diff --git a/src/switch_channel.c b/src/switch_channel.c
index 5176cb87a9..d26fd919d2 100644
--- a/src/switch_channel.c
+++ b/src/switch_channel.c
@@ -721,6 +721,7 @@ SWITCH_DECLARE(void) switch_channel_perform_presence(switch_channel_t *channel,
 
 	if (!status) {
 		type = SWITCH_EVENT_PRESENCE_OUT;
+		status = "idle";
 	}
 
 	if (!id) {