diff --git a/lua/telescope/pickers.lua b/lua/telescope/pickers.lua
index 7dbe8a0..9e5f251 100644
--- a/lua/telescope/pickers.lua
+++ b/lua/telescope/pickers.lua
@@ -370,13 +370,19 @@ function Picker:find()
 
     -- TODO(async): I wonder if this should actually happen _before_ we nvim_buf_attach.
     -- This way the buffer would always start with what we think it should when we start the loop.
-    if self.default_text then
-      self:set_prompt(self.default_text)
-    end
-
-    if self.initial_mode == "insert" then
+    if self.initial_mode == "insert" or self.initial_mode == "normal" then
+      -- required for set_prompt to work adequately
       vim.cmd [[startinsert!]]
-    elseif self.initial_mode ~= "normal" then
+      if self.default_text then
+        self:set_prompt(self.default_text)
+      end
+      if self.initial_mode == "normal" then
+        -- otherwise (i) insert mode exitted faster than `picker:set_prompt`; (ii) cursor on wrong pos
+        await_schedule(function()
+          vim.cmd [[stopinsert]]
+        end)
+      end
+    else
       error("Invalid setting for initial_mode: " .. self.initial_mode)
     end