diff --git a/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/components/TimelineControls.tsx b/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/components/TimelineControls.tsx
index ea26ea74..5da4b936 100644
--- a/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/components/TimelineControls.tsx
+++ b/frontend-tools/chapters-editor/client/src/components/TimelineControls.tsx
@@ -266,7 +266,13 @@ const TimelineControls = ({
     // Update editing title when selected segment changes
     useEffect(() => {
         if (selectedSegment) {
-            setEditingChapterTitle(selectedSegment.chapterTitle || '');
+            // Check if the chapter title is a default generated name (e.g., "Chapter 1", "Chapter 2", etc.)
+            const isDefaultChapterName = selectedSegment.chapterTitle && 
+                /^Chapter \d+$/.test(selectedSegment.chapterTitle);
+            
+            // If it's a default name, show empty string so placeholder appears
+            // If it's a custom title, show the actual title
+            setEditingChapterTitle(isDefaultChapterName ? '' : (selectedSegment.chapterTitle || ''));
         } else {
             setEditingChapterTitle('');
         }