diff --git a/commands/issue.go b/commands/issue.go
index 1742017b..76ae0709 100644
--- a/commands/issue.go
+++ b/commands/issue.go
@@ -362,6 +362,11 @@ func createIssue(cmd *Command, args *Args) {
 		Title:    "issue",
 	}
 
+	messageBuilder.AddCommentedSection(fmt.Sprintf(`Creating an issue for %s
+
+Write a message for this issue. The first block of
+text is the title and the rest is the description.`, project))
+
 	if cmd.FlagPassed("message") {
 		messageBuilder.Message = flagIssueMessage
 		messageBuilder.Edit = flagIssueEdit
@@ -371,23 +376,16 @@ func createIssue(cmd *Command, args *Args) {
 		messageBuilder.Edit = flagIssueEdit
 	} else {
 		messageBuilder.Edit = true
-		message := ""
-		helpMessage := fmt.Sprintf(`Creating an issue for %s
-
-Write a message for this issue. The first block of
-text is the title and the rest is the description.`, project)
 
 		workdir, _ := git.WorkdirName()
 		if workdir != "" {
 			template, err := github.ReadTemplate(github.IssueTemplate, workdir)
 			utils.Check(err)
 			if template != "" {
-				message = template
+				messageBuilder.Message = template
 			}
 		}
 
-		messageBuilder.Message = message
-		messageBuilder.AddCommentedSection(helpMessage)
 	}
 
 	title, body, err := messageBuilder.Extract()
diff --git a/commands/pull_request.go b/commands/pull_request.go
index 151aa84a..d9948dfe 100644
--- a/commands/pull_request.go
+++ b/commands/pull_request.go
@@ -225,6 +225,11 @@ func pullRequest(cmd *Command, args *Args) {
 		utils.Check(fmt.Errorf("Can't find remote for %s", head))
 	}
 
+	messageBuilder.AddCommentedSection(fmt.Sprintf(`Requesting a pull to %s from %s
+
+Write a message for this pull request. The first block
+of text is the title and the rest is the description.`, fullBase, fullHead))
+
 	if cmd.FlagPassed("message") {
 		messageBuilder.Message = flagPullRequestMessage
 		messageBuilder.Edit = flagPullRequestEdit
@@ -252,6 +257,10 @@ func pullRequest(cmd *Command, args *Args) {
 			utils.Check(err)
 		}
 
+		if commitLogs != "" {
+			messageBuilder.AddCommentedSection("\nChanges:\n\n" + strings.TrimSpace(commitLogs))
+		}
+
 		workdir, _ := git.WorkdirName()
 		if workdir != "" {
 			template, _ := github.ReadTemplate(github.PullRequestTemplate, workdir)
@@ -260,16 +269,7 @@ func pullRequest(cmd *Command, args *Args) {
 			}
 		}
 
-		helpMessage := fmt.Sprintf(`Requesting a pull to %s from %s
-
-Write a message for this pull request. The first block
-of text is the title and the rest is the description.`, fullBase, fullHead)
-		if commitLogs != "" {
-			helpMessage = helpMessage + "\n\nChanges:\n\n" + strings.TrimSpace(commitLogs)
-		}
-
 		messageBuilder.Message = message
-		messageBuilder.AddCommentedSection(helpMessage)
 	}
 
 	title, body, err := messageBuilder.Extract()
diff --git a/commands/release.go b/commands/release.go
index cf19f33b..7ee71c28 100644
--- a/commands/release.go
+++ b/commands/release.go
@@ -301,6 +301,11 @@ func createRelease(cmd *Command, args *Args) {
 		Title:    "release",
 	}
 
+	messageBuilder.AddCommentedSection(fmt.Sprintf(`Creating release %s for %s
+
+Write a message for this release. The first block of
+text is the title and the rest is the description.`, tagName, project))
+
 	if cmd.FlagPassed("message") {
 		messageBuilder.Message = flagReleaseMessage
 		messageBuilder.Edit = flagReleaseEdit
@@ -310,12 +315,6 @@ func createRelease(cmd *Command, args *Args) {
 		messageBuilder.Edit = flagReleaseEdit
 	} else {
 		messageBuilder.Edit = true
-		helpMessage := fmt.Sprintf(`Creating release %s for %s
-
-Write a message for this release. The first block of
-text is the title and the rest is the description.`, tagName, project.String())
-
-		messageBuilder.AddCommentedSection(helpMessage)
 	}
 
 	title, body, err := messageBuilder.Extract()
@@ -388,6 +387,11 @@ func editRelease(cmd *Command, args *Args) {
 		Title:    "release",
 	}
 
+	messageBuilder.AddCommentedSection(fmt.Sprintf(`Editing release %s for %s
+
+Write a message for this release. The first block of
+text is the title and the rest is the description.`, tagName, project))
+
 	if cmd.FlagPassed("message") {
 		messageBuilder.Message = flagReleaseMessage
 		messageBuilder.Edit = flagReleaseEdit
@@ -398,12 +402,6 @@ func editRelease(cmd *Command, args *Args) {
 	} else {
 		messageBuilder.Edit = true
 		messageBuilder.Message = fmt.Sprintf("%s\n\n%s", release.Name, release.Body)
-		helpMessage := fmt.Sprintf(`Editing release %s for %s
-
-Write a message for this release. The first block of
-text is the title and the rest is the description.`, tagName, project.String())
-
-		messageBuilder.AddCommentedSection(helpMessage)
 	}
 
 	title, body, err := messageBuilder.Extract()