diff --git a/modules/core/02-client/keeper/grpc_query_test.go b/modules/core/02-client/keeper/grpc_query_test.go
index 6dc9cbfc5bc..33b97cc1db1 100644
--- a/modules/core/02-client/keeper/grpc_query_test.go
+++ b/modules/core/02-client/keeper/grpc_query_test.go
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ func (suite *KeeperTestSuite) TestQueryClientStatus() {
 					ClientId: path.EndpointA.ClientID,
 				}
 			},
-			true, exported.Unknown.String(),
+			true, exported.Expired.String(),
 		},
 		{
 			"Frozen client status",
diff --git a/modules/light-clients/07-tendermint/types/client_state.go b/modules/light-clients/07-tendermint/types/client_state.go
index 2448d2859bb..72b688e6a84 100644
--- a/modules/light-clients/07-tendermint/types/client_state.go
+++ b/modules/light-clients/07-tendermint/types/client_state.go
@@ -78,7 +78,9 @@ func (cs ClientState) Status(
 	// get latest consensus state from clientStore to check for expiry
 	consState, err := GetConsensusState(clientStore, cdc, cs.GetLatestHeight())
 	if err != nil {
-		return exported.Unknown
+		// if the client state does not have an associated consensus state for its latest height
+		// then it must be expired
+		return exported.Expired
 	}
 
 	if cs.IsExpired(consState.Timestamp, ctx.BlockTime()) {
diff --git a/modules/light-clients/07-tendermint/types/client_state_test.go b/modules/light-clients/07-tendermint/types/client_state_test.go
index 7a3f185370b..4e05f038de3 100644
--- a/modules/light-clients/07-tendermint/types/client_state_test.go
+++ b/modules/light-clients/07-tendermint/types/client_state_test.go
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ func (suite *TendermintTestSuite) TestStatus() {
 			clientState.FrozenHeight = clienttypes.NewHeight(0, 1)
 			path.EndpointA.SetClientState(clientState)
 		}, exported.Frozen},
-		{"client status is unknown", func() {
+		{"client status without consensus state", func() {
 			clientState.LatestHeight = clientState.LatestHeight.Increment().(clienttypes.Height)
 			path.EndpointA.SetClientState(clientState)
-		}, exported.Unknown},
+		}, exported.Expired},
 		{"client status is expired", func() {
 			suite.coordinator.IncrementTimeBy(clientState.TrustingPeriod)
 		}, exported.Expired},