diff --git a/pkg/cli/util.go b/pkg/cli/util.go
index 34b3de3..f9966d7 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/util.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/util.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package cli
 import (
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"strings"
 )
 
 // InputFromEditor retrieves user input by opening an editor (one specified by
@@ -34,8 +35,15 @@ func InputFromEditor(placeholder string, pattern string) (string, error) {
 	bytes, _ := os.ReadFile(msgFile.Name())
 	content := string(bytes)
 
-	if content == placeholder {
-		return "", nil
+	if placeholder != "" {
+		if content == placeholder {
+			return "", nil
+		}
+
+		// strip placeholder if content begins with it
+		if strings.HasPrefix(content, placeholder) {
+			content = content[len(placeholder):]
+		}
 	}
 
 	return content, nil