diff --git a/git-send-email.perl b/git-send-email.perl
index e0b7d1245e..195fe6f70a 100755
--- a/git-send-email.perl
+++ b/git-send-email.perl
@@ -317,7 +317,8 @@ if ($thread && !defined $initial_reply_to && $prompting) {
 	} while (!defined $_);
 
 	$initial_reply_to = $_;
-	$initial_reply_to =~ s/(^\s+|\s+$)//g;
+	$initial_reply_to =~ s/^\s+<?/</;
+	$initial_reply_to =~ s/>?\s+$/>/;
 }
 
 if (!$smtp_server) {