diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4cf2f77..f01aeb7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ You can configure `buf-setup-action` with these parameters:
 | Parameter      | Description                                        | Default            |
 |:---------------|:---------------------------------------------------|:-------------------|
 | `version`      | The version of the [`buf` CLI][buf-cli] to install | [`v1.17.0`][version] |
-| `github_token` | The GitHub token to use when making API requests   |                    |
+| `github_token` | The GitHub token to use when making API requests   |                    | ${{ github.token }}
 | `buf_user`     | The username to use for logging into Buf Schema registry.                                               |                    |
 | `buf_api_token` | The API token to use for logging into Buf Schema registry.                                                                                                            |                    |
 | `buf_domain`    | The domain of the Buf Schema Registry to login to.     | buf.build |
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index a55c112..d5ccac7 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ inputs:
   github_token:
     description: The GitHub token to use when making API requests.
     required: false
+    default: ${{ github.token }}
   buf_user:
     description: The username to use for logging into Buf Schema registry.
     required: false