diff --git a/bulkgen/builder.py b/bulkgen/builder.py
index b67a0a0..9005f11 100644
--- a/bulkgen/builder.py
+++ b/bulkgen/builder.py
@@ -57,9 +57,14 @@ class BuildResult:
 
 def _resolve_prompt(prompt_value: str, project_dir: Path) -> str:
     """Resolve a prompt: read from file if the path exists, otherwise use as-is."""
-    candidate = project_dir / prompt_value
-    if candidate.is_file():
-        return candidate.read_text()
+    if "\n" in prompt_value:
+        return prompt_value
+    try:
+        candidate = project_dir / prompt_value
+        if candidate.is_file():
+            return candidate.read_text()
+    except OSError:
+        pass
     return prompt_value