diff --git a/lua/obsidian/util.lua b/lua/obsidian/util.lua
index 1d3138cfd..2d9b96cf8 100644
--- a/lua/obsidian/util.lua
+++ b/lua/obsidian/util.lua
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@ util.toggle_checkbox = function(opts)
     if string.match(line, unordered_list_pattern) then
       line = string.gsub(line, unordered_list_pattern, "%1- [ ] %2")
     else
-      return
+      line = string.gsub(line, "^(%s*)", "%1- [ ] ")
     end
   else
     for i, check_char in enumerate(checkboxes) do