diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 67c4ba3fd..f930eb1ab 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -60,5 +60,7 @@ jobs:
         stale-issue-message: 'Stale issue message'
         stale-pr-message: 'Stale issue message'
         stale-issue-label: 'no-issue-activity'
+        exempt-issue-label: 'awaiting-approval'
         stale-pr-label: 'no-pr-activity'
+        exempt-pr-label: 'awaiting-approval'
 ```
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index a03cfa9c9..b2bb534d0 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -18,9 +18,13 @@ inputs:
   stale-issue-label:
     description: 'The label to apply when an issue is stale'
     default: 'Stale'
+  exempt-issue-label:
+    description: 'The label to apply when an issue is exempt from being marked stale'
   stale-pr-label:
     description: 'The label to apply when a pull request is stale'
     default: 'Stale'
+  exempt-pr-label:
+    description: 'The label to apply when a pull request is exempt from being marked stale'
   operations-per-run:
     description: 'The maximum number of operations per run, used to control rate limiting'
     default: 30
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index e2524b932..b24d62871 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ type Args = {
   daysBeforeStale: number;
   daysBeforeClose: number;
   staleIssueLabel: string;
+  exemptIssueLabel: string;
   stalePrLabel: string;
+  exemptPrLabel: string;
   operationsPerRun: number;
 };
 
@@ -59,8 +61,11 @@ async function processIssues(
     }
 
     let staleLabel = isPr ? args.stalePrLabel : args.staleIssueLabel;
+    let exemptLabel = isPr ? args.exemptPrLabel : args.exemptIssueLabel;
 
-    if (isLabeledStale(issue, staleLabel)) {
+    if (exemptLabel && isLabeled(issue, exemptLabel)) {
+      continue;
+    } else if (isLabeled(issue, staleLabel)) {
       if (wasLastUpdatedBefore(issue, args.daysBeforeClose)) {
         operationsLeft -= await closeIssue(client, issue);
       } else {
@@ -85,7 +90,7 @@ async function processIssues(
   return await processIssues(client, args, operationsLeft, page + 1);
 }
 
-function isLabeledStale(issue: Issue, label: string): boolean {
+function isLabeled(issue: Issue, label: string): boolean {
   const labelComparer: (l: IssueLabel) => boolean = l =>
     label.localeCompare(l.name, undefined, {sensitivity: 'accent'}) === 0;
   return issue.labels.filter(labelComparer).length > 0;
@@ -151,7 +156,9 @@ function getAndValidateArgs(): Args {
       core.getInput('days-before-close', {required: true})
     ),
     staleIssueLabel: core.getInput('stale-issue-label', {required: true}),
+    exemptIssueLabel: core.getInput('exempt-issue-label'),
     stalePrLabel: core.getInput('stale-pr-label', {required: true}),
+    exemptPrLabel: core.getInput('exempt-pr-label'),
     operationsPerRun: parseInt(
       core.getInput('operations-per-run', {required: true})
     )