diff --git a/.github/ionic-issue-bot.yml b/.github/ionic-issue-bot.yml
index 9f0cc2f9e9..92bd70ac2e 100644
--- a/.github/ionic-issue-bot.yml
+++ b/.github/ionic-issue-bot.yml
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ stale:
   exemptLabels:
     - good first issue
     - triage
+  exemptAssigned: true
   exemptProjects: true
   exemptMilestones: true
   label: "ionitron: stale issue"