diff --git a/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/main/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/dao/FhirResourceDaoSubscriptionDstu2.java b/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/main/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/dao/FhirResourceDaoSubscriptionDstu2.java
index bee6cf9a1b3..c2c366ab2a5 100644
--- a/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/main/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/dao/FhirResourceDaoSubscriptionDstu2.java
+++ b/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/main/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/dao/FhirResourceDaoSubscriptionDstu2.java
@@ -84,6 +84,10 @@ public class FhirResourceDaoSubscriptionDstu2 extends FhirResourceDaoDstu2<Subsc
 	}
 
 	public RuntimeResourceDefinition validateCriteriaAndReturnResourceDefinition(Subscription theResource) {
+		if (theResource.getStatus() == null) {
+			throw new UnprocessableEntityException("Can not process submitted Subscription - Subscription.status must be populated");
+		}
+
 		String query = theResource.getCriteria();
 		if (isBlank(query)) {
 			throw new UnprocessableEntityException("Subscription.criteria must be populated");
diff --git a/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/main/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/dao/dstu3/FhirResourceDaoSubscriptionDstu3.java b/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/main/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/dao/dstu3/FhirResourceDaoSubscriptionDstu3.java
index 648b21fd458..3a2ca5c864c 100644
--- a/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/main/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/dao/dstu3/FhirResourceDaoSubscriptionDstu3.java
+++ b/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/main/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/dao/dstu3/FhirResourceDaoSubscriptionDstu3.java
@@ -106,7 +106,11 @@ public class FhirResourceDaoSubscriptionDstu3 extends FhirResourceDaoDstu3<Subsc
 	}
 
 	public RuntimeResourceDefinition validateCriteriaAndReturnResourceDefinition(Subscription theResource) {
-		switch (ObjectUtils.defaultIfNull(theResource.getStatus(), SubscriptionStatus.OFF)) {
+		if (theResource.getStatus() == null) {
+			throw new UnprocessableEntityException("Can not process submitted Subscription - Subscription.status must be populated");
+		}
+
+		switch (theResource.getStatus()) {
 			case REQUESTED:
 			case ACTIVE:
 				break;
diff --git a/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/main/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/dao/r4/FhirResourceDaoSubscriptionR4.java b/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/main/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/dao/r4/FhirResourceDaoSubscriptionR4.java
index b1baa7aa9d1..aa53fe18505 100644
--- a/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/main/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/dao/r4/FhirResourceDaoSubscriptionR4.java
+++ b/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/main/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/dao/r4/FhirResourceDaoSubscriptionR4.java
@@ -103,7 +103,11 @@ public class FhirResourceDaoSubscriptionR4 extends FhirResourceDaoR4<Subscriptio
 
 	@Nullable
 	public RuntimeResourceDefinition validateCriteriaAndReturnResourceDefinition(Subscription theResource) {
-		switch (ObjectUtils.defaultIfNull(theResource.getStatus(), Subscription.SubscriptionStatus.OFF)) {
+		if (theResource.getStatus() == null) {
+			throw new UnprocessableEntityException("Can not process submitted Subscription - Subscription.status must be populated");
+		}
+
+		switch (theResource.getStatus()) {
 			case REQUESTED:
 			case ACTIVE:
 				break;
diff --git a/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/test/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/subscription/resthook/RestHookTestDstu2Test.java b/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/test/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/subscription/resthook/RestHookTestDstu2Test.java
index 68b83943f9c..e3822eee997 100644
--- a/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/test/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/subscription/resthook/RestHookTestDstu2Test.java
+++ b/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/test/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/subscription/resthook/RestHookTestDstu2Test.java
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import org.eclipse.jetty.servlet.ServletContextHandler;
 import org.eclipse.jetty.servlet.ServletHolder;
 import org.hl7.fhir.instance.model.api.IBaseResource;
 import org.hl7.fhir.instance.model.api.IIdType;
+import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 import org.junit.*;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
 
@@ -34,8 +35,8 @@ import java.util.List;
 import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
 import static ca.uhn.fhir.jpa.subscription.resthook.RestHookTestDstu3Test.logAllInterceptors;
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
-import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
+import static org.hamcrest.CoreMatchers.containsString;
+import static org.junit.Assert.*;
 
 import ca.uhn.fhir.test.utilities.JettyUtil;
 
@@ -90,6 +91,19 @@ public class RestHookTestDstu2Test extends BaseResourceProviderDstu2Test {
 	}
 
 	private Subscription createSubscription(String criteria, String payload, String endpoint) throws InterruptedException {
+		Subscription subscription = newSubscription(criteria, payload, endpoint);
+
+		MethodOutcome methodOutcome = ourClient.create().resource(subscription).execute();
+		subscription.setId(methodOutcome.getId().getIdPart());
+		mySubscriptionIds.add(methodOutcome.getId());
+
+		waitForQueueToDrain();
+
+		return subscription;
+	}
+
+	@NotNull
+	private Subscription newSubscription(String criteria, String payload, String endpoint) {
 		Subscription subscription = new Subscription();
 		subscription.setReason("Monitor new neonatal function (note, age will be determined by the monitor)");
 		subscription.setStatus(SubscriptionStatusEnum.REQUESTED);
@@ -100,13 +114,6 @@ public class RestHookTestDstu2Test extends BaseResourceProviderDstu2Test {
 		channel.setPayload(payload);
 		channel.setEndpoint(endpoint);
 		subscription.setChannel(channel);
-
-		MethodOutcome methodOutcome = ourClient.create().resource(subscription).execute();
-		subscription.setId(methodOutcome.getId().getIdPart());
-		mySubscriptionIds.add(methodOutcome.getId());
-
-		waitForQueueToDrain();
-
 		return subscription;
 	}
 
@@ -295,6 +302,20 @@ public class RestHookTestDstu2Test extends BaseResourceProviderDstu2Test {
 		Assert.assertFalse(observation2.getId().isEmpty());
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void testSubscriptionWithNoStatusIsRejected() {
+		Subscription subscription = newSubscription("Observation?", "application/json", null);
+		subscription.getStatusElement().setValueAsEnum(null);
+
+		try {
+			ourClient.create().resource(subscription).execute();
+			fail();
+		} catch (UnprocessableEntityException e) {
+			assertThat(e.getMessage(), containsString("Can not process submitted Subscription - Subscription.status must be populated"));
+		}
+	}
+
+
 	private void waitForQueueToDrain() throws InterruptedException {
 		mySubscriptionTestUtil.waitForQueueToDrain();
 	}
diff --git a/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/test/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/subscription/resthook/RestHookTestDstu3Test.java b/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/test/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/subscription/resthook/RestHookTestDstu3Test.java
index cb30e57b412..eab4bc19521 100644
--- a/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/test/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/subscription/resthook/RestHookTestDstu3Test.java
+++ b/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/test/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/subscription/resthook/RestHookTestDstu3Test.java
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import org.eclipse.jetty.servlet.ServletHolder;
 import org.hl7.fhir.dstu3.model.*;
 import org.hl7.fhir.instance.model.api.IBaseResource;
 import org.hl7.fhir.instance.model.api.IIdType;
+import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 import org.junit.*;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
 
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ import java.util.concurrent.CountDownLatch;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
 import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
+import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.containsString;
 import static org.junit.Assert.*;
 
 import ca.uhn.fhir.test.utilities.JettyUtil;
@@ -104,6 +106,18 @@ public class RestHookTestDstu3Test extends BaseResourceProviderDstu3Test {
 
 	private Subscription createSubscription(String theCriteria, String thePayload, String theEndpoint,
 														 List<StringType> headers) throws InterruptedException {
+		Subscription subscription = newSubscription(theCriteria, thePayload, theEndpoint, headers);
+
+		MethodOutcome methodOutcome = ourClient.create().resource(subscription).execute();
+		mySubscriptionIds.add(methodOutcome.getId());
+
+		waitForQueueToDrain();
+
+		return (Subscription) methodOutcome.getResource();
+	}
+
+	@NotNull
+	private Subscription newSubscription(String theCriteria, String thePayload, String theEndpoint, List<StringType> headers) {
 		Subscription subscription = new Subscription();
 		subscription.setReason("Monitor new neonatal function (note, age will be determined by the monitor)");
 		subscription.setStatus(Subscription.SubscriptionStatus.REQUESTED);
@@ -117,13 +131,7 @@ public class RestHookTestDstu3Test extends BaseResourceProviderDstu3Test {
 			channel.setHeader(headers);
 		}
 		subscription.setChannel(channel);
-
-		MethodOutcome methodOutcome = ourClient.create().resource(subscription).execute();
-		mySubscriptionIds.add(methodOutcome.getId());
-
-		waitForQueueToDrain();
-
-		return (Subscription) methodOutcome.getResource();
+		return subscription;
 	}
 
 	private Observation sendObservation(String code, String system) {
@@ -514,6 +522,20 @@ public class RestHookTestDstu3Test extends BaseResourceProviderDstu3Test {
 		assertTrue("Timed out waiting for subscription to match", communicationRequestListenerLatch.await(10, TimeUnit.SECONDS));
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void testSubscriptionWithNoStatusIsRejected() {
+		Subscription subscription = newSubscription("Observation?", "application/json", null, null);
+		subscription.setStatus(null);
+
+		try {
+			ourClient.create().resource(subscription).execute();
+			fail();
+		} catch (UnprocessableEntityException e) {
+			assertThat(e.getMessage(), containsString("Can not process submitted Subscription - Subscription.status must be populated"));
+		}
+	}
+
+
 	public static class ObservationListener implements IResourceProvider {
 
 		@Create
diff --git a/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/test/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/subscription/resthook/RestHookTestR4Test.java b/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/test/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/subscription/resthook/RestHookTestR4Test.java
index 65ada0547c0..c5d28bc0b1e 100644
--- a/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/test/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/subscription/resthook/RestHookTestR4Test.java
+++ b/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-base/src/test/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/subscription/resthook/RestHookTestR4Test.java
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import ca.uhn.fhir.jpa.subscription.module.cache.SubscriptionConstants;
 import ca.uhn.fhir.rest.api.CacheControlDirective;
 import ca.uhn.fhir.rest.api.Constants;
 import ca.uhn.fhir.rest.api.MethodOutcome;
+import ca.uhn.fhir.rest.server.exceptions.InvalidRequestException;
+import ca.uhn.fhir.rest.server.exceptions.PreconditionFailedException;
 import ca.uhn.fhir.rest.server.exceptions.UnprocessableEntityException;
 import org.hl7.fhir.instance.model.api.IBaseBundle;
 import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.*;
@@ -20,8 +22,7 @@ import java.util.concurrent.CountDownLatch;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
 
 import static org.hamcrest.MatcherAssert.assertThat;
-import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.hasItem;
-import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.matchesPattern;
+import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.*;
 import static org.junit.Assert.*;
 
 /**
@@ -876,6 +877,20 @@ public class RestHookTestR4Test extends BaseSubscriptionsR4Test {
 		return toUnqualifiedVersionlessIdValues(found).size();
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void testSubscriptionWithNoStatusIsRejected() {
+		Subscription subscription = newSubscription("Observation?", "application/json");
+		subscription.setStatus(null);
+
+		try {
+			ourClient.create().resource(subscription).execute();
+			fail();
+		} catch (UnprocessableEntityException e) {
+			assertThat(e.getMessage(), containsString("Can not process submitted Subscription - Subscription.status must be populated"));
+		}
+	}
+
+
 	@Test
 	public void testBadSubscriptionDoesntPersist() {
 		assertEquals(0, subscriptionCount());
diff --git a/src/changes/changes.xml b/src/changes/changes.xml
index 10667f0be03..bcbe27f2097 100644
--- a/src/changes/changes.xml
+++ b/src/changes/changes.xml
@@ -132,6 +132,11 @@
 				JPA server because of an indexing error. Thanks to Brian Reinhold for
 				reporting!
 			</action>
+			<action type="add">
+				The JPA server now rejects subscriptions being submitted with no value in
+				Subscription.status (this field is mandatory, but the subscription was previously ignored
+				if no value was provided)
+			</action>
 		</release>
 		<release version="3.8.0" date="2019-05-30" description="Hippo">
 			<action type="fix">