diff --git a/js/id/ui/preset/input.js b/js/id/ui/preset/input.js
index eafc818b6..0f35fc117 100644
--- a/js/id/ui/preset/input.js
+++ b/js/id/ui/preset/input.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ iD.ui.preset.url = function(field) {
         input.enter().append('input')
             .attr('type', field.type)
             .attr('id', 'preset-input-' + field.id)
-            .attr('placeholder', field.placeholder());
+            .attr('placeholder', field.placeholder() || t('inspector.unknown'));
 
         input
             .on('blur', change)
diff --git a/js/id/ui/preset/textarea.js b/js/id/ui/preset/textarea.js
index e94ad9823..4a6fdfb36 100644
--- a/js/id/ui/preset/textarea.js
+++ b/js/id/ui/preset/textarea.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ iD.ui.preset.textarea = function(field) {
 
         input.enter().append('textarea')
             .attr('id', 'preset-input-' + field.id)
-            .attr('placeholder', field.placeholder())
+            .attr('placeholder', field.placeholder() || t('inspector.unknown'))
             .attr('maxlength', 255);
 
         input