diff --git a/cli/src/commands/commit.rs b/cli/src/commands/commit.rs
index abbf800f6e..fa1b803775 100644
--- a/cli/src/commands/commit.rs
+++ b/cli/src/commands/commit.rs
@@ -109,14 +109,12 @@ new working-copy commit.
     let description = if !args.message_paragraphs.is_empty() {
         join_message_paragraphs(&args.message_paragraphs)
     } else {
+        if commit_builder.description().is_empty() {
+            commit_builder.set_description(command.settings().default_description());
+        }
         let temp_commit = commit_builder.write_hidden()?;
-        let template = description_template_for_commit(
-            ui,
-            command.settings(),
-            tx.base_workspace_helper(),
-            "",
-            &temp_commit,
-        )?;
+        let template =
+            description_template_for_commit(ui, tx.base_workspace_helper(), "", &temp_commit)?;
         edit_description(tx.base_repo(), &template, command.settings())?
     };
     commit_builder.set_description(description);
diff --git a/cli/src/commands/split.rs b/cli/src/commands/split.rs
index 002cbe70c1..3dda7051dc 100644
--- a/cli/src/commands/split.rs
+++ b/cli/src/commands/split.rs
@@ -128,10 +128,12 @@ the operation will be aborted.
             .rewrite_commit(command.settings(), &commit)
             .detach();
         commit_builder.set_tree_id(selected_tree_id);
+        if commit_builder.description().is_empty() {
+            commit_builder.set_description(command.settings().default_description());
+        }
         let temp_commit = commit_builder.write_hidden()?;
         let template = description_template_for_commit(
             ui,
-            command.settings(),
             tx.base_workspace_helper(),
             "Enter a description for the first commit.",
             &temp_commit,
@@ -175,7 +177,6 @@ the operation will be aborted.
             let temp_commit = commit_builder.write_hidden()?;
             let template = description_template_for_commit(
                 ui,
-                command.settings(),
                 tx.base_workspace_helper(),
                 "Enter a description for the second commit.",
                 &temp_commit,
diff --git a/cli/src/description_util.rs b/cli/src/description_util.rs
index c6f1b907ce..b2ce716a55 100644
--- a/cli/src/description_util.rs
+++ b/cli/src/description_util.rs
@@ -112,7 +112,6 @@ pub fn description_template_for_describe(
 
 pub fn description_template_for_commit(
     ui: &Ui,
-    settings: &UserSettings,
     workspace_command: &WorkspaceCommandHelper,
     intro: &str,
     commit: &Commit,
@@ -129,11 +128,7 @@ pub fn description_template_for_commit(
     if !intro.is_empty() {
         template_chunks.push(format!("JJ: {intro}\n"));
     }
-    template_chunks.push(if commit.description().is_empty() {
-        settings.default_description()
-    } else {
-        commit.description().to_owned()
-    });
+    template_chunks.push(commit.description().to_owned());
     if !diff_summary_bytes.is_empty() {
         template_chunks.push("\n".to_owned());
         template_chunks.push(diff_summary_to_description(&diff_summary_bytes));