diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+Changed in version 0.6.4:
+   * Added new function getInputLineWithInitial.
+
 Changed in version 0.6.3.2:
    * Allow building with mtl-2.0.* .
 
diff --git a/System/Console/Haskeline.hs b/System/Console/Haskeline.hs
--- a/System/Console/Haskeline.hs
+++ b/System/Console/Haskeline.hs
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
                     -- ** Reading user input
                     -- $inputfncs
                     getInputLine,
+                    getInputLineWithInitial,
                     getInputChar,
                     getPassword,
                     -- ** Outputting text
@@ -135,15 +136,39 @@
 -}
 getInputLine :: MonadException m => String -- ^ The input prompt
                             -> InputT m (Maybe String)
-getInputLine = promptedInput getInputCmdLine $ unMaybeT . getLocaleLine
+getInputLine = promptedInput (getInputCmdLine emptyIM) $ unMaybeT . getLocaleLine
 
-getInputCmdLine :: MonadException m => TermOps -> String -> InputT m (Maybe String)
-getInputCmdLine tops prefix = do
+{- | Reads one line of input and fills the insertion space with initial text. When using
+terminal-style interaction, this function provides a rich line-editing user interface with the
+added ability to give the user default values.
+
+This function behaves in the exact same manner as 'getInputLine', except that
+it pre-populates the input area. The text that resides in the input area is given as a 2-tuple
+with two 'String's.   The string on the left of the tuple (obtained by calling 'fst') is
+what will appear to the left of the cursor and the string on the right (obtained by
+calling 'snd') is what will appear to the right of the cursor.
+
+Some examples of calling of this function are:
+
+> getInputLineWithInitial "prompt> " ("left", "") -- The cursor starts at the end of the line.
+> getInputLineWithInitial "prompt> " ("left ", "right") -- The cursor starts before the second word.
+ -}
+getInputLineWithInitial :: MonadException m
+                            => String           -- ^ The input prompt
+                            -> (String, String) -- ^ The initial value left and right of the cursor
+                            -> InputT m (Maybe String)
+getInputLineWithInitial prompt (left,right) = promptedInput (getInputCmdLine initialIM)
+                                                (unMaybeT . getLocaleLine) prompt
+  where
+    initialIM = insertString left $ moveToStart $ insertString right $ emptyIM
+
+getInputCmdLine :: MonadException m => InsertMode -> TermOps -> String -> InputT m (Maybe String)
+getInputCmdLine initialIM tops prefix = do
     emode <- asks editMode
     result <- runInputCmdT tops $ case emode of
-                Emacs -> runCommandLoop tops prefix emacsCommands emptyIM
+                Emacs -> runCommandLoop tops prefix emacsCommands initialIM
                 Vi -> evalStateT' emptyViState $
-                        runCommandLoop tops prefix viKeyCommands emptyIM
+                        runCommandLoop tops prefix viKeyCommands initialIM
     maybeAddHistory result
     return result
 
diff --git a/examples/Test.hs b/examples/Test.hs
--- a/examples/Test.hs
+++ b/examples/Test.hs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 ./Test chars    (character input)
 ./Test password (no masking characters)
 ./Test password \*
+./Test initial  (use initial text in the prompt)
 --}
 
 mySettings :: Settings IO
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@
                 ["chars"] -> fmap (fmap (\c -> [c])) . getInputChar
                 ["password"] -> getPassword Nothing
                 ["password", [c]] -> getPassword (Just c)
+                ["initial"] -> flip getInputLineWithInitial ("left ", "right")
                 _ -> getInputLine
         runInputT mySettings $ withInterrupt $ loop inputFunc 0
     where
diff --git a/haskeline.cabal b/haskeline.cabal
--- a/haskeline.cabal
+++ b/haskeline.cabal
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Name:           haskeline
 Cabal-Version:  >=1.6
-Version:        0.6.3.2
+Version:        0.6.4.0
 Category:       User Interfaces
 License:        BSD3
 License-File:   LICENSE