Form validation: re-populate empty field

English isn’t my first language, so please excuse any mistakes.

This is my input field:

Code:

<input type="text" name="title" id="title" value="<?php echo set_value('title', $venue['title']) ?>" autocomplete="off" />

According to my validation rules this field is required. After submitting the form with an empty "title" the form is showing the default value of "$venue['title']". I was expecting (and hoping) to see an empty input field. Otherwise the displayed error message (saying this field is required) seems a bit confusing.

It's working (=showing blank field) in CI2 with almost identical code.

Did I miss something?

THX in advance