diff --git a/.github/empty-string-checker.ts b/.github/empty-string-checker.ts
index 4e1f106..0d46d28 100644
--- a/.github/empty-string-checker.ts
+++ b/.github/empty-string-checker.ts
@@ -6,21 +6,24 @@ const token = process.env.GITHUB_TOKEN;
 const [owner, repo] = process.env.GITHUB_REPOSITORY?.split("/") || [];
 const pullNumber = process.env.GITHUB_PR_NUMBER || process.env.PULL_REQUEST_NUMBER || "0";
 const baseRef = process.env.GITHUB_BASE_REF;
+const excludeEnv = process.env.EXCLUDED_FILES;
 const excludedFiles: string[] = [];
 
-if (process.env.EXCLUDED_FILES) {
+if (!token || !owner || !repo || pullNumber === "0" || !baseRef || excludeEnv === undefined) {
+  core.setFailed("Missing required environment variables.");
+  process.exit(1);
+}
+
+// Only process excludeEnv if it has content
+if (excludeEnv.length > 0) {
   excludedFiles.push(
-    ...process.env.EXCLUDED_FILES.split("\n")
+    ...excludeEnv
+      .split("\n")
       .map((file) => file.trim())
       .filter(Boolean)
   );
 }
 
-if (!token || !owner || !repo || pullNumber === "0" || !baseRef) {
-  core.setFailed("Missing required environment variables.");
-  process.exit(1);
-}
-
 const octokit = new Octokit({ auth: token });
 const git = simpleGit();