diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/custom_patch_options_menu_action.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/custom_patch_options_menu_action.go
index a931a709bd1..af842b2c18b 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/custom_patch_options_menu_action.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/custom_patch_options_menu_action.go
@@ -186,7 +186,9 @@ func (self *CustomPatchOptionsMenuAction) handlePullPatchIntoNewCommit() error {
 	commitIndex := self.getPatchCommitIndex()
 	return self.c.Helpers().Commits.OpenCommitMessagePanel(
 		&helpers.OpenCommitMessagePanelOpts{
-			CommitIndex:     commitIndex,
+			// Pass a commit index of one less than the moved-from commit, so that
+			// you can press up arrow once to recall the original commit message:
+			CommitIndex:     commitIndex - 1,
 			InitialMessage:  "",
 			Title:           self.c.Tr.CommitSummary,
 			PreserveMessage: false,