diff --git a/lua/pending/diff.lua b/lua/pending/diff.lua
index 7ebbfe1..5df332f 100644
--- a/lua/pending/diff.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/diff.lua
@@ -121,17 +121,19 @@ function M.apply(lines, s, hidden_ids)
           task.priority = entry.priority
           changed = true
         end
-        if task.due ~= entry.due then
+        if entry.due ~= nil and task.due ~= entry.due then
           task.due = entry.due
           changed = true
         end
-        if task.recur ~= entry.rec then
-          task.recur = entry.rec
-          changed = true
-        end
-        if task.recur_mode ~= entry.rec_mode then
-          task.recur_mode = entry.rec_mode
-          changed = true
+        if entry.rec ~= nil then
+          if task.recur ~= entry.rec then
+            task.recur = entry.rec
+            changed = true
+          end
+          if task.recur_mode ~= entry.rec_mode then
+            task.recur_mode = entry.rec_mode
+            changed = true
+          end
         end
         if entry.status and task.status ~= entry.status then
           task.status = entry.status
diff --git a/spec/diff_spec.lua b/spec/diff_spec.lua
index c2a0406..01d8aac 100644
--- a/spec/diff_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/diff_spec.lua
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ describe('diff', function()
       assert.are.equal(modified_after_first, task.modified)
     end)
 
-    it('clears due when removed from buffer line', function()
+    it('preserves due when not present in buffer line', function()
       s:add({ description = 'Pay bill', due = '2026-03-15' })
       s:save()
       local lines = {
@@ -209,7 +209,20 @@ describe('diff', function()
       diff.apply(lines, s)
       s:load()
       local task = s:get(1)
-      assert.is_nil(task.due)
+      assert.are.equal('2026-03-15', task.due)
+    end)
+
+    it('updates due when inline token is present', function()
+      s:add({ description = 'Pay bill', due = '2026-03-15' })
+      s:save()
+      local lines = {
+        '# Inbox',
+        '/1/- [ ] Pay bill due:2026-04-01',
+      }
+      diff.apply(lines, s)
+      s:load()
+      local task = s:get(1)
+      assert.are.equal('2026-04-01', task.due)
     end)
 
     it('stores recur field on new tasks from buffer', function()
@@ -237,7 +250,7 @@ describe('diff', function()
       assert.are.equal('weekly', task.recur)
     end)
 
-    it('clears recur when token removed from line', function()
+    it('preserves recur when not present in buffer line', function()
       s:add({ description = 'Task', recur = 'daily' })
       s:save()
       local lines = {
@@ -247,7 +260,7 @@ describe('diff', function()
       diff.apply(lines, s)
       s:load()
       local task = s:get(1)
-      assert.is_nil(task.recur)
+      assert.are.equal('daily', task.recur)
     end)
 
     it('parses rec: with completion mode prefix', function()