diff --git a/.github/workflows/issue_bot.yml b/.github/workflows/issue_bot.yml
index 0e1adf463..c7f74d201 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/issue_bot.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/issue_bot.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ jobs:
         with:
           any-of-labels: "wait 4 close"
           exempt-all-milestones: true
+          exempt-issue-labels: "hold"
+          days-before-issue-stale: -1
           days-before-issue-close: 5
           close-issue-message: "This issue was closed because it has been inactive for 5 days since being marked as 'wait 4 close'."
           days-before-pr-stale: -1