diff --git a/lib/server/services/qualityControlFlag/QCFlagTypesService.js b/lib/server/services/qualityControlFlag/QCFlagTypesService.js
index 14ad556752..66f95516bd 100644
--- a/lib/server/services/qualityControlFlag/QCFlagTypesService.js
+++ b/lib/server/services/qualityControlFlag/QCFlagTypesService.js
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ const { NotFoundError } = require('../../errors/NotFoundError');
 const { getUserOrFail } = require('../user/getUserOrFail');
 const { ConflictError } = require('../../errors/ConflictError');
 
+const DEFAULT_BAD_FLAG_COLOR = '#d62631';
+const DEFAULT_NOT_BAD_FLAG_COLOR = '#4caf50';
+
 /**
  * @typedef QCFlagTypeIdentifier
  * @param {number} id
@@ -96,7 +99,7 @@ class QCFlagTypesService {
                 name,
                 method,
                 bad,
-                color,
+                color: color ?? bad ? DEFAULT_BAD_FLAG_COLOR : DEFAULT_NOT_BAD_FLAG_COLOR,
                 createdById: user.id,
             });
             return qcFlagTypeAdapter.toEntity(await this.getByIdentifier({ id: newFlagInstance.id }));