diff --git a/readline/buffer.go b/readline/buffer.go
index d66b512a..0ce6bb7a 100644
--- a/readline/buffer.go
+++ b/readline/buffer.go
@@ -25,10 +25,7 @@ func NewBuffer(prompt *Prompt) (*Buffer, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	lwidth := width - len(prompt.Prompt)
-	if prompt.UseAlt {
-		lwidth = width - len(prompt.AltPrompt)
-	}
+	lwidth := width - len(prompt.prompt())
 
 	b := &Buffer{
 		Pos:       0,
@@ -78,7 +75,7 @@ func (b *Buffer) MoveRight() {
 	if b.Pos < b.Size() {
 		b.Pos += 1
 		if b.Pos%b.LineWidth == 0 {
-			fmt.Printf(CursorDown + CursorBOL + cursorRightN(b.PromptSize()))
+			fmt.Printf(CursorDown + CursorBOL + cursorRightN(len(b.Prompt.prompt())))
 		} else {
 			fmt.Print(CursorRight)
 		}
@@ -109,7 +106,7 @@ func (b *Buffer) MoveToStart() {
 				fmt.Print(CursorUp)
 			}
 		}
-		fmt.Printf(CursorBOL + cursorRightN(b.PromptSize()))
+		fmt.Printf(CursorBOL + cursorRightN(len(b.Prompt.prompt())))
 		b.Pos = 0
 	}
 }
@@ -123,7 +120,7 @@ func (b *Buffer) MoveToEnd() {
 				fmt.Print(CursorDown)
 			}
 			remainder := b.Size() % b.LineWidth
-			fmt.Printf(CursorBOL + cursorRightN(b.PromptSize()+remainder))
+			fmt.Printf(CursorBOL + cursorRightN(len(b.Prompt.prompt())+remainder))
 		} else {
 			fmt.Print(cursorRightN(b.Size() - b.Pos))
 		}
@@ -143,13 +140,6 @@ func min(n, m int) int {
 	return n
 }
 
-func (b *Buffer) PromptSize() int {
-	if b.Prompt.UseAlt {
-		return len(b.Prompt.AltPrompt)
-	}
-	return len(b.Prompt.Prompt)
-}
-
 func (b *Buffer) Add(r rune) {
 	if b.Pos == b.Buf.Size() {
 		fmt.Printf("%c", r)
@@ -232,7 +222,7 @@ func (b *Buffer) Remove() {
 				remainingLines := (b.Size() - b.Pos) / b.LineWidth
 				fmt.Printf(cursorDownN(remainingLines+1) + CursorBOL + ClearToEOL)
 				place := b.Pos % b.LineWidth
-				fmt.Printf(cursorUpN(remainingLines+1) + cursorRightN(place+len(b.Prompt.Prompt)))
+				fmt.Printf(cursorUpN(remainingLines+1) + cursorRightN(place+len(b.Prompt.prompt())))
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -247,7 +237,7 @@ func (b *Buffer) Delete() {
 				remainingLines := (b.Size() - b.Pos) / b.LineWidth
 				fmt.Printf(cursorDownN(remainingLines) + CursorBOL + ClearToEOL)
 				place := b.Pos % b.LineWidth
-				fmt.Printf(cursorUpN(remainingLines) + cursorRightN(place+len(b.Prompt.Prompt)))
+				fmt.Printf(cursorUpN(remainingLines) + cursorRightN(place+len(b.Prompt.prompt())))
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -294,15 +284,15 @@ func (b *Buffer) DeleteWord() {
 }
 
 func (b *Buffer) ClearScreen() {
-	fmt.Printf(ClearScreen + CursorReset + b.Prompt.Prompt)
+	fmt.Printf(ClearScreen + CursorReset + b.Prompt.prompt())
 	if b.IsEmpty() {
-		ph := b.Prompt.Placeholder
+		ph := b.Prompt.placeholder()
 		fmt.Printf(ColorGrey + ph + cursorLeftN(len(ph)) + ColorDefault)
 	} else {
 		currPos := b.Pos
 		b.Pos = 0
 		b.drawRemaining()
-		fmt.Printf(CursorReset + cursorRightN(len(b.Prompt.Prompt)))
+		fmt.Printf(CursorReset + cursorRightN(len(b.Prompt.prompt())))
 		if currPos > 0 {
 			targetLine := currPos / b.LineWidth
 			if targetLine > 0 {
@@ -329,7 +319,7 @@ func (b *Buffer) IsEmpty() bool {
 func (b *Buffer) Replace(r []rune) {
 	b.Pos = 0
 	b.Buf.Clear()
-	fmt.Printf(ClearLine + CursorBOL + b.Prompt.Prompt)
+	fmt.Printf(ClearLine + CursorBOL + b.Prompt.prompt())
 	for _, c := range r {
 		b.Add(c)
 	}
diff --git a/readline/readline.go b/readline/readline.go
index c4c73520..ba9cf4bf 100644
--- a/readline/readline.go
+++ b/readline/readline.go
@@ -16,6 +16,20 @@ type Prompt struct {
 	UseAlt         bool
 }
 
+func (p *Prompt) prompt() string {
+	if p.UseAlt {
+		return p.AltPrompt
+	}
+	return p.Prompt
+}
+
+func (p *Prompt) placeholder() string {
+	if p.UseAlt {
+		return p.AltPlaceholder
+	}
+	return p.Placeholder
+}
+
 type Terminal struct {
 	outchan chan rune
 }
@@ -46,8 +60,9 @@ func New(prompt Prompt) (*Instance, error) {
 }
 
 func (i *Instance) Readline() (string, error) {
-	prompt := i.Prompt.Prompt
-	if i.Prompt.UseAlt || i.Pasting {
+	prompt := i.Prompt.prompt()
+	if i.Pasting {
+		// force alt prompt when pasting
 		prompt = i.Prompt.AltPrompt
 	}
 	fmt.Print(prompt)
@@ -71,10 +86,7 @@ func (i *Instance) Readline() (string, error) {
 		// don't show placeholder when pasting unless we're in multiline mode
 		showPlaceholder := !i.Pasting || i.Prompt.UseAlt
 		if buf.IsEmpty() && showPlaceholder {
-			ph := i.Prompt.Placeholder
-			if i.Prompt.UseAlt {
-				ph = i.Prompt.AltPlaceholder
-			}
+			ph := i.Prompt.placeholder()
 			fmt.Printf(ColorGrey + ph + fmt.Sprintf(CursorLeftN, len(ph)) + ColorDefault)
 		}