diff --git a/src/libs/actions/Report.js b/src/libs/actions/Report.js
index 29ebcaff121f..d2062e2dcb58 100644
--- a/src/libs/actions/Report.js
+++ b/src/libs/actions/Report.js
@@ -2359,7 +2359,7 @@ function clearPrivateNotesError(reportID, accountID) {
 }
 
 function getDraftPrivateNote(reportID) {
-    return draftNoteMap[reportID];
+    return draftNoteMap[reportID] || '';
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/pages/PrivateNotes/PrivateNotesEditPage.js b/src/pages/PrivateNotes/PrivateNotesEditPage.js
index d8b91c27c501..9be0f42e9a5b 100644
--- a/src/pages/PrivateNotes/PrivateNotesEditPage.js
+++ b/src/pages/PrivateNotes/PrivateNotesEditPage.js
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ function PrivateNotesEditPage({route, personalDetailsList, session, report}) {
     // We need to edit the note in markdown format, but display it in HTML format
     const parser = new ExpensiMark();
     const [privateNote, setPrivateNote] = useState(
-        () => Report.getDraftPrivateNote(report.reportID) || parser.htmlToMarkdown(lodashGet(report, ['privateNotes', route.params.accountID, 'note'], '')).trim(),
+        () => Report.getDraftPrivateNote(report.reportID).trim() || parser.htmlToMarkdown(lodashGet(report, ['privateNotes', route.params.accountID, 'note'], '')).trim(),
     );
 
     /**