order extends WC_Abstract_Legacy_Order {
 			}
 
 			// If the old status is set but unknown (e.g. draft) assume its pending for action usage.
-			if ( $old_status && ! in_array( 'wc-' . $old_status, $this->get_valid_statuses(), true ) && ! in_array( $old_status, $status_exceptions, true ) ) {
+			if ( $old_status && ( ( ! in_array( 'wc-' . $old_status, $this->get_valid_statuses(), true ) && ! in_array( $old_status, $status_exceptions, true ) ) || 'auto-draft' === $old_status ) ) {
 				$old_status = 'pending';
 			}
 		}