diff --git a/.config/config.toml b/.config/config.toml
index 4359fdb..341db38 100644
--- a/.config/config.toml
+++ b/.config/config.toml
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ ui_scale = 100
 # Where to place the input bar in the UI (top or bottom)
 input_bar_position = "top"
 # The input prompt string (defaults to ">" if not specified)
-# input_prompt = ">"
+input_prompt = ">"
 # What orientation should tv be (landscape or portrait)
 orientation = "landscape"
 # The theme to use for the UI
diff --git a/television/channels/prototypes.rs b/television/channels/prototypes.rs
index 4a05d5f..41be5a0 100644
--- a/television/channels/prototypes.rs
+++ b/television/channels/prototypes.rs
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ impl From<&crate::config::UiConfig> for UiSpec {
             orientation: Some(config.orientation),
             input_bar_position: Some(config.input_bar_position),
             input_header: config.input_header.clone(),
-            input_prompt: config.input_prompt.clone(),
+            input_prompt: Some(config.input_prompt.clone()),
             preview_panel: Some(config.preview_panel.clone()),
             status_bar: Some(config.status_bar.clone()),
             help_panel: Some(config.help_panel.clone()),
diff --git a/television/cli/args.rs b/television/cli/args.rs
index 128dd63..aa0e9fe 100644
--- a/television/cli/args.rs
+++ b/television/cli/args.rs
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ pub struct Cli {
     /// When no channel is specified: Sets the input prompt for the ad-hoc channel.
     ///
     /// The given value is used as the prompt string shown before the input field.
-    /// Defaults to "> " when omitted.
+    /// Defaults to ">" when omitted.
     #[arg(long = "input-prompt", value_name = "STRING", verbatim_doc_comment)]
     pub input_prompt: Option<String>,
 
diff --git a/television/config/mod.rs b/television/config/mod.rs
index fabf0c1..661c41b 100644
--- a/television/config/mod.rs
+++ b/television/config/mod.rs
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ impl Config {
 
         // Apply input_prompt
         if let Some(value) = &ui_spec.input_prompt {
-            self.ui.input_prompt = Some(value.clone());
+            self.ui.input_prompt.clone_from(value);
         }
 
         // Handle preview_panel with field merging
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     const USER_CONFIG_INPUT_PROMPT: &str = r#"
         [ui]
-        input_prompt = "❯ "
+        input_prompt = "❯"
     "#;
 
     #[test]
@@ -507,7 +507,7 @@ mod tests {
         let config = Config::new(&config_env, None).unwrap();
 
         // Verify that input_prompt was loaded from user config
-        assert_eq!(config.ui.input_prompt, Some("❯ ".to_string()));
+        assert_eq!(config.ui.input_prompt, "❯");
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/television/config/ui.rs b/television/config/ui.rs
index 654d9ef..55ae396 100644
--- a/television/config/ui.rs
+++ b/television/config/ui.rs
@@ -108,7 +108,8 @@ pub struct UiConfig {
     pub orientation: Orientation,
     pub theme: String,
     pub input_header: Option<Template>,
-    pub input_prompt: Option<String>,
+    #[serde(default = "default_input_prompt")]
+    pub input_prompt: String,
     pub features: Features,
 
     // Feature-specific configurations
@@ -122,6 +123,11 @@ pub struct UiConfig {
     pub theme_overrides: ThemeOverrides,
 }
 
+const DEFAULT_INPUT_PROMPT: &str = ">";
+fn default_input_prompt() -> String {
+    String::from(DEFAULT_INPUT_PROMPT)
+}
+
 impl Default for UiConfig {
     fn default() -> Self {
         Self {
@@ -131,7 +137,7 @@ impl Default for UiConfig {
             orientation: Orientation::Landscape,
             theme: String::from(DEFAULT_THEME),
             input_header: None,
-            input_prompt: None,
+            input_prompt: String::from(DEFAULT_INPUT_PROMPT),
             features: Features::default(),
             status_bar: StatusBarConfig::default(),
             preview_panel: PreviewPanelConfig::default(),
diff --git a/television/draw.rs b/television/draw.rs
index 7ab2a2d..c765176 100644
--- a/television/draw.rs
+++ b/television/draw.rs
@@ -197,10 +197,7 @@ pub fn draw(ctx: Box<Ctx>, f: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect) -> Result<Layout> {
     )?;
 
     // input box
-    let input_prompt = ctx.config.ui.input_prompt
-        .as_ref()
-        .map(|p| format!("{} ", p))
-        .unwrap_or_else(|| "> ".to_string());
+    let input_prompt = ctx.config.ui.input_prompt.clone();
 
     draw_input_box(
         f,
diff --git a/television/main.rs b/television/main.rs
index bfa9f93..8799b03 100644
--- a/television/main.rs
+++ b/television/main.rs
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ fn apply_cli_overrides(args: &PostProcessedCli, config: &mut Config) {
         }
     }
     if let Some(input_prompt) = &args.input_prompt {
-        config.ui.input_prompt = Some(input_prompt.clone());
+        config.ui.input_prompt.clone_from(input_prompt);
     }
     if let Some(preview_header) = &args.preview_header {
         if let Ok(t) = Template::parse(preview_header) {
diff --git a/television/screen/input.rs b/television/screen/input.rs
index 6489a3f..3db881f 100644
--- a/television/screen/input.rs
+++ b/television/screen/input.rs
@@ -65,8 +65,10 @@ pub fn draw_input_box(
     let inner_input_chunks = RatatuiLayout::default()
         .direction(Direction::Horizontal)
         .constraints([
-            // prompt symbol
-            Constraint::Length(u16::try_from(input_prompt.len()).unwrap_or(2)),
+            // prompt symbol + space
+            Constraint::Length(
+                u16::try_from(input_prompt.chars().count() + 1).unwrap_or(2),
+            ),
             // input field
             Constraint::Fill(1),
             // result count
@@ -82,7 +84,7 @@ pub fn draw_input_box(
 
     let arrow_block = Block::default();
     let arrow = Paragraph::new(Span::styled(
-        input_prompt,
+        format!("{} ", input_prompt),
         Style::default().fg(colorscheme.input.input_fg).bold(),
     ))
     .block(arrow_block);