diff --git a/jrnl/util.py b/jrnl/util.py
index a14e2915..7a049ac0 100644
--- a/jrnl/util.py
+++ b/jrnl/util.py
@@ -128,11 +128,9 @@ def load_and_fix_json(json_path):
 
 def get_text_from_editor(config, template=""):
     tmpfile = os.path.join(tempfile.gettempdir(), "jrnl")
-    if template:
-        with codecs.open(tmpfile, 'w', "utf-8") as f:
+    with codecs.open(tmpfile, 'w', "utf-8") as f:
+        if template:
             f.write(template)
-    with open(tmpfile, 'w'):
-        pass
     subprocess.call(config['editor'].split() + [tmpfile])
     with codecs.open(tmpfile, "r", "utf-8") as f:
         raw = f.read()