diff --git a/plugins/picker/picker.go b/plugins/picker/picker.go
index 284f86e..53b5f4b 100644
--- a/plugins/picker/picker.go
+++ b/plugins/picker/picker.go
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func (p *PickerPlugin) Message(message msg.Message) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-var pickerListPrologue = regexp.MustCompile(`^pick[ \t]+([0-9]*)[ \t]+\{[ \t]*`)
+var pickerListPrologue = regexp.MustCompile(`^pick[ \t]+([0-9]*)[ \t]*\{[ \t]*`)
 var pickerListItem = regexp.MustCompile(`^([^,]+),[ \t]*`)
 var pickerListFinalItem = regexp.MustCompile(`^([^,}]+),?[ \t]*\}[ \t]*`)
 
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func (p *PickerPlugin) parse(body string) (int, []string, error) {
 		return 0, nil, errors.New("saddle up for a syntax error")
 	}
 
-	n := 0
+	n := 1
 	var err error
 	if subs[1] != "" {
 		n, err = strconv.Atoi(subs[1])
diff --git a/plugins/picker/picker_test.go b/plugins/picker/picker_test.go
index 661f5a7..0c2dd60 100644
--- a/plugins/picker/picker_test.go
+++ b/plugins/picker/picker_test.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ func makeMessage(payload string) msg.Message {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestReplacement(t *testing.T) {
+func TestPick2(t *testing.T) {
 	mb := bot.NewMockBot()
 	c := New(mb)
 	assert.NotNil(t, c)
@@ -35,3 +35,12 @@ func TestReplacement(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected a successful choice, got %q", mb.Messages[0])
 	}
 }
+
+func TestPickDefault(t *testing.T) {
+	mb := bot.NewMockBot()
+	c := New(mb)
+	assert.NotNil(t, c)
+	_ = c.Message(makeMessage("!pick { a}"))
+	assert.Len(t, mb.Messages, 1)
+	assert.Equal(t, `I've chosen "a" for you.`, mb.Messages[0])
+}