diff --git a/pkg-py/src/querychat/querychat.py b/pkg-py/src/querychat/querychat.py
index 865facca9..a999f0c7c 100644
--- a/pkg-py/src/querychat/querychat.py
+++ b/pkg-py/src/querychat/querychat.py
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ def system_prompt(
     data_description: Optional[str | Path] = None,
     extra_instructions: Optional[str | Path] = None,
     categorical_threshold: int = 10,
-    prompt_path: Optional[Path] = None,
+    prompt_template: Optional[str | Path] = None,
 ) -> str:
     """
     Create a system prompt for the chat model based on a data source's schema
@@ -157,8 +157,8 @@ def system_prompt(
     categorical_threshold : int, default=10
         Threshold for determining if a column is categorical based on number of
         unique values
-    prompt_path
-        Optional `Path` to a custom prompt file. If not provided, the default
+    prompt_template
+        Optional `Path` to or string of a custom prompt template. If not provided, the default
         querychat template will be used.
 
     Returns
@@ -168,27 +168,30 @@ def system_prompt(
 
     """
     # Read the prompt file
-    if prompt_path is None:
+    if prompt_template is None:
         # Default to the prompt file in the same directory as this module
         # This allows for easy customization by placing a different prompt.md file there
-        prompt_path = Path(__file__).parent / "prompt" / "prompt.md"
-
-    prompt_text = prompt_path.read_text()
+        prompt_template = Path(__file__).parent / "prompt" / "prompt.md"
+    prompt_str = (
+        prompt_template.read_text()
+        if isinstance(prompt_template, Path)
+        else prompt_template
+    )
 
-    data_description_str: str | None = (
+    data_description_str = (
         data_description.read_text()
         if isinstance(data_description, Path)
         else data_description
     )
 
-    extra_instructions_str: str | None = (
+    extra_instructions_str = (
         extra_instructions.read_text()
         if isinstance(extra_instructions, Path)
         else extra_instructions
     )
 
     return chevron.render(
-        prompt_text,
+        prompt_str,
         {
             "db_engine": data_source.db_engine,
             "schema": data_source.get_schema(
@@ -244,7 +247,7 @@ def init(
     greeting: Optional[str | Path] = None,
     data_description: Optional[str | Path] = None,
     extra_instructions: Optional[str | Path] = None,
-    prompt_path: Optional[Path] = None,
+    prompt_template: Optional[str | Path] = None,
     system_prompt_override: Optional[str] = None,
     create_chat_callback: Optional[CreateChatCallback] = None,
 ) -> QueryChatConfig:
@@ -273,8 +276,8 @@ def init(
         Additional instructions for the chat model.
         If a pathlib.Path object is passed,
         querychat will read the contents of the path into a string with `.read_text()`.
-    prompt_path : Path, optional
-        Path to a custom prompt file. If not provided, the default querychat
+    prompt_template : Path, optional
+        Path to or a string of a custom prompt file. If not provided, the default querychat
         template will be used. This should be a Markdown file that contains the
         system prompt template. The mustache template can use the following
         variables:
@@ -285,7 +288,7 @@ def init(
         - `{{extra_instructions}}`: Any additional instructions provided
     system_prompt_override : str, optional
         A custom system prompt to use instead of the default. If provided,
-        `data_description`, `extra_instructions`, and `prompt_path` will be
+        `data_description`, `extra_instructions`, and `prompt_template` will be
         silently ignored.
     create_chat_callback : CreateChatCallback, optional
         A function that creates a chat object
@@ -331,7 +334,7 @@ def init(
             data_source_obj,
             data_description=data_description,
             extra_instructions=extra_instructions,
-            prompt_path=prompt_path,
+            prompt_template=prompt_template,
         )
 
     # Default chat function if none provided
diff --git a/pkg-r/NEWS.md b/pkg-r/NEWS.md
index 811fe69bb..81a3e390b 100644
--- a/pkg-r/NEWS.md
+++ b/pkg-r/NEWS.md
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 
 * Initial CRAN submission.
 
-* Added `prompt_path` support for `querychat_system_prompt()`. (Thank you, @oacar! #37)
+* Added `prompt_template` support for `querychat_system_prompt()`. (Thank you, @oacar! #37, #45)
diff --git a/pkg-r/R/prompt.R b/pkg-r/R/prompt.R
index 10bfc977e..a8e9deb96 100644
--- a/pkg-r/R/prompt.R
+++ b/pkg-r/R/prompt.R
@@ -5,18 +5,21 @@
 #'
 #' @param df A data frame to generate schema information from.
 #' @param table_name A string containing the name of the table in SQL queries.
-#' @param data_description Optional string in plain text or Markdown format, containing
-#'   a description of the data frame or any additional context that might be
-#'   helpful in understanding the data. This will be included in the system
-#'   prompt for the chat model.
-#' @param extra_instructions Optional string in plain text or Markdown format, containing
-#'   any additional instructions for the chat model. These will be appended at
-#'   the end of the system prompt.
-#' @param categorical_threshold The maximum number of unique values for a text column to be considered categorical.
-#' @param prompt_path Optional string containing the path to a custom prompt file. If
-#'   `NULL`, the default prompt file in the package will be used. This file should
-#'   contain a whisker template for the system prompt, with placeholders for `{{schema}}`,
-#'   `{{data_description}}`, and `{{extra_instructions}}`.
+#' @param data_description Optional string or existing file path. The contents
+#'   should be in plain text or Markdown format, containing a description of the
+#'   data frame or any additional context that might be helpful in understanding
+#'   the data. This will be included in the system prompt for the chat model.
+#' @param extra_instructions Optional string or existing file path. The contents
+#'   should be in plain text or Markdown format, containing any additional
+#'   instructions for the chat model. These will be appended at the end of the
+#'   system prompt.
+#' @param prompt_template Optional string or existing file path. If `NULL`, the
+#'   default prompt file in the package will be used. The contents should
+#'   contain a whisker template for the system prompt, with placeholders for
+#'   `{{schema}}`, `{{data_description}}`, and `{{extra_instructions}}`.
+#' @param categorical_threshold The maximum number of unique values for a text
+#'   column to be considered categorical.
+#' @param ... Ignored. Used to allow for future parameters.
 #'
 #' @return A string containing the system prompt for the chat model.
 #'
@@ -24,29 +27,25 @@
 querychat_system_prompt <- function(
   df,
   table_name,
+  ...,
   data_description = NULL,
   extra_instructions = NULL,
-  categorical_threshold = 10,
-  prompt_path = system.file("prompt", "prompt.md", package = "querychat")
+  prompt_template = NULL,
+  categorical_threshold = 10
 ) {
-  schema <- df_to_schema(df, table_name, categorical_threshold)
+  rlang::check_dots_empty()
 
-  if (!is.null(data_description)) {
-    data_description <- paste(data_description, collapse = "\n")
-  }
-  if (!is.null(extra_instructions)) {
-    extra_instructions <- paste(extra_instructions, collapse = "\n")
-  }
+  schema <- df_to_schema(df, table_name, categorical_threshold)
 
-  # Read the prompt file
-  if (is.null(prompt_path)) {
-    prompt_path <- system.file("prompt", "prompt.md", package = "querychat")
-  }
-  if (!file.exists(prompt_path)) {
-    stop("Prompt file not found at: ", prompt_path)
+  data_description <- read_path_or_string(data_description, "data_description")
+  extra_instructions <- read_path_or_string(
+    extra_instructions,
+    "extra_instructions"
+  )
+  if (is.null(prompt_template)) {
+    prompt_template <- system.file("prompt", "prompt.md", package = "querychat")
   }
-  prompt_content <- readLines(prompt_path, warn = FALSE)
-  prompt_text <- paste(prompt_content, collapse = "\n")
+  prompt_text <- read_path_or_string(prompt_template, "prompt_template")
 
   processed_template <-
     whisker::whisker.render(
@@ -63,6 +62,20 @@ querychat_system_prompt <- function(
   processed_template
 }
 
+read_path_or_string <- function(x, name) {
+  if (is.null(x)) {
+    return(NULL)
+  }
+  if (!is.character(x)) {
+    stop(sprintf("`%s=` must be a string or a path to a file.", name))
+  }
+  if (file.exists(x)) {
+    x <- readLines(x, warn = FALSE)
+  }
+  return(paste(x, collapse = "\n"))
+}
+
+
 #' Generate a schema description from a data frame
 #'
 #' This function generates a schema description for a data frame, including
diff --git a/pkg-r/R/querychat.R b/pkg-r/R/querychat.R
index eca6a0b88..27601e94a 100644
--- a/pkg-r/R/querychat.R
+++ b/pkg-r/R/querychat.R
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 #'   to display to the user upon first loading the chatbot. If not provided, the
 #'   LLM will be invoked at the start of the conversation to generate one.
 #' @param ... Additional arguments passed to the `querychat_system_prompt()`
-#'   function, such as `categorical_threshold`, and `prompt_path`. If a
+#'   function, such as `categorical_threshold`. If a
 #'   `system_prompt` argument is provided, the `...` arguments will be silently
 #'   ignored.
 #' @inheritParams querychat_system_prompt
@@ -34,13 +34,15 @@ querychat_init <- function(
   greeting = NULL,
   data_description = NULL,
   extra_instructions = NULL,
+  prompt_template = NULL,
   system_prompt = querychat_system_prompt(
     df,
     table_name,
     # By default, pass through any params supplied to querychat_init()
     ...,
     data_description = data_description,
-    extra_instructions = extra_instructions
+    extra_instructions = extra_instructions,
+    prompt_template = prompt_template
   ),
   create_chat_func = purrr::partial(ellmer::chat_openai, model = "gpt-4o")
 ) {
diff --git a/pkg-r/man/querychat_init.Rd b/pkg-r/man/querychat_init.Rd
index 5a0b0c842..b2e355df7 100644
--- a/pkg-r/man/querychat_init.Rd
+++ b/pkg-r/man/querychat_init.Rd
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@ querychat_init(
   greeting = NULL,
   data_description = NULL,
   extra_instructions = NULL,
+  prompt_template = NULL,
   system_prompt = querychat_system_prompt(df, table_name, ..., data_description =
-    data_description, extra_instructions = extra_instructions),
+    data_description, extra_instructions = extra_instructions, prompt_template =
+    prompt_template),
   create_chat_func = purrr::partial(ellmer::chat_openai, model = "gpt-4o")
 )
 }
@@ -20,7 +22,7 @@ querychat_init(
 \item{df}{A data frame.}
 
 \item{...}{Additional arguments passed to the \code{querychat_system_prompt()}
-function, such as \code{categorical_threshold}, and \code{prompt_path}. If a
+function, such as \code{categorical_threshold}. If a
 \code{system_prompt} argument is provided, the \code{...} arguments will be silently
 ignored.}
 
@@ -33,14 +35,20 @@ try to infer a table name using the name of the \code{df} argument.}
 to display to the user upon first loading the chatbot. If not provided, the
 LLM will be invoked at the start of the conversation to generate one.}
 
-\item{data_description}{Optional string in plain text or Markdown format, containing
-a description of the data frame or any additional context that might be
-helpful in understanding the data. This will be included in the system
-prompt for the chat model.}
+\item{data_description}{Optional string or existing file path. The contents
+should be in plain text or Markdown format, containing a description of the
+data frame or any additional context that might be helpful in understanding
+the data. This will be included in the system prompt for the chat model.}
 
-\item{extra_instructions}{Optional string in plain text or Markdown format, containing
-any additional instructions for the chat model. These will be appended at
-the end of the system prompt.}
+\item{extra_instructions}{Optional string or existing file path. The contents
+should be in plain text or Markdown format, containing any additional
+instructions for the chat model. These will be appended at the end of the
+system prompt.}
+
+\item{prompt_template}{Optional string or existing file path. If \code{NULL}, the
+default prompt file in the package will be used. The contents should
+contain a whisker template for the system prompt, with placeholders for
+\code{{{schema}}}, \code{{{data_description}}}, and \code{{{extra_instructions}}}.}
 
 \item{system_prompt}{A string containing the system prompt for the chat model.
 The default uses \code{querychat_system_prompt()} to generate a generic prompt,
diff --git a/pkg-r/man/querychat_system_prompt.Rd b/pkg-r/man/querychat_system_prompt.Rd
index a62b0ac3b..9c5a0e955 100644
--- a/pkg-r/man/querychat_system_prompt.Rd
+++ b/pkg-r/man/querychat_system_prompt.Rd
@@ -7,10 +7,11 @@
 querychat_system_prompt(
   df,
   table_name,
+  ...,
   data_description = NULL,
   extra_instructions = NULL,
-  categorical_threshold = 10,
-  prompt_path = system.file("prompt", "prompt.md", package = "querychat")
+  prompt_template = NULL,
+  categorical_threshold = 10
 )
 }
 \arguments{
@@ -18,21 +19,25 @@ querychat_system_prompt(
 
 \item{table_name}{A string containing the name of the table in SQL queries.}
 
-\item{data_description}{Optional string in plain text or Markdown format, containing
-a description of the data frame or any additional context that might be
-helpful in understanding the data. This will be included in the system
-prompt for the chat model.}
+\item{...}{Ignored. Used to allow for future parameters.}
 
-\item{extra_instructions}{Optional string in plain text or Markdown format, containing
-any additional instructions for the chat model. These will be appended at
-the end of the system prompt.}
+\item{data_description}{Optional string or existing file path. The contents
+should be in plain text or Markdown format, containing a description of the
+data frame or any additional context that might be helpful in understanding
+the data. This will be included in the system prompt for the chat model.}
 
-\item{categorical_threshold}{The maximum number of unique values for a text column to be considered categorical.}
+\item{extra_instructions}{Optional string or existing file path. The contents
+should be in plain text or Markdown format, containing any additional
+instructions for the chat model. These will be appended at the end of the
+system prompt.}
 
-\item{prompt_path}{Optional string containing the path to a custom prompt file. If
-\code{NULL}, the default prompt file in the package will be used. This file should
-contain a whisker template for the system prompt, with placeholders for \code{{{schema}}},
-\code{{{data_description}}}, and \code{{{extra_instructions}}}.}
+\item{prompt_template}{Optional string or existing file path. If \code{NULL}, the
+default prompt file in the package will be used. The contents should
+contain a whisker template for the system prompt, with placeholders for
+\code{{{schema}}}, \code{{{data_description}}}, and \code{{{extra_instructions}}}.}
+
+\item{categorical_threshold}{The maximum number of unique values for a text
+column to be considered categorical.}
 }
 \value{
 A string containing the system prompt for the chat model.