diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 39ea5bfe..e27dedf2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ To configure your Ubiquibot to run this plugin, add the following to the `.ubiqu
     startRequiresWallet: true # default is true
     emptyWalletText: "Please set your wallet address with the /wallet command first and try again."
     rolesWithReviewAuthority: ["MEMBER", "OWNER"]
+    requiredLabelsToStart: ["Priority: 5 (Emergency)"]
 ```
 
 # Testing
diff --git a/manifest.json b/manifest.json
index 02b81a8d..3aced86e 100644
--- a/manifest.json
+++ b/manifest.json
@@ -1,13 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "Start | Stop",
   "description": "Assign or un-assign yourself from an issue.",
-  "ubiquity:listeners": [
-    "issue_comment.created",
-    "issues.assigned",
-    "issues.unassigned",
-    "pull_request.opened",
-    "pull_request.edited"
-  ],
+  "ubiquity:listeners": ["issue_comment.created", "issues.assigned", "issues.unassigned", "pull_request.opened", "pull_request.edited"],
   "commands": {
     "start": {
       "ubiquity:example": "/start",
@@ -51,12 +45,7 @@
         "type": "string"
       },
       "rolesWithReviewAuthority": {
-        "default": [
-          "COLLABORATOR",
-          "OWNER",
-          "MEMBER",
-          "ADMIN"
-        ],
+        "default": ["COLLABORATOR", "OWNER", "MEMBER", "ADMIN"],
         "type": "array",
         "items": {
           "type": "string"
@@ -79,4 +68,4 @@
       "requiredLabelsToStart"
     ]
   }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/handlers/shared/start.ts b/src/handlers/shared/start.ts
index df4ab513..c3940f06 100644
--- a/src/handlers/shared/start.ts
+++ b/src/handlers/shared/start.ts
@@ -16,11 +16,11 @@ export async function start(
   teammates: string[]
 ): Promise<Result> {
   const { logger, config } = context;
-  const { taskStaleTimeoutDuration } = config;
+  const { taskStaleTimeoutDuration, requiredLabelsToStart } = config;
 
   const issueLabels = issue.labels.map((label) => label.name);
 
-  if (!config.requiredLabelsToStart.some((label) => issueLabels.includes(label))) {
+  if (requiredLabelsToStart.length && !requiredLabelsToStart.some((label) => issueLabels.includes(label))) {
     // The "Priority" label must reflect a business priority, not a development one.
     throw new Error("This task does not reflect a business priority at the moment and cannot be started. This will be reassessed in the coming weeks.");
   }
diff --git a/src/types/plugin-input.ts b/src/types/plugin-input.ts
index c6d5e34b..c93643e7 100644
--- a/src/types/plugin-input.ts
+++ b/src/types/plugin-input.ts
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ export const pluginSettingsSchema = T.Object(
     rolesWithReviewAuthority: T.Transform(rolesWithReviewAuthority)
       .Decode((value) => value.map((role) => role.toUpperCase()))
       .Encode((value) => value.map((role) => role.toUpperCase())),
-    requiredLabelsToStart: T.Array(T.String()), // no default, must be in the config
+    requiredLabelsToStart: T.Array(T.String(), { default: [] }),
   },
   {
     default: {},