diff --git a/distgit_bugzilla_sync/script.py b/distgit_bugzilla_sync/script.py
index 8cfdbad..ea421a7 100644
--- a/distgit_bugzilla_sync/script.py
+++ b/distgit_bugzilla_sync/script.py
@@ -215,6 +215,7 @@ class BugzillaProxy:
                             'description': package['description'],
                             'initialqacontact': package['default_qa_contact'],
                             'initialcclist': package['default_cc'],
+                            'is_active': package['is_active'],
                         }
                         product_info_by_pkg[package['name'].lower()] = product_info
                 self.product_cache[collection] = product_info_by_pkg
@@ -397,21 +398,23 @@ class BugzillaProxy:
                         data['initialcclist'] = initial_cc_emails
                         break
 
+            if product[pkg_key]['is_active'] != (not retired):
+                data['is_active'] = not retired
+
             if data:
                 # Changes occurred.  Submit a request to change via xmlrpc
                 data['product'] = bz_product_name
                 data['component'] = package
-                data["is_active"] = not retired
 
                 if self.config["verbose"]:
-                    for key in ["initialowner", "description", "initialqacontact", "initialcclist"]:
-                        if data.get(key):
+                    for key in ["initialowner", "description", "initialqacontact", "initialcclist", "is_active"]:
+                        if data.get(key) is not None:
 
                             old_value = product[pkg_key][key]
-                            if not isinstance(old_value, str):
+                            if isinstance(old_value, list):
                                 old_value = sorted(old_value)
                             new_value = data.get(key)
-                            if not isinstance(new_value, str):
+                            if isinstance(new_value, list):
                                 new_value = sorted(new_value)
 
                             if print_fas_names and key in ('initialowner',