diff --git a/apps/labrinth/src/routes/v2/project_creation.rs b/apps/labrinth/src/routes/v2/project_creation.rs
index 1c685a0779f..70f39dfeb5d 100644
--- a/apps/labrinth/src/routes/v2/project_creation.rs
+++ b/apps/labrinth/src/routes/v2/project_creation.rs
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ struct ProjectCreateData {
     #[validate(nested)]
     pub donation_urls: Option<Vec<DonationLink>>,
 
-    /// An optional boolean. If true, the project will be created as a draft.
+    /// Projects are always created as drafts; explicitly setting false is rejected.
     pub is_draft: Option<bool>,
 
     /// The license id that the project follows
diff --git a/apps/labrinth/src/routes/v3/project_creation.rs b/apps/labrinth/src/routes/v3/project_creation.rs
index a604f3f6902..6a09e132d03 100644
--- a/apps/labrinth/src/routes/v3/project_creation.rs
+++ b/apps/labrinth/src/routes/v3/project_creation.rs
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ pub struct ProjectCreateData {
     #[serde(default)]
     pub link_urls: HashMap<String, String>,
 
-    /// An optional boolean. If true, the project will be created as a draft.
+    /// Projects are always created as drafts; explicitly setting false is rejected.
     pub is_draft: Option<bool>,
 
     /// The license id that the project follows
@@ -560,6 +560,12 @@ async fn project_create_inner(
         }
         let create_data: ProjectCreateData = serde_json::from_slice(&data)?;
 
+        if create_data.is_draft == Some(false) {
+            return Err(CreateError::InvalidInput(String::from(
+                "projects must be created as drafts; `is_draft` cannot be false",
+            )));
+        }
+
         create_data.validate().map_err(|err| {
             CreateError::InvalidInput(validation_errors_to_string(err, None))
         })?;
@@ -914,17 +920,7 @@ async fn project_create_inner(
 
         let team_id = team.insert(&mut *transaction).await?;
 
-        let status;
-        if project_create_data.is_draft.unwrap_or(false) {
-            status = ProjectStatus::Draft;
-        } else {
-            status = ProjectStatus::Processing;
-            if project_create_data.initial_versions.is_empty() {
-                return Err(CreateError::InvalidInput(String::from(
-                    "Project submitted for review with no initial versions",
-                )));
-            }
-        }
+        let status = ProjectStatus::Draft;
 
         let license_id = spdx::Expression::parse(
             &project_create_data.license_id,
diff --git a/apps/labrinth/src/test/api_v2/request_data.rs b/apps/labrinth/src/test/api_v2/request_data.rs
index 4d98e9c572c..a75c31e2429 100644
--- a/apps/labrinth/src/test/api_v2/request_data.rs
+++ b/apps/labrinth/src/test/api_v2/request_data.rs
@@ -84,7 +84,6 @@ pub fn get_public_project_creation_data_json(
         json!([])
     };
 
-    let is_draft = version_jar.is_none();
     json!(
         {
             "title": format!("Test Project {slug}"),
@@ -95,7 +94,7 @@ pub fn get_public_project_creation_data_json(
             "client_side": "required",
             "server_side": "optional",
             "initial_versions": initial_versions,
-            "is_draft": is_draft,
+            "is_draft": true,
             "categories": [],
             "license_id": "MIT",
         }
diff --git a/apps/labrinth/src/test/api_v3/request_data.rs b/apps/labrinth/src/test/api_v3/request_data.rs
index 6865f50add1..4d6c28780d6 100644
--- a/apps/labrinth/src/test/api_v3/request_data.rs
+++ b/apps/labrinth/src/test/api_v3/request_data.rs
@@ -94,7 +94,6 @@ pub fn get_public_project_creation_data_json(
         json!([])
     };
 
-    let is_draft = version_jar.is_none();
     json!(
         {
             "name": format!("Test Project {slug}"),
@@ -102,7 +101,7 @@ pub fn get_public_project_creation_data_json(
             "summary": "A dummy project for testing with.",
             "description": "This project is approved and its versions are listed. It contains enough descriptive information to satisfy project review validation requirements and explain what the project provides to its users.",
             "initial_versions": initial_versions,
-            "is_draft": is_draft,
+            "is_draft": true,
             "categories": [],
             "license_id": "MIT",
         }
diff --git a/apps/labrinth/src/test/dummy_data.rs b/apps/labrinth/src/test/dummy_data.rs
index 880dfbe1fcb..01ab2a23ff6 100644
--- a/apps/labrinth/src/test/dummy_data.rs
+++ b/apps/labrinth/src/test/dummy_data.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@ use crate::models::{
     projects::{Project, Version},
 };
 use crate::test::asserts::assert_status;
-use crate::test::{api_common::Api, api_v3, database::USER_USER_PAT};
+use crate::test::{
+    api_common::Api,
+    api_v3,
+    database::{ADMIN_USER_PAT, USER_USER_PAT},
+};
 use actix_http::StatusCode;
 use actix_web::test::{self, TestRequest};
 use serde_json::json;
@@ -21,7 +25,7 @@ use super::{
 
 use super::{database::USER_USER_ID, get_json_val_str};
 
-pub const DUMMY_DATA_UPDATE: i64 = 10;
+pub const DUMMY_DATA_UPDATE: i64 = 11;
 
 pub const DUMMY_CATEGORIES: &[&str] = &[
     "combat",
@@ -430,7 +434,13 @@ pub async fn add_project_beta(api: &ApiV3) -> (Project, Version) {
         Some(jar),
         Some(modify_json),
     );
-    api.create_project(creation_data, USER_USER_PAT).await;
+    let resp = api.create_project(creation_data, USER_USER_PAT).await;
+    assert_status!(&resp, StatusCode::OK);
+
+    let resp = api
+        .edit_project("beta", json!({ "status": "processing" }), ADMIN_USER_PAT)
+        .await;
+    assert_status!(&resp, StatusCode::NO_CONTENT);
 
     get_project_beta(api).await
 }