diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index d3da3eb..2d86255 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ inputs:
   exclude:
     description: 'Patterns to exclude from returned prerequisites'
     required: false
+    default: ''
 
 outputs:
   perl:
diff --git a/test/action.test.mjs b/test/action.test.mjs
index 3fdab9d..be42a8d 100644
--- a/test/action.test.mjs
+++ b/test/action.test.mjs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ describe('GitHub action', function () {
       phases:        'test',
       relationships: 'recommends',
       features:      '',
-      excludes:      '',
+      exclude:       '',
     });
     expect(outputs).to.be.deep.equal({
       'prereqs':            'CPAN::Meta~2.120900\n',