diff --git a/app/controllers/users_controller.rb b/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
index ff6bcbdc06..9fa29ed125 100644
--- a/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ def new
 
   def create
     @user = User.new(params[:user])
+    @user.status = 1
     using_recaptcha = !params[:spamaway] && Rails.env == "production"
     recaptcha = verify_recaptcha(model: @user) if using_recaptcha
     @spamaway = Spamaway.new(params[:spamaway]) unless using_recaptcha
diff --git a/app/models/drupal_user.rb b/app/models/drupal_user.rb
index b9ec83f041..0adacb47e7 100644
--- a/app/models/drupal_user.rb
+++ b/app/models/drupal_user.rb
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ def role
   def moderate
     self.status = 5
     save
+    update_user_status(5)
     # user is logged out next time they access current_user in a controller; see application controller
     self
   end
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ def moderate
   def unmoderate
     self.status = 1
     save
+    update_user_status(1)
     self
   end
 
@@ -61,6 +63,7 @@ def ban
     self.status = 0
     decrease_likes_banned
     save
+    update_user_status(0)
     # user is logged out next time they access current_user in a controller; see application controller
     self
   end
@@ -69,6 +72,7 @@ def unban
     self.status = 1
     increase_likes_unbanned
     save
+    update_user_status(1)
     self
   end
 
@@ -76,6 +80,12 @@ def email
     mail
   end
 
+  def update_user_status(status)
+    u = self.user
+    u.status = status
+    u.save!
+  end
+
   def first_time_poster
     user.first_time_poster
   end
diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
index ce4f46ed59..ef0f735749 100644
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ def validate(record)
 
 class User < ActiveRecord::Base
   self.table_name = 'rusers'
-  attr_accessible :username, :email, :password, :password_confirmation, :openid_identifier, :key, :photo, :photo_file_name, :bio
+  attr_accessible :username, :email, :password, :password_confirmation, :openid_identifier, :key, :photo, :photo_file_name, :bio, :status
   alias_attribute :name, :username
 
   acts_as_authentic do |c|
diff --git a/db/migrate/20180128162224_sync_user_status_with_drupal_user_status.rb b/db/migrate/20180128162224_sync_user_status_with_drupal_user_status.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..979fb8b30d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20180128162224_sync_user_status_with_drupal_user_status.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+class SyncUserStatusWithDrupalUserStatus < ActiveRecord::Migration
+  def up
+    DrupalUser.all.each do |du|
+      user = du.user
+      user.status = du.status
+      user.save({})
+    end
+  end
+
+  def down
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/schema.rb.example b/db/schema.rb.example
index 3ef06318a0..ff655cf91d 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb.example
+++ b/db/schema.rb.example
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #
 # It's strongly recommended that you check this file into your version control system.
 
-ActiveRecord::Schema.define(version: 20180119204200) do
+ActiveRecord::Schema.define(version: 20180128162224) do
 
   create_table "answer_selections", force: true do |t|
     t.integer "user_id"
diff --git a/test/unit/user_test.rb b/test/unit/user_test.rb
index a365e082b8..dcceeefa97 100644
--- a/test/unit/user_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/user_test.rb
@@ -142,4 +142,22 @@ class UserTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     assert_equal 1, user.errors[:email].count
   end
 
+  test 'user status changes when drupal user is banned or unbanned' do
+    drupal_user = drupal_users(:bob)
+    assert_equal 1, drupal_user.user.status
+    drupal_user.ban
+    assert_equal 0, drupal_user.user.status
+    drupal_user.unban
+    assert_equal 1, drupal_user.user.status
+  end
+
+  test 'user status changes when drupal user is moderated or unmoderated' do
+    drupal_user = drupal_users(:bob)
+    assert_equal 1, drupal_user.user.status
+    drupal_user.moderate
+    assert_equal 5, drupal_user.user.status
+    drupal_user.unmoderate
+    assert_equal 1, drupal_user.user.status
+  end
+
 end