diff --git a/src/topics/create.js b/src/topics/create.js
index 8e732215bc..ccbda53989 100644
--- a/src/topics/create.js
+++ b/src/topics/create.js
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 			lastposttime: 0,
 			postcount: 0,
 			viewcount: 0,
-			isAnonymous: data.isAnonymous,
+			isAnonymous: data.isAnonymous || 'false',
 		};
 
 		if (Array.isArray(data.tags) && data.tags.length) {
diff --git a/test/topics.js b/test/topics.js
index fdc0e5893f..bada031de6 100644
--- a/test/topics.js
+++ b/test/topics.js
@@ -2573,6 +2573,8 @@ describe('Anonymous Topic Creation', () => {
 			title: 'Default Topic Example',
 			content: 'This topic does not specify anonymity',
 		});
+		
+		console.log('Checking isAnonymous by default:', newTopic.topicData.isAnonymous);
 
 		assert(newTopic);
 		assert.strictEqual(newTopic.topicData.isAnonymous, 'false', 'Expected the topic to default to non-anonymous');