diff --git a/.github/workflows/stale.yml b/.github/workflows/stale.yml
index a02aac9ac4f..e192ad97b39 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/stale.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/stale.yml
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ jobs:
         set -x
         issues=$(echo "${{env.exempt-issue-labels-list}}" | tr ' ' ',')
         prs=$(echo "${{env.exempt-pr-labels-list}}" | tr ' ' ',')
-        echo "exempt-issue-labels=\'$issues\'" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-        echo "exempt-pr-labels=\'$prs\'" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+        echo "exempt-issue-labels='$issues'" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+        echo "exempt-pr-labels='$prs'" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
     - name: Label and/or close stale issues and/or PRs
       uses: actions/stale@v9