diff --git a/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Config/Entity/ConfigEntityBase.php b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Config/Entity/ConfigEntityBase.php
index 3bbf1ed..224056f 100644
--- a/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Config/Entity/ConfigEntityBase.php
+++ b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Config/Entity/ConfigEntityBase.php
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
    *
    * @var bool
    */
-  public $status;
+  public $status = TRUE;
 
   /**
    * Overrides Entity::__construct().
diff --git a/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Config/Entity/ConfigEntityInterface.php b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Config/Entity/ConfigEntityInterface.php
index 8df5847..a78dda9 100644
--- a/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Config/Entity/ConfigEntityInterface.php
+++ b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Config/Entity/ConfigEntityInterface.php
@@ -51,6 +51,15 @@ public function disable();
   /**
    * Returns whether the configuration entity is enabled.
    *
+   * Status implementations for configuration entities should follow these
+   * general rules:
+   *   - Status does not affect the loading of entities. I.e. Disabling
+   *     configuration entities should only have UI/access implications.
+   *   - It should only take effect when a 'status' key is explicitly declared
+   *     in the entity_keys info of a configuration entitys annotation data.
+   *   - Each entity implementation (entity/controller) is responsible for
+   *     checking and managing the status.
+   *
    * @return bool
    */
   public function status();