diff --git a/homeassistant/components/mqtt/cover.py b/homeassistant/components/mqtt/cover.py
index 325433817c0..8d4df0c301d 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/mqtt/cover.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/mqtt/cover.py
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ from homeassistant.const import (
     STATE_CLOSING,
     STATE_OPEN,
     STATE_OPENING,
-    STATE_UNKNOWN,
 )
 from homeassistant.core import HomeAssistant, callback
 import homeassistant.helpers.config_validation as cv
@@ -470,7 +469,6 @@ class MqttCover(MqttEntity, CoverEntity):
             }
 
         if self._config.get(CONF_TILT_STATUS_TOPIC) is not None:
-            self._tilt_value = STATE_UNKNOWN
             topics["tilt_status_topic"] = {
                 "topic": self._config.get(CONF_TILT_STATUS_TOPIC),
                 "msg_callback": tilt_message_received,
diff --git a/tests/components/mqtt/test_cover.py b/tests/components/mqtt/test_cover.py
index 5796c12f3cf..31e30ebf11a 100644
--- a/tests/components/mqtt/test_cover.py
+++ b/tests/components/mqtt/test_cover.py
@@ -1256,12 +1256,8 @@ async def test_tilt_defaults(hass, mqtt_mock_entry_with_yaml_config):
     await mqtt_mock_entry_with_yaml_config()
 
     state_attributes_dict = hass.states.get("cover.test").attributes
-    assert ATTR_CURRENT_TILT_POSITION in state_attributes_dict
-
-    current_cover_position = hass.states.get("cover.test").attributes[
-        ATTR_CURRENT_TILT_POSITION
-    ]
-    assert current_cover_position == STATE_UNKNOWN
+    # Tilt position is not yet known
+    assert ATTR_CURRENT_TILT_POSITION not in state_attributes_dict
 
 
 async def test_tilt_via_invocation_defaults(hass, mqtt_mock_entry_with_yaml_config):