diff --git a/src/components/TaskEditor.tsx b/src/components/TaskEditor.tsx
index 980449b..dba058c 100644
--- a/src/components/TaskEditor.tsx
+++ b/src/components/TaskEditor.tsx
@@ -29,7 +29,13 @@ export const TaskEditor: Component<TaskEditorProps> = (props) => {
                 },
             }),
             Placeholder.configure({
-                placeholder: "Type '/' for commands or start writing...",
+                placeholder: ({ editor }) => {
+                    // Only show placeholder if first node is a paragraph and doc is empty/short
+                    if (editor.state.doc.childCount > 1 || (editor.state.doc.firstChild && editor.state.doc.firstChild.type.name !== 'paragraph')) {
+                        return "";
+                    }
+                    return "Type '/' for commands or start writing...";
+                },
                 emptyEditorClass: "is-editor-empty before:content-[attr(data-placeholder)] before:text-muted-foreground before:float-left before:pointer-events-none before:h-0",
             }),
             TaskList.configure({
@@ -65,7 +71,7 @@ export const TaskEditor: Component<TaskEditorProps> = (props) => {
                     "[&_ul[data-type='taskList']]:list-none [&_ul[data-type='taskList']]:p-0",
                     "[&_li[data-type='taskItem']]:flex [&_li[data-type='taskItem']]:items-start",
                     "[&_li[data-type='taskItem']>label]:mr-2 [&_li[data-type='taskItem']>label]:mt-0.5 [&_li[data-type='taskItem']>label]:select-none",
-                    "[&_li[data-type='taskItem']>div]:flex-1",
+                    "[&_li[data-type='taskItem']>div]:flex-1 [&_li[data-type='taskItem']>div]:min-h-[1.5rem]",
                     props.class
                 ),
             },