diff --git a/docs/Config.md b/docs/Config.md
index 7ffeca39f..044ba10ea 100644
--- a/docs/Config.md
+++ b/docs/Config.md
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ to the top of your config file or via [Visual Studio Code settings.json config][
 
 ## Default
 
+This is only meant as a reference for what config options exist, and what their default values are. It is not meant to be copied and pasted into your config file as a whole; that's not a good idea for several reasons. It is recommended to include only those settings in your config file that you actually want to change.
+
 <!-- START CONFIG YAML: AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED with `go generate ./..., DO NOT UPDATE MANUALLY -->
 ```yaml
 # Config relating to the Lazygit UI
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/working_tree_helper.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/working_tree_helper.go
index c967fab92..1cf658818 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/working_tree_helper.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/working_tree_helper.go
@@ -155,6 +155,9 @@ func (self *WorkingTreeHelper) HandleCommitPress() error {
 		commitPrefixConfigs := self.commitPrefixConfigsForRepo()
 		for _, commitPrefixConfig := range commitPrefixConfigs {
 			prefixPattern := commitPrefixConfig.Pattern
+			if prefixPattern == "" {
+				continue
+			}
 			prefixReplace := commitPrefixConfig.Replace
 			branchName := self.refHelper.GetCheckedOutRef().Name
 			rgx, err := regexp.Compile(prefixPattern)