Can you try and see if you can reproduce with an org file with the following headlines:
* 2025 * test headline then, try capturing to that file with the template. I've done some more testing, and I believe this bug occurs specifically when the datetree is the topmost item and has other items of the same level below it; my personal org file contains top-level headlines like so: * 2025 * projects * reference The blank line appears when "* 2025" is in between the other two headings. However, if i format it such that the datetree is at the bottom: * projects * reference * 2025 I don't see the errant blank line. Apologies for not providing a more clear test case before; I was too hasty in my assumptions for the circumstances of this behavior. - critbase
