diff --git a/doc/aerc-templates.7.scd b/doc/aerc-templates.7.scd
index 9b17e28..0180a2d 100644
--- a/doc/aerc-templates.7.scd
+++ b/doc/aerc-templates.7.scd
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ Chuck
 If you have a template that doesn't add any header, it *must* be preceded by a
 newline, to avoid parsing parts of the body as header text.
 
+All headers defined in the template will have precedence over any headers that
+are initialized by aerc (e.g. Subject, To, From, Cc) when composing a new
+message, forwarding or replying.
+
 # MESSAGE DATA
 
 The following data can be used in templates. Though they are not all
diff --git a/widgets/compose.go b/widgets/compose.go
index 1693314..7229ec8 100644
--- a/widgets/compose.go
+++ b/widgets/compose.go
@@ -109,11 +109,11 @@ func NewComposer(aerc *Aerc, acct *AccountView, conf *config.AercConfig,
 		focused:   1,
 		completer: cmpl,
 	}
-	c.buildComposeHeader(aerc, cmpl)
-
 	if err := c.AddTemplate(template, templateData); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	c.buildComposeHeader(aerc, cmpl)
+
 	c.AddSignature()
 
 	c.updateGrid()