Index: src/wp-includes/post.php
===================================================================
--- src/wp-includes/post.php	(revision 28868)
+++ src/wp-includes/post.php	(working copy)
@@ -838,8 +838,10 @@
 		// Inherit status from the parent
 		if ( $post->post_parent && ( $post->ID != $post->post_parent ) ) {
 			$parent_post_status = get_post_status( $post->post_parent );
-			if ( 'trash' == $parent_post_status ) {
+			if ( 'trash' === $parent_post_status ) {
 				return get_post_meta( $post->post_parent, '_wp_trash_meta_status', true );
+			} elseif ( 'auto-draft' === $parent_post_status ) {
+				return 'publish';
 			} else {
 				return $parent_post_status;
 			}