diff --git a/command/agent/structs.go b/command/agent/structs.go
index 2370c3936a..e202823710 100644
--- a/command/agent/structs.go
+++ b/command/agent/structs.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func (c *CheckDefinition) HealthCheck(node string) *structs.HealthCheck {
 		Node:    node,
 		CheckID: c.ID,
 		Name:    c.Name,
-		Status:  structs.HealthUnknown,
+		Status:  structs.HealthCritical,
 		Notes:   c.Notes,
 	}
 	if health.CheckID == "" && health.Name != "" {
diff --git a/command/agent/structs_test.go b/command/agent/structs_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f21f69fd74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/command/agent/structs_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+package agent
+
+import (
+	"github.com/hashicorp/consul/consul/structs"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestAgentStructs_HealthCheck(t *testing.T) {
+	def := CheckDefinition{}
+	check := def.HealthCheck("node1")
+
+	// Health checks default to critical state
+	if check.Status != structs.HealthCritical {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %v", check.Status)
+	}
+}