diff --git a/medcat-trainer/webapp/frontend/src/components/common/ProjectList.vue b/medcat-trainer/webapp/frontend/src/components/common/ProjectList.vue
index e5dff62ca..2bb61be56 100644
--- a/medcat-trainer/webapp/frontend/src/components/common/ProjectList.vue
+++ b/medcat-trainer/webapp/frontend/src/components/common/ProjectList.vue
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ export default {
       searchQuery: '',
       debouncedSearchQuery: '',
       searchDebounceTimer: null,
-      statusFilter: ALL_FILTER,
+      statusFilter: 'A',
       modeFilter: ALL_FILTER,
       sortBy: 'last_modified',
       sortOrder: 'desc',
diff --git a/medcat-trainer/webapp/frontend/src/tests/components/ProjectList.spec.ts b/medcat-trainer/webapp/frontend/src/tests/components/ProjectList.spec.ts
index bdc9065ba..80a5ef710 100644
--- a/medcat-trainer/webapp/frontend/src/tests/components/ProjectList.spec.ts
+++ b/medcat-trainer/webapp/frontend/src/tests/components/ProjectList.spec.ts
@@ -110,6 +110,18 @@ describe('ProjectList.vue', () => {
     )
   })
 
+  it('defaults status filter to Annotating', async () => {
+    const wrapper = mountList()
+    await flushPromises()
+    const vm = wrapper.vm as {
+      statusFilter: string
+      filteredProjectItems: typeof sampleProjects
+    }
+    expect(vm.statusFilter).toBe('A')
+    expect(vm.filteredProjectItems).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(vm.filteredProjectItems[0].project_status).toBe('A')
+  })
+
   it('clearFilters resets filter state', async () => {
     const wrapper = mountList()
     await flushPromises()