diff --git a/src/uu/fmt/src/fmt.rs b/src/uu/fmt/src/fmt.rs
index 3a494c868..3a02c6429 100644
--- a/src/uu/fmt/src/fmt.rs
+++ b/src/uu/fmt/src/fmt.rs
@@ -49,11 +49,9 @@ pub struct FmtOptions {
     tagged: bool,
     mail: bool,
     split_only: bool,
-    use_prefix: bool,
-    prefix: String,
+    prefix: Option<String>,
     xprefix: bool,
-    use_anti_prefix: bool,
-    anti_prefix: String,
+    anti_prefix: Option<String>,
     xanti_prefix: bool,
     uniform: bool,
     quick: bool,
@@ -83,19 +81,8 @@ impl FmtOptions {
         let xprefix = matches.contains_id(OPT_EXACT_PREFIX);
         let xanti_prefix = matches.contains_id(OPT_SKIP_PREFIX);
 
-        let mut prefix = String::new();
-        let mut use_prefix = false;
-        if let Some(s) = matches.get_one::<String>(OPT_PREFIX).map(String::from) {
-            prefix = s;
-            use_prefix = true;
-        };
-
-        let mut anti_prefix = String::new();
-        let mut use_anti_prefix = false;
-        if let Some(s) = matches.get_one::<String>(OPT_SKIP_PREFIX).map(String::from) {
-            anti_prefix = s;
-            use_anti_prefix = true;
-        };
+        let prefix = matches.get_one::<String>(OPT_PREFIX).map(String::from);
+        let anti_prefix = matches.get_one::<String>(OPT_SKIP_PREFIX).map(String::from);
 
         let mut width = 75;
         let mut goal = 70;
@@ -143,10 +130,8 @@ impl FmtOptions {
             uniform,
             quick,
             split_only,
-            use_prefix,
             prefix,
             xprefix,
-            use_anti_prefix,
             anti_prefix,
             xanti_prefix,
             width,
diff --git a/src/uu/fmt/src/parasplit.rs b/src/uu/fmt/src/parasplit.rs
index 311ddbc9b..f22400dff 100644
--- a/src/uu/fmt/src/parasplit.rs
+++ b/src/uu/fmt/src/parasplit.rs
@@ -80,24 +80,20 @@ impl<'a> FileLines<'a> {
 
     /// returns true if this line should be formatted
     fn match_prefix(&self, line: &str) -> (bool, usize) {
-        if !self.opts.use_prefix {
+        let Some(prefix) = &self.opts.prefix else {
             return (true, 0);
-        }
+        };
 
-        FileLines::match_prefix_generic(&self.opts.prefix[..], line, self.opts.xprefix)
+        FileLines::match_prefix_generic(prefix, line, self.opts.xprefix)
     }
 
     /// returns true if this line should be formatted
     fn match_anti_prefix(&self, line: &str) -> bool {
-        if !self.opts.use_anti_prefix {
+        let Some(anti_prefix) = &self.opts.anti_prefix else {
             return true;
-        }
+        };
 
-        match FileLines::match_prefix_generic(
-            &self.opts.anti_prefix[..],
-            line,
-            self.opts.xanti_prefix,
-        ) {
+        match FileLines::match_prefix_generic(anti_prefix, line, self.opts.xanti_prefix) {
             (true, _) => false,
             (_, _) => true,
         }
@@ -176,7 +172,7 @@ impl<'a> Iterator for FileLines<'a> {
         // not truly blank we will not allow mail headers on the
         // following line)
         if pmatch
-            && n[poffset + self.opts.prefix.len()..]
+            && n[poffset + self.opts.prefix.as_ref().map_or(0, |s| s.len())..]
                 .chars()
                 .all(char::is_whitespace)
         {
@@ -190,7 +186,7 @@ impl<'a> Iterator for FileLines<'a> {
         }
 
         // figure out the indent, prefix, and prefixindent ending points
-        let prefix_end = poffset + self.opts.prefix.len();
+        let prefix_end = poffset + self.opts.prefix.as_ref().map_or(0, |s| s.len());
         let (indent_end, prefix_len, indent_len) = self.compute_indent(&n[..], prefix_end);
 
         Some(Line::FormatLine(FileLine {
@@ -357,7 +353,7 @@ impl<'a> Iterator for ParagraphStream<'a> {
                 }
             } else if in_mail {
                 // lines following mail headers must begin with spaces
-                if fl.indent_end == 0 || (self.opts.use_prefix && fl.pfxind_end == 0) {
+                if fl.indent_end == 0 || (self.opts.prefix.is_some() && fl.pfxind_end == 0) {
                     break; // this line does not begin with spaces
                 }
             } else if !second_done {