diff --git a/.github/workflows/stale.yml b/.github/workflows/stale.yml
index 0cb6c97a27..c40663e723 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/stale.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/stale.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ jobs:
           stale-issue-message: 'This issue is stale because it has been open for 40 days with no activity. Remove the stale label or leave a comment, otherwise it will be closed in 10 days.'
           stale-pr-message: 'This PR is stale because it has been open for 40 days with no activity. Remove the stale label or leave a comment, otherwise it will be closed in 10 days.'
           days-before-stale: 40
-          exempt-issue-labels: 'roadmap'
+          exempt-issue-labels: roadmap,backlog
           close-issue-message: 'This issue was automatically closed due to 50 days of inactivity. We do this to help keep the issues somewhat manageable and focus on active issues.'
           close-pr-message: 'This PR was closed because it had no activity for 50 days. If you feel this was closed in error, and you would like to continue the PR, please resubmit or let us know.'
           days-before-close: 10