diff --git a/lisp/textmodes/string-edit.el b/lisp/textmodes/string-edit.el
index 7c3b5702248..ff8a492401c 100644
--- a/lisp/textmodes/string-edit.el
+++ b/lisp/textmodes/string-edit.el
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ buffer, but won't be included in the resulting string."
   (setq-local string-edit--success-callback success-callback)
   (when abort-callback
     (setq-local string-edit--abort-callback abort-callback))
+  (setq-local header-line-format
+              (substitute-command-keys
+               "Type \\<string-edit-mode-map>\\[string-edit-done] when you've finished editing or \\[string-edit-abort] to abort"))
   (message "%s" (substitute-command-keys
                  "Type \\<string-edit-mode-map>\\[string-edit-done] when you've finished editing")))