diff --git a/jrnl/journals/Entry.py b/jrnl/journals/Entry.py
index 6c45303eb..7dbbbde5f 100644
--- a/jrnl/journals/Entry.py
+++ b/jrnl/journals/Entry.py
@@ -223,7 +223,8 @@ def __ne__(self, other: "Entry"):
 
 def split_title(text: str) -> tuple[str, str]:
     """Splits the first sentence off from a text."""
-    sep = SENTENCE_SPLITTER_ONLY_NEWLINE.search(text.lstrip())
+    text = text.lstrip()
+    sep = SENTENCE_SPLITTER_ONLY_NEWLINE.search(text)
     if not sep:
         sep = SENTENCE_SPLITTER.search(text)
         if not sep: