diff --git a/packages/api/src/routes/admin/posts.ts b/packages/api/src/routes/admin/posts.ts
index 4dc2f0a..b28ff04 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/routes/admin/posts.ts
+++ b/packages/api/src/routes/admin/posts.ts
@@ -142,14 +142,18 @@ export default async function adminPostRoutes(app: FastifyInstance) {
       const reasonText = reason?.trim() || null;
 
       // check if the target status exists and is enabled for this board
+      const DEFAULT_STATUSES = [
+        { status: "OPEN", label: "Open" }, { status: "UNDER_REVIEW", label: "Under Review" },
+        { status: "PLANNED", label: "Planned" }, { status: "IN_PROGRESS", label: "In Progress" },
+        { status: "DONE", label: "Done" }, { status: "DECLINED", label: "Declined" },
+      ];
       const boardConfig = await prisma.boardStatus.findMany({
         where: { boardId: post.boardId, enabled: true },
       });
-      if (boardConfig.length === 0) {
-        reply.status(400).send({ error: "No statuses configured for this board" });
-        return;
-      }
-      const statusEntry = boardConfig.find((c) => c.status === status);
+      const validStatuses = boardConfig.length > 0
+        ? boardConfig.map((c) => ({ status: c.status, label: c.label }))
+        : DEFAULT_STATUSES;
+      const statusEntry = validStatuses.find((c) => c.status === status);
       if (!statusEntry) {
         reply.status(400).send({ error: `Status "${status}" is not available for this board` });
         return;
@@ -186,7 +190,7 @@ export default async function adminPostRoutes(app: FastifyInstance) {
         where: { postId: post.id },
         select: { voterId: true },
       });
-      const statusLabel = statusEntry.label || status.replace(/_/g, " ");
+      const statusLabel = statusEntry?.label || status.replace(/_/g, " ");
       const notifBody = reasonText
         ? `"${post.title}" moved to ${statusLabel} - Reason: ${reasonText}`
         : `"${post.title}" moved to ${statusLabel}`;