diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index c2f6ed1..4965c8e 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ inputs:
     description: "URL to Apprise API (optional)"
     required: false
 
+  initial_comment:
+    description: "Optional comment to post immediately on the newly created issue"
+    required: false
+    default: ""
+
 runs:
   using: "composite"
   steps:
@@ -62,5 +67,6 @@ runs:
         POLL_INTERVAL: ${{ inputs.poll_interval }}
         REMINDER_INTERVAL: ${{ inputs.reminder_interval }}
         APPRISE_API_URL: ${{ inputs.apprise_api_url }}
+        INITIAL_COMMENT: ${{ inputs.initial_comment }}
       run: |
         bash "$GITHUB_ACTION_PATH/wait-for-approval.sh"
diff --git a/wait-for-approval.sh b/wait-for-approval.sh
index aa0b3de..431dfe1 100755
--- a/wait-for-approval.sh
+++ b/wait-for-approval.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
 
-# -----------------------------
-# Inputs
-# -----------------------------
 TOKEN="${TOKEN:?Missing TOKEN}"
 API_URL="${API_URL:?Missing API_URL}"
 REPO_OWNER="${REPO_OWNER:?Missing REPO_OWNER}"
@@ -13,6 +10,7 @@ APPROVAL_KEYWORDS="${APPROVAL_KEYWORDS:?Missing APPROVAL_KEYWORDS}"
 DENIAL_KEYWORDS="${DENIAL_KEYWORDS:?Missing DENIAL_KEYWORDS}"
 POLL_INTERVAL="${POLL_INTERVAL:-10}"
 REMINDER_INTERVAL="${REMINDER_INTERVAL:-0}"
+INITIAL_COMMENT="${INITIAL_COMMENT:-}"
 
 IFS=',' read -r -a approver_list <<< "$APPROVERS"
 IFS=',' read -r -a approved_kws <<< "$APPROVAL_KEYWORDS"
@@ -20,32 +18,22 @@ IFS=',' read -r -a denied_kws <<< "$DENIAL_KEYWORDS"
 
 last_reminder=$(date +%s)
 
-# -----------------------------
-# Helper: Escape regex special chars
-# -----------------------------
 escape_regex() {
     sed -e 's/[]\/$*.^|[]/\\&/g' <<< "$1"
 }
 
-# -----------------------------
-# Helper: Notifications
-# -----------------------------
 notify_func() {
     local msg="$1"
-
     echo "::notice::$msg"
 
-    # Local notify script
     if [[ -x "$GITHUB_ACTION_PATH/notify" ]]; then
         bash "$GITHUB_ACTION_PATH/notify" "$msg" || true
     fi
 
-    # Apprise CLI
     if command -v apprise >/dev/null 2>&1; then
         apprise -b "$msg" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
     fi
 
-    # Apprise API
     if [[ -n "${APPRISE_API_URL:-}" ]]; then
         curl -s -X POST \
             -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
@@ -67,7 +55,6 @@ Reply with:
 • ${APPROVAL_KEYWORDS}
 • ${DENIAL_KEYWORDS}"
 
-# Build assignees JSON
 assignees_json=$(jq -nc --arg csv "$APPROVERS" '$csv|split(",")')
 
 json=$(jq -n \
@@ -90,6 +77,18 @@ fi
 
 notify_func "Approval required on issue #$ISSUE"
 
+# -----------------------------
+# Step 1b: Post initial comment if provided
+# -----------------------------
+if [[ -n "$INITIAL_COMMENT" ]]; then
+    comment_json=$(jq -n --arg body "$INITIAL_COMMENT" '{body:$body}')
+    curl -s -X POST \
+        -H "Authorization: token $TOKEN" \
+        -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+        -d "$comment_json" \
+        "$API_URL/repos/$REPO_OWNER/$REPO_NAME/issues/$ISSUE/comments" >/dev/null
+fi
+
 # -----------------------------
 # Step 2: Poll for comments
 # -----------------------------