diff --git a/jquery.autosize.js b/jquery.autosize.js
index f478a82..67cb33b 100644
--- a/jquery.autosize.js
+++ b/jquery.autosize.js
@@ -155,7 +155,15 @@
 					setWidth();
 				}
 
-				mirror.value = ta.value + options.append;
+				if (!ta.value) {
+					// If the textarea is empty, copy the placeholder text into 
+					// the mirror control and use that for sizing so that we 
+					// don't end up with placeholder getting trimmed.
+					mirror.value = ($(ta).attr("placeholder") || '') + options.append;
+				} else {
+					mirror.value = ta.value + options.append;
+				}
+
 				mirror.style.overflowY = ta.style.overflowY;
 				original = parseInt(ta.style.height,10);