diff --git a/jrnl/encryption/BasePasswordEncryption.py b/jrnl/encryption/BasePasswordEncryption.py
index 9485fb46..d25d2cd1 100644
--- a/jrnl/encryption/BasePasswordEncryption.py
+++ b/jrnl/encryption/BasePasswordEncryption.py
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 # Copyright © 2012-2022 jrnl contributors
 # License: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
 from jrnl.encryption.BaseEncryption import BaseEncryption
+from jrnl.exception import JrnlException
 from jrnl.keyring import get_keyring_password
+from jrnl.messages import Message
+from jrnl.messages import MsgStyle
+from jrnl.messages import MsgText
 from jrnl.prompt import create_password
 from jrnl.prompt import prompt_password
 
@@ -34,12 +38,18 @@ class BasePasswordEncryption(BaseEncryption):
     def decrypt(self, text: bytes) -> str:
         if not self.password:
             self._prompt_password()
+
         while (result := self._decrypt(text)) is None:
             self._prompt_password()
 
         return result
 
     def _prompt_password(self) -> None:
-        self._attempts, self.password = prompt_password(
-            self._attempts, self._max_attempts
-        )
+        if self._attempts >= self._max_attempts:
+            raise JrnlException(
+                Message(MsgText.PasswordMaxTriesExceeded, MsgStyle.ERROR)
+            )
+
+        first_try = self._attempts == 0
+        self.password = prompt_password(first_try=first_try)
+        self._attempts += 1
diff --git a/jrnl/prompt.py b/jrnl/prompt.py
index 988ae98a..901afbaf 100644
--- a/jrnl/prompt.py
+++ b/jrnl/prompt.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 # Copyright © 2012-2022 jrnl contributors
 # License: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
 
-from jrnl.exception import JrnlException
 from jrnl.messages import Message
 from jrnl.messages import MsgStyle
 from jrnl.messages import MsgText
@@ -43,22 +42,17 @@ def create_password(journal_name: str) -> str:
     return pw
 
 
-def prompt_password(attempts: int, max_attempts: int) -> tuple[int, str]:
-    if attempts >= max_attempts:
-        raise JrnlException(Message(MsgText.PasswordMaxTriesExceeded, MsgStyle.ERROR))
-
-    if attempts > 0:
+def prompt_password(first_try: bool = True) -> str:
+    if not first_try:
         print_msg(Message(MsgText.WrongPasswordTryAgain, MsgStyle.WARNING))
 
-    attempts += 1
     return (
-        attempts,
         print_msg(
             Message(MsgText.Password, MsgStyle.PROMPT),
             get_input=True,
             hide_input=True,
         )
-        or "",
+        or ""
     )