diff --git a/.changeset/bright-hornets-destroy.md b/.changeset/bright-hornets-destroy.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b2c01bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/bright-hornets-destroy.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+"@clack/prompts": patch
+"@clack/core": patch
+---
+
+Prevents placeholder from being used as input value in text prompts
diff --git a/examples/basic/default-value.ts b/examples/basic/default-value.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c05eb89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/basic/default-value.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import * as p from '@clack/prompts';
+import color from 'picocolors';
+
+async function main() {
+	const defaultPath = 'my-project';
+
+	const result = await p.text(
+		{
+			message: 'Enter the directory to bootstrap the project',
+			placeholder:  `  (hit Enter to use '${defaultPath}')`,
+			defaultValue: defaultPath,
+			validate: (value) => {
+				if (!value) {
+					return 'Directory is required';
+				}
+				if (value.includes(' ')) {
+					return 'Directory cannot contain spaces';
+				}
+				return undefined;
+			},
+		}
+	);
+
+	if (p.isCancel(result)) {
+		p.cancel('Operation cancelled.');
+		process.exit(0);
+	}
+
+	p.outro(`Let's bootstrap the project in ${color.cyan(result)}`);
+}
+
+main().catch(console.error);
diff --git a/packages/core/src/prompts/prompt.ts b/packages/core/src/prompts/prompt.ts
index be5c0dd..fcd6f0f 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/prompts/prompt.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/prompts/prompt.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ export interface PromptOptions<Self extends Prompt> {
 	render(this: Omit<Self, 'prompt'>): string | undefined;
 	placeholder?: string;
 	initialValue?: any;
+	defaultValue?: any;
 	validate?: ((value: any) => string | Error | undefined) | undefined;
 	input?: Readable;
 	output?: Writable;
@@ -222,9 +223,12 @@ export default class Prompt {
 		this.emit('key', char?.toLowerCase(), key);
 
 		if (key?.name === 'return') {
-			if (!this.value && this.opts.placeholder) {
-				this.rl?.write(this.opts.placeholder);
-				this._setValue(this.opts.placeholder);
+			if (!this.value) {
+				if (this.opts.defaultValue) {
+					this._setValue(this.opts.defaultValue);
+				} else {
+					this._setValue('');
+				}
 			}
 
 			if (this.opts.validate) {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/prompts/text.ts b/packages/core/src/prompts/text.ts
index f8bdf41..052a9bd 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/prompts/text.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/prompts/text.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ export default class TextPrompt extends Prompt {
 			if (!this.value) {
 				this.value = opts.defaultValue;
 			}
+			if (this.value === undefined) {
+				this.value = '';
+			}
 		});
 	}
 }
diff --git a/packages/core/test/prompts/prompt.test.ts b/packages/core/test/prompts/prompt.test.ts
index d9665b5..dcc4d33 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/prompts/prompt.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/prompts/prompt.test.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ describe('Prompt', () => {
 		const resultPromise = instance.prompt();
 		input.emit('keypress', '', { name: 'return' });
 		const result = await resultPromise;
-		expect(result).to.equal(undefined);
+		expect(result).to.equal('');
 		expect(isCancel(result)).to.equal(false);
 		expect(instance.state).to.equal('submit');
 		expect(output.buffer).to.deep.equal([cursor.hide, 'foo', '\n', cursor.show]);
diff --git a/packages/core/test/prompts/text.test.ts b/packages/core/test/prompts/text.test.ts
index f51c6c8..8230814 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/prompts/text.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/prompts/text.test.ts
@@ -110,5 +110,32 @@ describe('TextPrompt', () => {
 			input.emit('keypress', 'right', { name: 'right' });
 			expect(instance.valueWithCursor).to.equal('foo█');
 		});
+
+		test('does not use placeholder as value when pressing enter', async () => {
+			const instance = new TextPrompt({
+				input,
+				output,
+				render: () => 'foo',
+				placeholder: '  (hit Enter to use default)',
+				defaultValue: 'default-value'
+			});
+			const resultPromise = instance.prompt();
+			input.emit('keypress', '', { name: 'return' });
+			const result = await resultPromise;
+			expect(result).to.equal('default-value');
+		});
+
+		test('returns empty string when no value and no default', async () => {
+			const instance = new TextPrompt({
+				input,
+				output,
+				render: () => 'foo',
+				placeholder: '  (hit Enter to use default)'
+			});
+			const resultPromise = instance.prompt();
+			input.emit('keypress', '', { name: 'return' });
+			const result = await resultPromise;
+			expect(result).to.equal('');
+		});
 	});
 });
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/text.ts b/packages/prompts/src/text.ts
index 9ca0b1f..34f84de 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/text.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/text.ts
@@ -30,8 +30,10 @@ export const text = (opts: TextOptions) => {
 					return `${title.trim()}\n${color.yellow(S_BAR)}  ${value}\n${color.yellow(
 						S_BAR_END
 					)}  ${color.yellow(this.error)}\n`;
-				case 'submit':
-					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}  ${color.dim(this.value || opts.placeholder)}`;
+				case 'submit': {
+					const displayValue = typeof this.value === 'undefined' ? '' : this.value;
+					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}  ${color.dim(displayValue)}`;
+				}
 				case 'cancel':
 					return `${title}${color.gray(S_BAR)}  ${color.strikethrough(
 						color.dim(this.value ?? '')
diff --git a/packages/prompts/test/__snapshots__/path.test.ts.snap b/packages/prompts/test/__snapshots__/path.test.ts.snap
index ce1138d..2794569 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/test/__snapshots__/path.test.ts.snap
+++ b/packages/prompts/test/__snapshots__/path.test.ts.snap
@@ -143,17 +143,21 @@ exports[`text (isCI = false) > renders submitted value 1`] = `
 
 exports[`text (isCI = false) > validation errors render and clear (using Error) 1`] = `
 [
-  "<cursor.hide>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999>",
+  "",
+  "<erase.down>",
   "│
-◆  foo
-│  /tmp/foo
-└
+▲  foo
+│  /tmp/foo
+└  should be /tmp/bar
 ",
   "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
-  "<cursor.down count=2>",
-  "<erase.line><cursor.left count=1>",
-  "│  /tmp/b ",
-  "<cursor.down count=2>",
+  "<cursor.down count=1>",
+  "<erase.down>",
+  "◆  foo
+│  /tmp/b 
+└
+",
   "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
   "<cursor.down count=1>",
   "<erase.down>",
@@ -186,17 +190,21 @@ exports[`text (isCI = false) > validation errors render and clear (using Error)
 
 exports[`text (isCI = false) > validation errors render and clear 1`] = `
 [
-  "<cursor.hide>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999>",
+  "",
+  "<erase.down>",
   "│
-◆  foo
-│  /tmp/foo
-└
+▲  foo
+│  /tmp/foo
+└  should be /tmp/bar
 ",
   "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
-  "<cursor.down count=2>",
-  "<erase.line><cursor.left count=1>",
-  "│  /tmp/b ",
-  "<cursor.down count=2>",
+  "<cursor.down count=1>",
+  "<erase.down>",
+  "◆  foo
+│  /tmp/b 
+└
+",
   "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
   "<cursor.down count=1>",
   "<erase.down>",
@@ -370,17 +378,21 @@ exports[`text (isCI = true) > renders submitted value 1`] = `
 
 exports[`text (isCI = true) > validation errors render and clear (using Error) 1`] = `
 [
-  "<cursor.hide>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999>",
+  "",
+  "<erase.down>",
   "│
-◆  foo
-│  /tmp/foo
-└
+▲  foo
+│  /tmp/foo
+└  should be /tmp/bar
 ",
   "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
-  "<cursor.down count=2>",
-  "<erase.line><cursor.left count=1>",
-  "│  /tmp/b ",
-  "<cursor.down count=2>",
+  "<cursor.down count=1>",
+  "<erase.down>",
+  "◆  foo
+│  /tmp/b 
+└
+",
   "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
   "<cursor.down count=1>",
   "<erase.down>",
@@ -413,17 +425,21 @@ exports[`text (isCI = true) > validation errors render and clear (using Error) 1
 
 exports[`text (isCI = true) > validation errors render and clear 1`] = `
 [
-  "<cursor.hide>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999>",
+  "",
+  "<erase.down>",
   "│
-◆  foo
-│  /tmp/foo
-└
+▲  foo
+│  /tmp/foo
+└  should be /tmp/bar
 ",
   "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
-  "<cursor.down count=2>",
-  "<erase.line><cursor.left count=1>",
-  "│  /tmp/b ",
-  "<cursor.down count=2>",
+  "<cursor.down count=1>",
+  "<erase.down>",
+  "◆  foo
+│  /tmp/b 
+└
+",
   "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
   "<cursor.down count=1>",
   "<erase.down>",
diff --git a/packages/prompts/test/__snapshots__/suggestion.test.ts.snap b/packages/prompts/test/__snapshots__/suggestion.test.ts.snap
index e1f2aee..93446c2 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/test/__snapshots__/suggestion.test.ts.snap
+++ b/packages/prompts/test/__snapshots__/suggestion.test.ts.snap
@@ -142,17 +142,21 @@ exports[`text (isCI = false) > renders submitted value 1`] = `
 
 exports[`text (isCI = false) > validation errors render and clear (using Error) 1`] = `
 [
-  "<cursor.hide>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999>",
+  "",
+  "<erase.down>",
   "│
-◆  foo
-│  xyz
-└
+▲  foo
+│  xyz
+└  should be xy
 ",
   "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
-  "<cursor.down count=2>",
-  "<erase.line><cursor.left count=1>",
-  "│  xyz",
-  "<cursor.down count=2>",
+  "<cursor.down count=1>",
+  "<erase.down>",
+  "◆  foo
+│  xyz
+└
+",
   "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
   "<cursor.down count=1>",
   "<erase.down>",
@@ -180,17 +184,21 @@ exports[`text (isCI = false) > validation errors render and clear (using Error)
 
 exports[`text (isCI = false) > validation errors render and clear 1`] = `
 [
-  "<cursor.hide>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999>",
+  "",
+  "<erase.down>",
   "│
-◆  foo
-│  xyz
-└
+▲  foo
+│  xyz
+└  should be xy
 ",
   "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
-  "<cursor.down count=2>",
-  "<erase.line><cursor.left count=1>",
-  "│  xyz",
-  "<cursor.down count=2>",
+  "<cursor.down count=1>",
+  "<erase.down>",
+  "◆  foo
+│  xyz
+└
+",
   "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
   "<cursor.down count=1>",
   "<erase.down>",
@@ -358,17 +366,21 @@ exports[`text (isCI = true) > renders submitted value 1`] = `
 
 exports[`text (isCI = true) > validation errors render and clear (using Error) 1`] = `
 [
-  "<cursor.hide>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999>",
+  "",
+  "<erase.down>",
   "│
-◆  foo
-│  xyz
-└
+▲  foo
+│  xyz
+└  should be xy
 ",
   "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
-  "<cursor.down count=2>",
-  "<erase.line><cursor.left count=1>",
-  "│  xyz",
-  "<cursor.down count=2>",
+  "<cursor.down count=1>",
+  "<erase.down>",
+  "◆  foo
+│  xyz
+└
+",
   "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
   "<cursor.down count=1>",
   "<erase.down>",
@@ -396,17 +408,21 @@ exports[`text (isCI = true) > validation errors render and clear (using Error) 1
 
 exports[`text (isCI = true) > validation errors render and clear 1`] = `
 [
-  "<cursor.hide>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999>",
+  "",
+  "<erase.down>",
   "│
-◆  foo
-│  xyz
-└
+▲  foo
+│  xyz
+└  should be xy
 ",
   "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
-  "<cursor.down count=2>",
-  "<erase.line><cursor.left count=1>",
-  "│  xyz",
-  "<cursor.down count=2>",
+  "<cursor.down count=1>",
+  "<erase.down>",
+  "◆  foo
+│  xyz
+└
+",
   "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
   "<cursor.down count=1>",
   "<erase.down>",
diff --git a/packages/prompts/test/__snapshots__/text.test.ts.snap b/packages/prompts/test/__snapshots__/text.test.ts.snap
index 02d4e79..cd421cc 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/test/__snapshots__/text.test.ts.snap
+++ b/packages/prompts/test/__snapshots__/text.test.ts.snap
@@ -38,6 +38,44 @@ exports[`text (isCI = false) > defaultValue sets the value but does not render 1
 ]
 `;
 
+exports[`text (isCI = false) > empty string when no value and no default 1`] = `
+[
+  "<cursor.hide>",
+  "│
+◆  foo
+│    (hit Enter to use default)
+└
+",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
+  "<cursor.down count=1>",
+  "<erase.down>",
+  "◇  foo
+│",
+  "
+",
+  "<cursor.show>",
+]
+`;
+
+exports[`text (isCI = false) > placeholder is not used as value when pressing enter 1`] = `
+[
+  "<cursor.hide>",
+  "│
+◆  foo
+│    (hit Enter to use default)
+└
+",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
+  "<cursor.down count=1>",
+  "<erase.down>",
+  "◇  foo
+│  default-value",
+  "
+",
+  "<cursor.show>",
+]
+`;
+
 exports[`text (isCI = false) > renders cancelled value if one set 1`] = `
 [
   "<cursor.hide>",
@@ -80,7 +118,7 @@ exports[`text (isCI = false) > renders message 1`] = `
   "<cursor.down count=1>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "◇  foo
-│  undefined",
+│",
   "
 ",
   "<cursor.show>",
@@ -99,7 +137,7 @@ exports[`text (isCI = false) > renders placeholder if set 1`] = `
   "<cursor.down count=1>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "◇  foo
-│  bar",
+│",
   "
 ",
   "<cursor.show>",
@@ -249,6 +287,44 @@ exports[`text (isCI = true) > defaultValue sets the value but does not render 1`
 ]
 `;
 
+exports[`text (isCI = true) > empty string when no value and no default 1`] = `
+[
+  "<cursor.hide>",
+  "│
+◆  foo
+│    (hit Enter to use default)
+└
+",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
+  "<cursor.down count=1>",
+  "<erase.down>",
+  "◇  foo
+│",
+  "
+",
+  "<cursor.show>",
+]
+`;
+
+exports[`text (isCI = true) > placeholder is not used as value when pressing enter 1`] = `
+[
+  "<cursor.hide>",
+  "│
+◆  foo
+│    (hit Enter to use default)
+└
+",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=4>",
+  "<cursor.down count=1>",
+  "<erase.down>",
+  "◇  foo
+│  default-value",
+  "
+",
+  "<cursor.show>",
+]
+`;
+
 exports[`text (isCI = true) > renders cancelled value if one set 1`] = `
 [
   "<cursor.hide>",
@@ -291,7 +367,7 @@ exports[`text (isCI = true) > renders message 1`] = `
   "<cursor.down count=1>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "◇  foo
-│  undefined",
+│",
   "
 ",
   "<cursor.show>",
@@ -310,7 +386,7 @@ exports[`text (isCI = true) > renders placeholder if set 1`] = `
   "<cursor.down count=1>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "◇  foo
-│  bar",
+│",
   "
 ",
   "<cursor.show>",
diff --git a/packages/prompts/test/text.test.ts b/packages/prompts/test/text.test.ts
index 749ca03..d2ddcd2 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/test/text.test.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/test/text.test.ts
@@ -52,8 +52,7 @@ describe.each(['true', 'false'])('text (isCI = %s)', (isCI) => {
 		const value = await result;
 
 		expect(output.buffer).toMatchSnapshot();
-
-		expect(value).toBe('bar');
+		expect(value).toBe('');
 	});
 
 	test('<tab> applies placeholder', async () => {
@@ -174,4 +173,37 @@ describe.each(['true', 'false'])('text (isCI = %s)', (isCI) => {
 		expect(value).toBe('xy');
 		expect(output.buffer).toMatchSnapshot();
 	});
+
+	test('placeholder is not used as value when pressing enter', async () => {
+		const result = prompts.text({
+			message: 'foo',
+			placeholder: '  (hit Enter to use default)',
+			defaultValue: 'default-value',
+			input,
+			output,
+		});
+
+		input.emit('keypress', '', { name: 'return' });
+
+		const value = await result;
+
+		expect(value).toBe('default-value');
+		expect(output.buffer).toMatchSnapshot();
+	});
+
+	test('empty string when no value and no default', async () => {
+		const result = prompts.text({
+			message: 'foo',
+			placeholder: '  (hit Enter to use default)',
+			input,
+			output,
+		});
+
+		input.emit('keypress', '', { name: 'return' });
+
+		const value = await result;
+
+		expect(value).toBe('');
+		expect(output.buffer).toMatchSnapshot();
+	});
 });