diff --git a/crates/ely_browser_core/tests/profiles.rs b/crates/ely_browser_core/tests/profiles.rs
index 5fb07f2..dc85334 100644
--- a/crates/ely_browser_core/tests/profiles.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_browser_core/tests/profiles.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ fn new_private_profile_command_creates_private_profile() -> Result<(), Box<dyn E
     };
 
     assert_eq!(profile.kind(), &ProfileKind::Private);
+    assert_eq!(profile.sync_policy(), ProfileSyncPolicy::Paused);
     assert_eq!(&snapshot.active_profile_id, profile.id());
     assert_eq!(snapshot.active_profile_name, "Private");
     assert_eq!(snapshot.command_query, "");
@@ -46,6 +47,21 @@ fn private_profiles_do_not_record_history() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn private_profile_starts_with_sync_paused() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
+    let mut core = BrowserCore::new(InitialBrowserConfig::ely_defaults()?)?;
+    let private_profile_id = core.create_profile("Private", 0x807d72, ProfileKind::Private)?;
+    let snapshot = core.snapshot()?;
+    let Some(private_profile) =
+        snapshot.profiles.iter().find(|profile| profile.id() == &private_profile_id)
+    else {
+        return Err("missing private profile".into());
+    };
+
+    assert_eq!(private_profile.sync_policy(), ProfileSyncPolicy::Paused);
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn profile_sync_policy_can_pause_one_profile() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
     let mut core = BrowserCore::new(InitialBrowserConfig::ely_defaults()?)?;
diff --git a/crates/ely_domain/src/profile.rs b/crates/ely_domain/src/profile.rs
index 58b8721..c69e752 100644
--- a/crates/ely_domain/src/profile.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_domain/src/profile.rs
@@ -52,13 +52,18 @@ pub struct Profile {
 impl Profile {
     #[must_use]
     pub fn new(name: impl Into<String>, color_hex: u32, kind: ProfileKind) -> Self {
+        let sync_policy = match kind {
+            ProfileKind::Standard => ProfileSyncPolicy::Enabled,
+            ProfileKind::Private => ProfileSyncPolicy::Paused,
+        };
+
         Self {
             id: ProfileId::new(),
             name: name.into(),
             color_hex,
             kind,
             download_policy: DownloadPolicy::ask_every_time(),
-            sync_policy: ProfileSyncPolicy::default(),
+            sync_policy,
         }
     }