diff --git a/out_command.go b/out_command.go
index dbb9ea9..8867e92 100644
--- a/out_command.go
+++ b/out_command.go
@@ -36,8 +36,11 @@ func (c *OutCommand) Run(sourceDir string, request OutRequest) (OutResponse, err
 		return OutResponse{}, err
 	}
 
-	body := ""
+	var body string
+	bodySpecified := false
 	if request.Params.BodyPath != "" {
+		bodySpecified = true
+
 		body, err = c.fileContents(filepath.Join(sourceDir, request.Params.BodyPath))
 		if err != nil {
 			return OutResponse{}, err
@@ -77,10 +80,13 @@ func (c *OutCommand) Run(sourceDir string, request OutRequest) (OutResponse, err
 
 	if existingRelease != nil {
 		existingRelease.Name = github.String(name)
-		existingRelease.Body = github.String(body)
 		existingRelease.TargetCommitish = github.String(targetCommitish)
 		existingRelease.Draft = github.Bool(draft)
 
+		if bodySpecified {
+			existingRelease.Body = github.String(body)
+		}
+
 		for _, asset := range existingRelease.Assets {
 			fmt.Fprintf(c.writer, "clearing existing asset: %s\n", *asset.Name)
 
diff --git a/out_command_test.go b/out_command_test.go
index 762e718..a79e58d 100644
--- a/out_command_test.go
+++ b/out_command_test.go
@@ -140,6 +140,20 @@ var _ = Describe("Out Command", func() {
 			})
 		})
 
+		Context("when a body is not supplied", func() {
+			BeforeEach(func() {
+				request.Params.BodyPath = ""
+			})
+
+			It("does not blow away the body", func() {
+				Ω(githubClient.UpdateReleaseCallCount()).Should(Equal(1))
+
+				updatedRelease := githubClient.UpdateReleaseArgsForCall(0)
+				Ω(*updatedRelease.Name).Should(Equal("v0.3.12"))
+				Ω(updatedRelease.Body).Should(BeNil())
+			})
+		})
+
 		Context("when a commitish is not supplied", func() {
 			It("updates the existing release", func() {
 				Ω(githubClient.UpdateReleaseCallCount()).Should(Equal(1))