diff --git a/lisp/vc/log-edit.el b/lisp/vc/log-edit.el
index 42710dd8dc..ba5a1a3d57 100644
--- a/lisp/vc/log-edit.el
+++ b/lisp/vc/log-edit.el
@@ -754,7 +754,9 @@ log-edit-insert-changelog
 	     (log-edit-insert-changelog-entries (log-edit-files)))))
       (log-edit-set-common-indentation)
       ;; Add an Author: field if appropriate.
-      (when author (log-edit-add-field "Author" (car author)))
+      (when author
+        (log-edit-add-field "Author" (car author))
+        (log-edit-add-field "Summary" ""))
       ;; Add a Fixes: field if applicable.
       (when (consp log-edit-rewrite-fixes)
 	(rfc822-goto-eoh)