diff --git a/jupyter_ydoc/ydoc.py b/jupyter_ydoc/ydoc.py
index ae8cbe9..8125408 100644
--- a/jupyter_ydoc/ydoc.py
+++ b/jupyter_ydoc/ydoc.py
@@ -176,7 +176,8 @@ def set(self, value):
             {
                 "cell_type": "code",
                 "execution_count": None,
-                "metadata": {},
+                # auto-created empty code cell without outputs ought be trusted
+                "metadata": {"trusted": True},
                 "outputs": [],
                 "source": "",
                 "id": str(uuid4()),