diff --git a/lib/ace/keyboard/textinput.js b/lib/ace/keyboard/textinput.js
index dbae5638..dbb17c34 100644
--- a/lib/ace/keyboard/textinput.js
+++ b/lib/ace/keyboard/textinput.js
@@ -72,16 +72,14 @@ var TextInput = function(parentNode, host, listenElement) {
         if (!copied) {
             var value = valueToSend || text.value;
             if (value) {
-                if (value.charCodeAt(value.length-1) == PLACEHOLDER.charCodeAt(0)) {
-                    value = value.slice(0, -1);
-                    if (value) {
-                        if (pasted)
-                            host.onPaste(value);
-                        else
-                            host.onTextInput(value);
-                    }
+                if (value.length > 1) {
+                    if (value.charAt(0) == PLACEHOLDER)
+                        value = value.substr(1);
+                    else if (value.charAt(value.length - 1) == PLACEHOLDER)
+                        value = value.slice(0, -1);
                 }
-                else {
+
+                if (value && value != PLACEHOLDER) {
                     if (pasted)
                         host.onPaste(value);
                     else