diff --git a/src/reuse/header.py b/src/reuse/header.py
index 9ad071c3b..a84c29ad6 100644
--- a/src/reuse/header.py
+++ b/src/reuse/header.py
@@ -294,7 +294,8 @@ def find_and_replace_header(
     if before.strip():
         new_text = f"{before.rstrip()}\n\n{new_text}"
     if after.strip():
-        new_text = f"{new_text}\n{after.lstrip()}"
+        newline = "\n"
+        new_text = f"{new_text}\n{after.lstrip(newline)}"
     return new_text