diff --git a/app/javascript/submission_form/initials_step.vue b/app/javascript/submission_form/initials_step.vue
index b7b2c05a..1e9f1b67 100644
--- a/app/javascript/submission_form/initials_step.vue
+++ b/app/javascript/submission_form/initials_step.vue
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@
       class="base-input !text-2xl w-full mt-6 text-center"
       :required="field.required && !isInitialsStarted"
       :aria-label="field.name || t('initials')"
-      :placeholder="`${t('type_initial_here')}...`"
+      :placeholder="`${t('type_initial_here')}${field.required ? '...' : ' (' + t('optional') + ')'}`"
       type="text"
       @focus="$emit('focus')"
       @input="updateWrittenInitials"
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ export default {
 
             if (!this.isDrawInitials) {
               this.$nextTick(() => {
-                if (this.$refs.textInput) {
+                if (this.$refs.textInput && this.field.required === true) {
                   this.initTextInitial()
                 }
               })
diff --git a/app/javascript/submission_form/signature_step.vue b/app/javascript/submission_form/signature_step.vue
index 68f1dc18..df5c7974 100644
--- a/app/javascript/submission_form/signature_step.vue
+++ b/app/javascript/submission_form/signature_step.vue
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@
       class="base-input !text-2xl w-full mt-6"
       :required="field.required && !isSignatureStarted"
       :aria-label="field.name || t('signature')"
-      :placeholder="`${t('type_signature_here')}...`"
+      :placeholder="`${t('type_signature_here')}${field.required ? '...' : ' (' + t('optional') + ')'}`"
       type="text"
       @input="updateWrittenSignature"
     >
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ export default {
               this.$nextTick(() => this.drawSignatureSrc())
             } else if (this.isTextSignature) {
               this.$nextTick(() => {
-                if (this.$refs.textInput) {
+                if (this.$refs.textInput && this.field.required === true) {
                   this.initTypedSignature()
                 }
               })