diff --git a/plugins/woocommerce/changelog/fix-32539-order-autodraft-validation b/plugins/woocommerce/changelog/fix-32539-order-autodraft-validation
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d283595b90c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/woocommerce/changelog/fix-32539-order-autodraft-validation
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Significance: patch
+Type: fix
+
+Ensure that an existing order with auto-draft status won't be interpreted as pending when determining if the status has changed.
diff --git a/plugins/woocommerce/includes/abstracts/abstract-wc-order.php b/plugins/woocommerce/includes/abstracts/abstract-wc-order.php
index abb2e63fbe9..83d59992a42 100644
--- a/plugins/woocommerce/includes/abstracts/abstract-wc-order.php
+++ b/plugins/woocommerce/includes/abstracts/abstract-wc-order.php
@@ -201,7 +201,8 @@ abstract class WC_Abstract_Order extends WC_Abstract_Legacy_Order {
 
 		} catch ( Exception $e ) {
 			$message_id = $this->get_id() ? $this->get_id() : __( '(no ID)', 'woocommerce' );
-			$this->handle_exception( $e,
+			$this->handle_exception(
+				$e,
 				wp_kses_post(
 					sprintf(
 						/* translators: 1: Order ID or "(no ID)" if not known. */
@@ -551,15 +552,17 @@ abstract class WC_Abstract_Order extends WC_Abstract_Legacy_Order {
 		$old_status = $this->get_status();
 		$new_status = 'wc-' === substr( $new_status, 0, 3 ) ? substr( $new_status, 3 ) : $new_status;
 
+		$status_exceptions = array( 'auto-draft', 'trash' );
+
 		// If setting the status, ensure it's set to a valid status.
 		if ( true === $this->object_read ) {
 			// Only allow valid new status.
-			if ( ! in_array( 'wc-' . $new_status, $this->get_valid_statuses(), true ) && 'trash' !== $new_status && 'auto-draft' !== $new_status ) {
+			if ( ! in_array( 'wc-' . $new_status, $this->get_valid_statuses(), true ) && ! in_array( $new_status, $status_exceptions, true ) ) {
 				$new_status = 'pending';
 			}
 
 			// 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 ) && 'trash' !== $old_status ) {
+			if ( $old_status && ! in_array( 'wc-' . $old_status, $this->get_valid_statuses(), true ) && ! in_array( $old_status, $status_exceptions, true ) ) {
 				$old_status = 'pending';
 			}
 		}