diff --git a/pkg/surveyext/editor_manual.go b/pkg/surveyext/editor_manual.go
index e9703d5e0..65714a92a 100644
--- a/pkg/surveyext/editor_manual.go
+++ b/pkg/surveyext/editor_manual.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"runtime"
 
 	"github.com/cli/safeexec"
 	shellquote "github.com/kballard/go-shellquote"
@@ -27,6 +28,19 @@ func defaultLookPath(name string) ([]string, []string, error) {
 	return []string{exe}, nil, nil
 }
 
+func needsBom() bool {
+	// The reason why we do this is because notepad.exe on Windows determines the
+	// encoding of an "empty" text file by the locale, for example, GBK in China,
+	// while golang string only handles utf8 well. However, a text file with utf8
+	// BOM header is not considered "empty" on Windows, and the encoding will then
+	// be determined utf8 by notepad.exe, instead of GBK or other encodings.
+
+	// This could be enhanced in the future by doing this only when a non-utf8
+	// locale is in use, and possibly doing that for any OS, not just windows.
+
+	return runtime.GOOS == "windows"
+}
+
 func edit(editorCommand, fn, initialValue string, stdin io.Reader, stdout io.Writer, stderr io.Writer, cursor showable, lookPath func(string) ([]string, []string, error)) (string, error) {
 	// prepare the temp file
 	pattern := fn
@@ -39,14 +53,11 @@ func edit(editorCommand, fn, initialValue string, stdin io.Reader, stdout io.Wri
 	}
 	defer os.Remove(f.Name())
 
-	// write utf8 BOM header
-	// The reason why we do this is because notepad.exe on Windows determines the
-	// encoding of an "empty" text file by the locale, for example, GBK in China,
-	// while golang string only handles utf8 well. However, a text file with utf8
-	// BOM header is not considered "empty" on Windows, and the encoding will then
-	// be determined utf8 by notepad.exe, instead of GBK or other encodings.
-	if _, err := f.Write(bom); err != nil {
-		return "", err
+	// write utf8 BOM header if necessary for the current platform and/or locale
+	if needsBom() {
+		if _, err := f.Write(bom); err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
 	}
 
 	// write initial value