diff --git a/fcore/normal-mode/make-normal-delete.sml b/fcore/normal-mode/make-normal-delete.sml
index c3e47e1..99ae1fe 100644
--- a/fcore/normal-mode/make-normal-delete.sml
+++ b/fcore/normal-mode/make-normal-delete.sml
@@ -728,6 +728,9 @@ struct
           val initialMsg = Fn.initMsgs (cursorIdx, length, buffer)
           val buffer = LineGap.delete (cursorIdx, length, buffer)
 
+          val buffer =
+            if #textLength buffer = 0 then LineGap.fromString "\n" else buffer
+
           val buffer = LineGap.goToIdx (cursorIdx, buffer)
           val cursorIdx =
             if Cursor.isOnNewlineAfterChr (buffer, cursorIdx) then cursorIdx - 1
diff --git a/test/normal-delete.sml b/test/normal-delete.sml
index 98ecc7f..65aca5f 100644
--- a/test/normal-delete.sml
+++ b/test/normal-delete.sml
@@ -3598,6 +3598,24 @@ struct
                (actualString = expectedString
                 andalso cursorIdx = expectedCursorIdx)
            end)
+    , test "leaves a newline behind if whole buffer is deleted" (fn _ =>
+        let
+          (* arrange *)
+          val originalString = "hey hello\n"
+          val app = TestUtils.init originalString
+          val app = AppWith.idx (app, 0)
+
+          (* act *)
+          val {buffer, cursorIdx, ...} = TestUtils.updateMany (app, "dfo")
+
+          (* assert *)
+          val actualString = LineGap.toString buffer
+          val expectedString = "\n"
+          val expectedCursorIdx = 0
+        in
+          Expect.isTrue
+            (actualString = expectedString andalso cursorIdx = expectedCursorIdx)
+        end)
     ]
 
   val dtDelete = describe "delete motion 'dt<char>'"