diff --git a/libraries/src/Table/Content.php b/libraries/src/Table/Content.php
index 8af5739afe6d7..ddb52af0c6008 100644
--- a/libraries/src/Table/Content.php
+++ b/libraries/src/Table/Content.php
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ public function store($updateNulls = true)
             // Is the existing article trashed?
             $this->setError(Text::_('COM_CONTENT_ERROR_UNIQUE_ALIAS'));
 
-            if ($table->published === -2) {
+            if ($table->state === -2) {
                 $this->setError(Text::_('COM_CONTENT_ERROR_UNIQUE_ALIAS_TRASHED'));
             }