diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/search/edit.js b/packages/block-library/src/search/edit.js
index 65b5718d8cabba..7bc07c078de1c4 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/search/edit.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/search/edit.js
@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ export default function SearchEdit( { className, attributes, setAttributes } ) {
 			<input
 				className="wp-block-search__input"
 				aria-label={ __( 'Optional placeholder text' ) }
-				placeholder={ __( 'Optional placeholder…' ) }
-				value={ placeholder }
+				placeholder={ placeholder || __( 'Optional placeholder…' ) }
 				onChange={ ( event ) => setAttributes( { placeholder: event.target.value } ) }
 			/>
 			<RichText