diff --git a/packages/cli/src/workflows/workflow.service.ts b/packages/cli/src/workflows/workflow.service.ts
index dd40c054c01..f8f1b7e7105 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/workflows/workflow.service.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/workflows/workflow.service.ts
@@ -544,6 +544,9 @@ export class WorkflowService {
 			return workflow;
 		}
 
+		const wasActive = workflow.activeVersionId !== null;
+		const activationMode = wasActive ? 'update' : 'activate';
+
 		await this.workflowRepository.update(workflowId, {
 			activeVersionId: versionId,
 			active: true,
@@ -572,7 +575,7 @@ export class WorkflowService {
 			publicApi: false,
 		});
 
-		await this._addToActiveWorkflowManager(user, workflowId, updatedWorkflow, 'activate', {
+		await this._addToActiveWorkflowManager(user, workflowId, updatedWorkflow, activationMode, {
 			active: workflow.active,
 			activeVersionId: workflow.activeVersionId,
 			activeVersion: workflow.activeVersion,
diff --git a/packages/cli/test/integration/workflows/workflows.controller.test.ts b/packages/cli/test/integration/workflows/workflows.controller.test.ts
index 6b4f7e53655..8ea5b3929eb 100644
--- a/packages/cli/test/integration/workflows/workflows.controller.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/test/integration/workflows/workflows.controller.test.ts
@@ -2825,7 +2825,7 @@ describe('PATCH /workflows/:workflowId', () => {
 		});
 
 		test('should not modify activeVersionId when explicitly provided', async () => {
-			const workflow = await createWorkflow({}, owner);
+			const workflow = await createWorkflowWithHistory({}, owner);
 			const payload = {
 				versionId: workflow.versionId,
 				activeVersionId: workflow.versionId,
@@ -3033,6 +3033,29 @@ describe('POST /workflows/:workflowId/activate', () => {
 
 		expect(emitSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith('workflow-deactivated', expect.anything());
 	});
+
+	test('should call active workflow manager with activate mode if workflow is not active', async () => {
+		const workflow = await createWorkflowWithHistory({}, owner);
+
+		await authOwnerAgent
+			.post(`/workflows/${workflow.id}/activate`)
+			.send({ versionId: workflow.versionId });
+
+		expect(activeWorkflowManagerLike.add).toBeCalledWith(workflow.id, 'activate');
+	});
+
+	test('should call active workflow manager with update mode if workflow is active', async () => {
+		const workflow = await createActiveWorkflow({}, owner);
+
+		const newVersionId = uuid();
+		await createWorkflowHistoryItem(workflow.id, { versionId: newVersionId });
+
+		await authOwnerAgent
+			.post(`/workflows/${workflow.id}/activate`)
+			.send({ versionId: newVersionId });
+
+		expect(activeWorkflowManagerLike.add).toBeCalledWith(workflow.id, 'update');
+	});
 });
 
 describe('POST /workflows/:workflowId/deactivate', () => {