diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/api/comms.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/api/comms.js
index 8b673f043..9fa749094 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/api/comms.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/api/comms.js
@@ -56,9 +56,14 @@ function handleStatusEvent(event) {
         let retain = true;
         if (event.status.ephemeral === true) {
             retain = false;
-            status._retainedStatus = retained["status/" + event.id] || {};
+            status._retainedStatus = retained["status/" + event.id];
         }
         publish("status/" + event.id, status, retain);
+        if (status._retainedStatus) {
+            // publish will delete the retained status if retain is false
+            // Need to keep this status to restore ephemeral statuses
+            retained["status/" + event.id] = status._retainedStatus;
+        }
     }
 }
 function handleRuntimeEvent(event) {