diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b0f6224f1..9b666c80f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -281,8 +281,6 @@ jobs:
       - run: |
           date > generated.txt
           # Note: the following account information will not work on GHES
-          git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
-          git config user.email "41898282+github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
           git add .
           git commit -m "generated"
           git push
@@ -305,8 +303,6 @@ jobs:
       - run: |
           date > generated.txt
           # Note: the following account information will not work on GHES
-          git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
-          git config user.email "41898282+github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
           git add .
           git commit -m "generated"
           git push
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index 6842eb843..2e379126f 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -22,6 +22,12 @@ inputs:
 
       [Learn more about creating and using encrypted secrets](https://help.github.com/en/actions/automating-your-workflow-with-github-actions/creating-and-using-encrypted-secrets)
     default: ${{ github.token }}
+  configure-user:
+    description: >
+      Whether to configure user.name and user.email in the local git config.
+      This is required to push a commit from a Github Action Workflow.
+      Set to `false` to disable the config.
+    default: true
   ssh-key:
     description: >
       SSH key used to fetch the repository. The SSH key is configured with the local
diff --git a/src/git-source-provider.ts b/src/git-source-provider.ts
index 2d3513897..dcdb9b278 100644
--- a/src/git-source-provider.ts
+++ b/src/git-source-provider.ts
@@ -274,6 +274,14 @@ export async function getSource(settings: IGitSourceSettings): Promise<void> {
       settings.commit,
       settings.githubServerUrl
     )
+    if (settings.configureUser) {
+      if (!await git.configExists('user.name', true)) {
+        await git.config('user.name', 'github-action[bot]', true)
+      }
+      if (!await git.configExists('user.email', true)) {
+        await git.config('user.email', '41898282+github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com', true)
+      } 
+    }
   } finally {
     // Remove auth
     if (authHelper) {
diff --git a/src/git-source-settings.ts b/src/git-source-settings.ts
index 4e41ac302..e7ddb41cd 100644
--- a/src/git-source-settings.ts
+++ b/src/git-source-settings.ts
@@ -79,6 +79,11 @@ export interface IGitSourceSettings {
    */
   authToken: string
 
+  /**
+   * Indicates whether to set a default user name and email in the local git config
+   */
+  configureUser: boolean
+
   /**
    * The SSH key to configure
    */
diff --git a/src/input-helper.ts b/src/input-helper.ts
index 059232f5c..b1a2b7a4b 100644
--- a/src/input-helper.ts
+++ b/src/input-helper.ts
@@ -138,6 +138,10 @@ export async function getInputs(): Promise<IGitSourceSettings> {
   // Auth token
   result.authToken = core.getInput('token', {required: true})
 
+  // Configure user
+  result.configureUser = 
+    (core.getInput('configure-user') || 'true').toUpperCase() === 'TRUE'
+
   // SSH
   result.sshKey = core.getInput('ssh-key')
   result.sshKnownHosts = core.getInput('ssh-known-hosts')