diff --git a/.github/workflows/stale-pr.yml b/.github/workflows/stale-pr.yml
index c1b7f9370e..d5259a6140 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/stale-pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/stale-pr.yml
@@ -14,5 +14,9 @@ jobs:
           close-pr-message: 'Closed as inactive. Feel free to reopen if this PR is still being worked on.'
           exempt-pr-labels: 'bug,work in progress,experts needed'
           exempt-draft-pr: true
+          # opt out of defaults to avoid marking issues as stale
+          days-before-stale: -1
+          days-before-close: -1
+          # overrides the above only for pull requests
           days-before-pr-stale: 15
           days-before-pr-close: 7