diff --git a/api/queries_issue.go b/api/queries_issue.go
index bfdd223e5..24e0b4f4c 100644
--- a/api/queries_issue.go
+++ b/api/queries_issue.go
@@ -97,6 +97,14 @@ type AssignedActors struct {
 	TotalCount int
 }
 
+func (a AssignedActors) Logins() []string {
+	logins := make([]string, len(a.Nodes))
+	for i, a := range a.Nodes {
+		logins[i] = a.Login
+	}
+	return logins
+}
+
 // DisplayNames returns a list of display names for the assigned actors.
 func (a AssignedActors) DisplayNames() []string {
 	// These display names are used for populating the "default" assigned actors
@@ -119,7 +127,7 @@ func (a AssignedActors) DisplayNames() []string {
 	// repository's assignableActors, treating the assignableActors DisplayName
 	// methods as the sources of truth.
 	// TODO KW: make this comment less of a wall of text if needed.
-	displayNames := make([]string, len(a.Nodes))
+	var displayNames []string
 	for _, a := range a.Nodes {
 		if a.TypeName == "User" {
 			u := NewAssignableUser(
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/issue/edit/edit.go b/pkg/cmd/issue/edit/edit.go
index f3c4e46ad..8fc8a2e41 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/issue/edit/edit.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/issue/edit/edit.go
@@ -268,6 +268,7 @@ func editRun(opts *EditOptions) error {
 		// on this GitHub host.
 		if editable.Assignees.ActorAssignees {
 			editable.Assignees.Default = issue.AssignedActors.DisplayNames()
+			editable.Assignees.DefaultLogins = issue.AssignedActors.Logins()
 		} else {
 			editable.Assignees.Default = issue.Assignees.Logins()
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/pr/shared/editable.go b/pkg/cmd/pr/shared/editable.go
index cc11812ae..cfe022c78 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/pr/shared/editable.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/pr/shared/editable.go
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ type EditableSlice struct {
 type EditableAssignees struct {
 	EditableSlice
 	ActorAssignees bool
+	DefaultLogins  []string
 }
 
 // ProjectsV2 mutations require a mapping of an item ID to a project ID.
@@ -115,7 +116,11 @@ func (e Editable) AssigneeIds(client *api.Client, repo ghrepo.Interface) (*[]str
 	if len(e.Assignees.Add) != 0 || len(e.Assignees.Remove) != 0 {
 		meReplacer := NewMeReplacer(client, repo.RepoHost())
 		s := set.NewStringSet()
-		s.AddValues(e.Assignees.Default)
+		if e.Assignees.ActorAssignees {
+			s.AddValues(e.Assignees.DefaultLogins)
+		} else {
+			s.AddValues(e.Assignees.Default)
+		}
 		add, err := meReplacer.ReplaceSlice(e.Assignees.Add)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err