diff --git a/wp-admin/admin-functions.php b/wp-admin/admin-functions.php
index 49004dd179..7de35d21b1 100644
--- a/wp-admin/admin-functions.php
+++ b/wp-admin/admin-functions.php
@@ -43,6 +43,12 @@ function write_post() {
 	if ('static' == $_POST['post_status'] && !current_user_can('edit_pages'))
 		die(__('This user cannot edit pages.'));
 
+	if (!isset ($_POST['comment_status']))
+		$_POST['comment_status'] = 'closed';
+
+	if (!isset ($_POST['ping_status']))
+		$_POST['ping_status'] = 'closed';
+
 	if (!empty ($_POST['edit_date'])) {
 		$aa = $_POST['aa'];
 		$mm = $_POST['mm'];