diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index cc9d8bd4..9cd6dbb4 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ inputs:
     default: 30
   remove-stale-when-updated:
     description: 'Remove stale labels from issues when they are updated or commented on.'
-    default: false
+    default: true
   debug-only:
     description: 'Run the processor in debug mode without actually performing any operations on live issues.'
     default: false
diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index ce4aaa3e..33f2755a 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -3756,7 +3756,7 @@ function getAndValidateArgs() {
         exemptPrLabels: core.getInput('exempt-pr-labels'),
         onlyLabels: core.getInput('only-labels'),
         operationsPerRun: parseInt(core.getInput('operations-per-run', { required: true })),
-        removeStaleWhenUpdated: core.getInput('remove-stale-when-updated') === 'true',
+        removeStaleWhenUpdated: !(core.getInput('remove-stale-when-updated') === 'false'),
         debugOnly: core.getInput('debug-only') === 'true'
     };
     for (const numberInput of [
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 1202293c..ebc5a8a3 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -32,8 +32,9 @@ function getAndValidateArgs(): IssueProcessorOptions {
     operationsPerRun: parseInt(
       core.getInput('operations-per-run', {required: true})
     ),
-    removeStaleWhenUpdated:
-      core.getInput('remove-stale-when-updated') === 'true',
+    removeStaleWhenUpdated: !(
+      core.getInput('remove-stale-when-updated') === 'false'
+    ),
     debugOnly: core.getInput('debug-only') === 'true'
   };