diff --git a/app/uk/gov/hmrc/vatapi/controllers/definition/VatApiDefinition.scala b/app/uk/gov/hmrc/vatapi/controllers/definition/VatApiDefinition.scala
index 3409fb11..d5873f49 100644
--- a/app/uk/gov/hmrc/vatapi/controllers/definition/VatApiDefinition.scala
+++ b/app/uk/gov/hmrc/vatapi/controllers/definition/VatApiDefinition.scala
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 package uk.gov.hmrc.vatapi.controllers.definition
 
+import play.api.Logger
 import uk.gov.hmrc.vatapi.config.{AppContext, FeatureSwitch}
 import uk.gov.hmrc.vatapi.controllers.definition.APIStatus.APIStatus
 import uk.gov.hmrc.vatapi.controllers.definition.AuthType._
@@ -105,7 +106,8 @@ class VatApiDefinition {
       case "STABLE" => APIStatus.STABLE
       case "DEPRECATED" => APIStatus.DEPRECATED
       case "RETIRED" => APIStatus.RETIRED
-      case _ => APIStatus.ALPHA
+      case _ => Logger.error(s"[ApiDefinition][buildApiStatus] no API Status found in config.  Reverting to Alpha")
+        APIStatus.ALPHA
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/conf/application.conf b/conf/application.conf
index 03c7b31e..338477cc 100644
--- a/conf/application.conf
+++ b/conf/application.conf
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ metrics {
 api.gateway.context = "vat"
 
 # The status of the API for the API Platform.
-api.status = "PROTOTYPED"
+api.status = "ALPHA"
 
 # Custom header whitelisting
 httpHeadersWhitelist = ["Gov-Test-Scenario"]