diff --git a/src/components/ApprovalFeed.tsx b/src/components/ApprovalFeed.tsx
index c5d4528b..e982f82d 100644
--- a/src/components/ApprovalFeed.tsx
+++ b/src/components/ApprovalFeed.tsx
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ export function ApprovalFeed({ orgId }: ApprovalFeedProps) {
                                     `${path}?${newSearch.toString()}`
                                 );
                             }}
-                            value={filters.approvalState ?? "all"}
+                            value={filters.approvalState ?? "pending"}
                         >
                             <SelectTrigger
                                 id="approvalState"
diff --git a/src/lib/queries.ts b/src/lib/queries.ts
index 874f7790..f6907d6b 100644
--- a/src/lib/queries.ts
+++ b/src/lib/queries.ts
@@ -326,8 +326,8 @@ export const resourceQueries = {
 export const approvalFiltersSchema = z.object({
     approvalState: z
         .enum(["pending", "approved", "denied", "all"])
-        .optional()
-        .catch("all")
+        .default("pending")
+        .catch("pending")
 });
 
 export type ApprovalItem = {