diff --git a/.changeset/hot-turkeys-knock.md b/.changeset/hot-turkeys-knock.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0c86eb91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/hot-turkeys-knock.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@clack/core": patch
+---
+
+Fixes an edge case for placeholder values. Previously, when pressing `enter` on an empty prompt, placeholder values would be ignored. Now, placeholder values are treated as the prompt value.
diff --git a/packages/core/src/prompts/prompt.ts b/packages/core/src/prompts/prompt.ts
index c676d1a5..089e1dc8 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/prompts/prompt.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/prompts/prompt.ts
@@ -205,6 +205,11 @@ export default class Prompt {
 		}
 
 		if (key?.name === 'return') {
+			if (!this.value && this.opts.placeholder) {
+				this.rl?.write(this.opts.placeholder);
+				this.emit('value', this.opts.placeholder);
+			}
+
 			if (this.opts.validate) {
 				const problem = this.opts.validate(this.value);
 				if (problem) {
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/index.test.ts b/packages/prompts/src/index.test.ts
index aa2fab52..406bd933 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/index.test.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/index.test.ts
@@ -210,11 +210,11 @@ describe.each(['true', 'false'])('prompts (isCI = %s)', (isCI) => {
 
 			input.emit('keypress', '', { name: 'return' });
 
-			await result;
+			const value = await result;
 
 			expect(output.buffer).toMatchSnapshot();
-			// TODO (43081j): uncomment this when #263 is fixed
-			// expect(value).toBe('bar');
+
+			expect(value).toBe('bar');
 		});
 
 		test('<tab> applies placeholder', async () => {