diff --git a/coffee/lib/abstract-chosen.coffee b/coffee/lib/abstract-chosen.coffee
index e15282bee53..e0fe3203639 100644
--- a/coffee/lib/abstract-chosen.coffee
+++ b/coffee/lib/abstract-chosen.coffee
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ class AbstractChosen
     """
       <ul class="chosen-choices">
         <li class="search-field">
-          <input class="chosen-search-input" type="text" autocomplete="off" value="#{@default_text}" />
+          <input class="chosen-search-input" type="text" autocomplete="off" placeholder="#{@default_text}" />
         </li>
       </ul>
       <div class="chosen-drop">