diff --git a/pillar/cli/setup.py b/pillar/cli/setup.py
index ada719ce..5fc4dfd5 100644
--- a/pillar/cli/setup.py
+++ b/pillar/cli/setup.py
@@ -133,7 +133,9 @@ def create_blog(proj_url):
             'node_type': node_type_blog['name'],
             'name': 'Blog',
             'description': '',
-            'properties': {},
+            'properties': {
+                'status': 'published',
+            },
             'project': proj_id,
         }
         r, _, _, status = current_app.post_internal('nodes', blog)