diff --git a/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/promise.ts b/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/promise.ts
index 0406c400e9d..2edcf24ca7f 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/promise.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/promise.ts
@@ -373,12 +373,19 @@ export const promise = async ({
     }
 
     // Set defaultValue on the field for globals being returned without being first created
-    // or collection documents created prior to having a default
+    // or collection documents created prior to having a default.
+
+    // Skip setting defaults when: global has no ID (never created or filtered by access)
+    // AND access control is active (not overriding). This prevents default values like
+    // `_status: 'draft'` from appearing when access control filters out the document.
+    const shouldSkipDefaults = global && !doc.id && !overrideAccess
+
     if (
       !removedFieldValue &&
       allowDefaultValue &&
       typeof siblingDoc[field.name!] === 'undefined' &&
-      typeof field.defaultValue !== 'undefined'
+      typeof field.defaultValue !== 'undefined' &&
+      !shouldSkipDefaults
     ) {
       siblingDoc[field.name!] = await getDefaultValue({
         defaultValue: field.defaultValue,
diff --git a/test/versions/globals/DraftWithMax.ts b/test/versions/globals/DraftWithMax.ts
index dab8ec339fb..2e7bf612ef6 100644
--- a/test/versions/globals/DraftWithMax.ts
+++ b/test/versions/globals/DraftWithMax.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { draftWithMaxGlobalSlug } from '../slugs.js'
 
 const DraftWithMaxGlobal: GlobalConfig = {
   slug: draftWithMaxGlobalSlug,
-  label: 'Draft Global',
+  label: 'Draft with Max Global',
   admin: {
     components: {
       views: {
diff --git a/test/versions/int.spec.ts b/test/versions/int.spec.ts
index 34c86b67524..61858807e01 100644
--- a/test/versions/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/versions/int.spec.ts
@@ -2554,6 +2554,36 @@ describe('Versions', () => {
       expect(retrieved.title).toStrictEqual('i will be a draft')
     })
 
+    it('should not return _status field when access control denies read', async () => {
+      // Create a draft global
+      const draft = await payload.updateGlobal({
+        slug: draftGlobalSlug,
+        data: {
+          _status: 'draft',
+          title: 'draft only',
+        },
+        draft: true,
+      })
+
+      expect(draft._status).toStrictEqual('draft')
+
+      // Create a request without a user (simulating unauthenticated request)
+      // Access control on draftGlobalSlug requires published status when no user
+      const req = await createLocalReq({}, payload)
+      req.user = null
+
+      const result = await payload.findGlobal({
+        slug: draftGlobalSlug,
+        overrideAccess: false,
+        req,
+      })
+
+      // Should return empty object, not {_status: 'draft'}
+      // The _status field should not be populated with its default value
+      expect(Object.keys(result)).toHaveLength(0)
+      expect(result._status).toBeUndefined()
+    })
+
     describe('server functions', () => {
       let draftDoc
       let event
diff --git a/test/versions/payload-types.ts b/test/versions/payload-types.ts
index f492524df89..28b6b667424 100644
--- a/test/versions/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/versions/payload-types.ts
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ export interface AutosavePost {
     root: {
       type: string;
       children: {
-        type: string;
+        type: any;
         version: number;
         [k: string]: unknown;
       }[];
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ export interface Diff {
     root: {
       type: string;
       children: {
-        type: string;
+        type: any;
         version: number;
         [k: string]: unknown;
       }[];
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ export interface Diff {
     root: {
       type: string;
       children: {
-        type: string;
+        type: any;
         version: number;
         [k: string]: unknown;
       }[];