diff --git a/choose/command.go b/choose/command.go
index 9a621a273..47e354907 100644
--- a/choose/command.go
+++ b/choose/command.go
@@ -26,8 +26,10 @@ func (o Options) Run() error {
 		verySubduedStyle = lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.AdaptiveColor{Light: "#DDDADA", Dark: "#3C3C3C"})
 	)
 
-	if len(o.Options) <= 0 {
-		input, _ := stdin.Read(stdin.StripANSI(o.StripANSI))
+	input, _ := stdin.Read(stdin.StripANSI(o.StripANSI))
+	if len(o.Options) > 0 && len(o.Selected) == 0 {
+		o.Selected = strings.Split(input, o.InputDelimiter)
+	} else if len(o.Options) == 0 {
 		if input == "" {
 			return errors.New("no options provided, see `gum choose --help`")
 		}