diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index 19e63c0..aa8a4f1 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -12,12 +12,10 @@ inputs:
     default: ''
   git-username:
     description: 'the username to use when pushing to git'
-    required: false
-    default: ''
+    required: true
   git-password:
     description: 'the password to use when pushing to git'
-    required: false
-    default: ''
+    required: true
   path:
     description: "create a release from a path other than the repository's root"
     required: false
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 0b830bf..1246c3d 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ function parseInputs(): ActionInputs {
     releaseType: getOptionalInput('release-type'),
     path: getOptionalInput('path'),
     repoUrl: core.getInput('repo-url') || process.env.GITHUB_REPOSITORY || '',
-    gitUsername: core.getInput('git-username'),
-    gitPassword: core.getInput('git-password'),
+    gitUsername: core.getInput('git-username', {required: true}),
+    gitPassword: core.getInput('git-password', {required: true}),
     targetBranch: getOptionalInput('target-branch'),
     configFile: core.getInput('config-file') || DEFAULT_CONFIG_FILE,
     manifestFile: core.getInput('manifest-file') || DEFAULT_MANIFEST_FILE,