diff --git a/app/models/workflow/concerns/dynamic_annotation_field_concern.rb b/app/models/workflow/concerns/dynamic_annotation_field_concern.rb
index fd34ed6d06..b4c7784b60 100644
--- a/app/models/workflow/concerns/dynamic_annotation_field_concern.rb
+++ b/app/models/workflow/concerns/dynamic_annotation_field_concern.rb
@@ -124,7 +124,9 @@ def can_set_workflow_status
           if ::Workflow::Workflow.is_field_name_a_workflow?(self.field_name)
             options = self.workflow_options_and_roles
             value = self.value&.to_sym
-            old_value = self.previous_value&.to_sym
+            old_value = self.previous_value
+            return true unless old_value.is_a?(String)
+            old_value = old_value.to_sym
             self.previous_status = old_value
             user = User.current
 
diff --git a/test/models/dynamic_annotation/field_test.rb b/test/models/dynamic_annotation/field_test.rb
index 0300209927..e72abb7022 100644
--- a/test/models/dynamic_annotation/field_test.rb
+++ b/test/models/dynamic_annotation/field_test.rb
@@ -265,6 +265,21 @@ def field_formatter_name_response
     assert_equal 'https://archive.org/web/', f.reload.value[0]['url']
   end
 
+  test "should ignore permission check for changing status if previous value is empty" do
+    create_verification_status_stuff
+    pm = create_project_media
+    a = create_dynamic_annotation annotation_type: 'verification_status', annotated: pm, set_fields: { verification_status_status: 'undetermined' }.to_json
+    assert_equal 'undetermined', pm.reload.last_status
+    f = a.get_field('verification_status_status')
+    f.update_column(:value, [])
+    f = DynamicAnnotation::Field.find(f.id)
+    assert_nothing_raised do
+      f.value = 'false'
+      f.save!
+    end
+    assert_equal 'false', pm.reload.last_status
+  end
+
   protected
 
   def create_geojson_field