diff --git a/.changeset/mean-mice-train.md b/.changeset/mean-mice-train.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ca71562d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/mean-mice-train.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@clack/core": patch
+---
+
+Validates initial values immediately when using text prompts with initialValue and validate props.
diff --git a/examples/basic/text-validation.ts b/examples/basic/text-validation.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cc13199b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/basic/text-validation.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import { text, note, isCancel } from '@clack/prompts';
+import { setTimeout } from 'node:timers/promises';
+
+async function main() {
+  console.clear();
+
+  // Example demonstrating the issue with initial value validation
+  const name = await text({
+    message: 'Enter your name (letters and spaces only)',
+    initialValue: 'John123', // Invalid initial value with numbers
+    validate: (value) => {
+      if (!/^[a-zA-Z\s]+$/.test(value)) return 'Name can only contain letters and spaces';
+      return undefined;
+    },
+  });
+
+  if (!isCancel(name)) {
+    note(`Valid name: ${name}`, 'Success');
+  }
+
+  await setTimeout(1000);
+
+  // Example with a valid initial value for comparison
+  const validName = await text({
+    message: 'Enter another name (letters and spaces only)',
+    initialValue: 'John Doe', // Valid initial value
+    validate: (value) => {
+      if (!/^[a-zA-Z\s]+$/.test(value)) return 'Name can only contain letters and spaces';
+      return undefined;
+    },
+  });
+
+  if (!isCancel(validName)) {
+    note(`Valid name: ${validName}`, 'Success');
+  }
+
+  await setTimeout(1000);
+
+}
+
+main().catch(console.error); 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/core/src/prompts/prompt.ts b/packages/core/src/prompts/prompt.ts
index 7e58b866..11ca3d25 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/prompts/prompt.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/prompts/prompt.ts
@@ -147,6 +147,15 @@ export default class Prompt {
 					this.rl.write(this.opts.initialValue);
 				}
 				this._setValue(this.opts.initialValue);
+				
+				// Validate initial value if validator exists
+				if (this.opts.validate) {
+					const problem = this.opts.validate(this.opts.initialValue);
+					if (problem) {
+						this.error = problem instanceof Error ? problem.message : problem;
+						this.state = 'error';
+					}
+				}
 			}
 
 			this.input.on('keypress', this.onKeypress);
diff --git a/packages/core/test/prompts/prompt.test.ts b/packages/core/test/prompts/prompt.test.ts
index 5c2a0488..5be8bb99 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/prompts/prompt.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/prompts/prompt.test.ts
@@ -263,4 +263,74 @@ describe('Prompt', () => {
 
 		expect(instance.state).to.equal('cancel');
 	});
+
+	test('validates initial value on prompt start', () => {
+		const instance = new Prompt({
+			input,
+			output,
+			render: () => 'foo',
+			initialValue: 'invalid',
+			validate: (value) => value === 'valid' ? undefined : 'must be valid',
+		});
+		instance.prompt();
+
+		expect(instance.state).to.equal('error');
+		expect(instance.error).to.equal('must be valid');
+	});
+
+	test('accepts valid initial value', () => {
+		const instance = new Prompt({
+			input,
+			output,
+			render: () => 'foo',
+			initialValue: 'valid',
+			validate: (value) => value === 'valid' ? undefined : 'must be valid',
+		});
+		instance.prompt();
+
+		expect(instance.state).to.equal('active');
+		expect(instance.error).to.equal('');
+	});
+
+	test('validates initial value with Error object', () => {
+		const instance = new Prompt({
+			input,
+			output,
+			render: () => 'foo',
+			initialValue: 'invalid',
+			validate: (value) => value === 'valid' ? undefined : new Error('must be valid'),
+		});
+		instance.prompt();
+
+		expect(instance.state).to.equal('error');
+		expect(instance.error).to.equal('must be valid');
+	});
+
+	test('validates initial value with regex validation', () => {
+		const instance = new Prompt({
+			input,
+			output,
+			render: () => 'foo',
+			initialValue: 'Invalid Value $$$',
+			validate: (value) => /^[A-Z]+$/.test(value) ? undefined : 'Invalid value',
+		});
+		instance.prompt();
+
+		expect(instance.state).to.equal('error');
+		expect(instance.error).to.equal('Invalid value');
+	});
+
+	test('accepts valid initial value with regex validation', () => {
+		const instance = new Prompt({
+			input,
+			output,
+			render: () => 'foo',
+			initialValue: 'VALID',
+			validate: (value) => /^[A-Z]+$/.test(value) ? undefined : 'Invalid value',
+		});
+		instance.prompt();
+
+		expect(instance.state).to.equal('active');
+		expect(instance.error).to.equal('');
+	});
 });