diff --git a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/db.py b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/db.py
index 9ba0df066075..8ca96d3a7c59 100644
--- a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/db.py
+++ b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/db.py
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ async def list_projects(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-statemen
         # attribute filters
         filter_by_project_type: ProjectType | None = None,
         filter_by_services: list[dict] | None = None,
-        filter_published: bool | None = False,
+        filter_published: bool | None = None,
         filter_hidden: bool | None = False,
         filter_trashed: bool | None = False,
         filter_by_text: str | None = None,