diff --git a/importers/helpers/__init__.py b/importers/helpers/__init__.py
index da4963f..cbbf0ab 100644
--- a/importers/helpers/__init__.py
+++ b/importers/helpers/__init__.py
@@ -130,6 +130,12 @@ def update_codelist_item(self, codelist_item, code_dict, namespaces=None):
             else:
                 narrative = codelist_item.xpath(k, namespaces=namespaces)[0]
             narrative.text = v
+        if '@status' not in code_dict.keys():
+            # This code exists, so it should be set to be active, unless
+            # the status is set manually. This is required in case
+            # a codelist briefly disappears then reappears in the source
+            # data.
+            codelist_item.set('status', 'active')
         return codelist_item
 
     def source_to_xml(self):