diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/book/edit_book.html b/bookwyrm/templates/book/edit_book.html
index a9ce651e..8cf6f31c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/book/edit_book.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/book/edit_book.html
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@
 
                 <p class="mb-2">
                     <label class="label" for="id_first_published_date">{% trans "First published date:" %}</label>
-                    <input type="date" name="first_published_date" class="input" id="id_first_published_date"{% if book.first_published_date %} value="{{ book.first_published_date|date:'Y-m-d' }}"{% endif %}>
+                    <input type="date" name="first_published_date" class="input" id="id_first_published_date"{% if book.first_published_date %} value="{{ book.first_published_date|date:'Y-m-d' }}"{% elif form.first_published_date.value %} value="{{ form.first_published_date.value }}"{% endif %}>
                 </p>
                 {% for error in form.first_published_date.errors %}
                 <p class="help is-danger">{{ error | escape }}</p>
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@
 
                 <p class="mb-2">
                     <label class="label" for="id_published_date">{% trans "Published date:" %}</label>
-                    <input type="date" name="published_date" class="input" id="id_published_date"{% if book.published_date %} value="{{ book.published_date|date:'Y-m-d' }}"{% endif %}>
+                    <input type="date" name="published_date" class="input" id="id_published_date"{% if book.published_date %} value="{{ book.published_date|date:'Y-m-d' }}"{% elif form.published_date.value %} value="{{ form.first_published_date.value }}"{% endif %}>
                 </p>
                 {% for error in form.published_date.errors %}
                 <p class="help is-danger">{{ error | escape }}</p>