diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index eb6cb44b..40641006 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ class IssuesProcessor {
             issueLogger.info(`$$type marked stale on: ${logger_service_1.LoggerService.cyan(markedStaleOn)}`);
             const issueHasCommentsSinceStale = yield this._hasCommentsSince(issue, markedStaleOn, staleMessage);
             issueLogger.info(`$$type has been commented on: ${logger_service_1.LoggerService.cyan(issueHasCommentsSinceStale)}`);
-            const issueHasReactionsSinceStale = yield this._hasReactionsSince(issue, markedStaleOn);
+            const issueHasReactionsSinceStale = yield this._hasReactionsSince(issue, markedStaleOn, this.options.ignoreReactions);
             issueLogger.info(`$$type had a reaction: ${logger_service_1.LoggerService.cyan(issueHasReactionsSinceStale)}`);
             const daysBeforeClose = issue.isPullRequest
                 ? this._getDaysBeforePrClose()
@@ -844,14 +844,17 @@ class IssuesProcessor {
         });
     }
     // find any reactions since the date
-    _hasReactionsSince(issue, sinceDate) {
+    _hasReactionsSince(issue, sinceDate, ignoreReactions) {
         return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
             const issueLogger = new issue_logger_1.IssueLogger(issue);
-            issueLogger.info(`Checking for reactions on $$type since: ${logger_service_1.LoggerService.cyan(sinceDate)}`);
+            let reactions = [];
             if (!sinceDate) {
                 return true;
             }
-            const reactions = yield this.listIssueReactions(issue, sinceDate);
+            if (ignoreReactions === false) {
+                issueLogger.info(`Checking for reactions on $$type since: ${logger_service_1.LoggerService.cyan(sinceDate)}`);
+                reactions = yield this.listIssueReactions(issue, sinceDate);
+            }
             return reactions.length > 0;
         });
     }
diff --git a/src/classes/issues-processor.ts b/src/classes/issues-processor.ts
index 3745e540..159f6e3e 100644
--- a/src/classes/issues-processor.ts
+++ b/src/classes/issues-processor.ts
@@ -690,7 +690,8 @@ export class IssuesProcessor {
 
     const issueHasReactionsSinceStale: boolean = await this._hasReactionsSince(
       issue,
-      markedStaleOn
+      markedStaleOn,
+      this.options.ignoreReactions
     );
     issueLogger.info(
       `$$type had a reaction: ${LoggerService.cyan(
@@ -857,19 +858,24 @@ export class IssuesProcessor {
   // find any reactions since the date
   private async _hasReactionsSince(
     issue: Issue,
-    sinceDate: string
+    sinceDate: string,
+    ignoreReactions: boolean | undefined
   ): Promise<boolean> {
     const issueLogger: IssueLogger = new IssueLogger(issue);
-
-    issueLogger.info(
-      `Checking for reactions on $$type since: ${LoggerService.cyan(sinceDate)}`
-    );
+    let reactions: IReaction[] = [];
 
     if (!sinceDate) {
       return true;
     }
 
-    const reactions = await this.listIssueReactions(issue, sinceDate);
+    if (ignoreReactions === false) {
+      issueLogger.info(
+        `Checking for reactions on $$type since: ${LoggerService.cyan(
+          sinceDate
+        )}`
+      );
+      reactions = await this.listIssueReactions(issue, sinceDate);
+    }
 
     return reactions.length > 0;
   }