diff --git a/jrnl/util.py b/jrnl/util.py
index e9df0fb1..47cb5a18 100644
--- a/jrnl/util.py
+++ b/jrnl/util.py
@@ -130,7 +130,9 @@ def get_text_from_editor(config, template=""):
     with codecs.open(tmpfile, 'w', "utf-8") as f:
         if template:
             f.write(template)
-    subprocess.call(config['editor'].split() + [tmpfile])
+    editor = config['editor']
+    args = editor if isinstance(editor, list) else editor.split()
+    subprocess.call(args + [tmpfile])
     with codecs.open(tmpfile, "r", "utf-8") as f:
         raw = f.read()
     os.remove(tmpfile)