diff --git a/api/v3/Membership.php b/api/v3/Membership.php
index 52e64b8b741b..c7a3b1d5e478 100644
--- a/api/v3/Membership.php
+++ b/api/v3/Membership.php
@@ -90,9 +90,19 @@ function civicrm_api3_membership_create($params) {
 
   // Calculate membership dates
   // Fixme: This code belongs in the BAO
-  if (!empty($params['num_terms'])) {
+  if (empty($params['id']) || !empty($params['num_terms'])) {
     // If this is a new membership or we have a specified number of terms calculate membership dates.
-    if (!empty($params['id'])) {
+    if (empty($params['id'])) {
+      // This is a new membership, calculate the membership dates.
+      $calcDates = CRM_Member_BAO_MembershipType::getDatesForMembershipType(
+        $params['membership_type_id'],
+        CRM_Utils_Array::value('join_date', $params),
+        CRM_Utils_Array::value('start_date', $params),
+        CRM_Utils_Array::value('end_date', $params),
+        CRM_Utils_Array::value('num_terms', $params, 1)
+      );
+    }
+    else {
       // This is an existing membership, calculate the membership dates after renewal
       // num_terms is treated as a 'special sauce' for is_renewal but this
       // isn't really helpful for completing pendings.
@@ -102,10 +112,10 @@ function civicrm_api3_membership_create($params) {
         CRM_Utils_Array::value('membership_type_id', $params),
         $params['num_terms']
       );
-      foreach (['join_date', 'start_date', 'end_date'] as $date) {
-        if (empty($params[$date]) && isset($calcDates[$date])) {
-          $params[$date] = $calcDates[$date];
-        }
+    }
+    foreach (['join_date', 'start_date', 'end_date'] as $date) {
+      if (empty($params[$date]) && isset($calcDates[$date])) {
+        $params[$date] = $calcDates[$date];
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/api/v3/MembershipTest.php b/tests/phpunit/api/v3/MembershipTest.php
index 83d7846f4c45..6ac84c70ebb5 100644
--- a/tests/phpunit/api/v3/MembershipTest.php
+++ b/tests/phpunit/api/v3/MembershipTest.php
@@ -846,12 +846,33 @@ public function testMembershipGetWithReturn() {
   ///////////////// civicrm_membership_create methods
 
   /**
-   * Test civicrm_contact_memberships_create with empty params.
-   * Error expected.
+   * Test dates are calculated for pending membership.
    */
-  public function testCreateWithEmptyParams() {
-    $params = [];
-    $this->callAPIFailure('membership', 'create', $params);
+  public function testCreatePending(): void {
+    $membership = $this->callAPISuccess('Membership', 'create', [
+      'contact_id' => $this->individualCreate(),
+      'membership_type_id' => 'General',
+      'status_id' => 'Pending',
+      'sequential' => 1,
+    ])['values'][0];
+    $this->assertEquals(date('Ymd'), $membership['start_date']);
+    $this->assertEquals(date('Ymd', strtotime('+1 year -1 day')), $membership['end_date']);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Test dates are calculated for pending membership.
+   */
+  public function testCreatePendingWithSkipStatusCalc(): void {
+    $membership = $this->callAPISuccess('Membership', 'create', [
+      'contact_id' => $this->individualCreate(),
+      'membership_type_id' => 'General',
+      'status_id' => 'Pending',
+      'sequential' => 1,
+      'skipStatusCal' => TRUE,
+    ])['values'][0];
+    $this->assertEquals(date('Ymd'), $membership['start_date']);
+    $this->assertEquals(date('Ymd'), $membership['join_date']);
+    $this->assertEquals(date('Ymd', strtotime('+1 year -1 day')), $membership['end_date']);
   }
 
   /**