diff --git a/.github/workflows/integTest-caching-config.yml b/.github/workflows/integTest-caching-config.yml
index cee52bc..49093db 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/integTest-caching-config.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/integTest-caching-config.yml
@@ -28,9 +28,11 @@ jobs:
         # Add "wrapper" to main cache entry and remove 'wrapper-zips' bundle
         # Exclude build-cache from main cache entry
         gradle-home-cache-includes: |
-            ["caches", "notifications", "wrapper"]
+            caches
+            notifications
+            wrapper
         gradle-home-cache-excludes: |
-            ["caches/build-cache-1"]
+            caches/build-cache-1
         gradle-home-cache-artifact-bundles: |
             [
               ["generated-gradle-jars", "caches/*/generated-gradle-jars/*.jar"],
@@ -57,9 +59,11 @@ jobs:
         cache-read-only: true
         # Need the same configuration when restoring state from cache
         gradle-home-cache-includes: |
-            ["caches", "notifications", "wrapper"]
+            caches
+            notifications
+            wrapper
         gradle-home-cache-excludes: |
-            ["caches/build-cache-1"]
+            caches/build-cache-1
         gradle-home-cache-artifact-bundles: |
             [
               ["generated-gradle-jars", "caches/*/generated-gradle-jars/*.jar"],
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e3f8b9a..94a3f44 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -191,10 +191,12 @@ The contents to be cached can be fine tuned by including and excluding certain p
 ```yaml
 # Cache downloaded JDKs in addition to the default directories.
 gradle-home-cache-includes: |
-    ["caches", "notifications", "jdks"]
+    caches
+    notifications
+    jdks
 # Exclude the local build-cache from the directories cached.
 gradle-home-cache-excludes: |
-    ["caches/build-cache-1"]
+    caches/build-cache-1
 ```
 
 You can specify any number of fixed paths or patterns to include or exclude. 
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index 1ff70a6..42fc79e 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -36,13 +36,13 @@ inputs:
     description: Paths within Gradle User Home to cache.
     required: false
     default: |
-        ["caches", "notifications"]
+        caches
+        notifications
 
   gradle-home-cache-excludes:
     description: Paths within Gradle User Home to exclude from cache.
     required: false
-    default: |
-        [] 
+  
   # e.g. Use the following setting to prevent the local build cache from being saved/restored
   #      gradle-home-cache-excludes: |
   #           ["caches/build-cache-1"]
diff --git a/src/cache-gradle-user-home.ts b/src/cache-gradle-user-home.ts
index 3ac5376..0a2902c 100644
--- a/src/cache-gradle-user-home.ts
+++ b/src/cache-gradle-user-home.ts
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ export class GradleUserHomeCache extends AbstractCache {
     }
 
     private removeExcludedPaths(): void {
-        const rawPaths: string[] = JSON.parse(
-            core.getInput(EXCLUDE_PATHS_PARAMETER)
+        const rawPaths: string[] = core.getMultilineInput(
+            EXCLUDE_PATHS_PARAMETER
         )
         const resolvedPaths = rawPaths.map(x =>
             path.resolve(this.gradleUserHome, x)
@@ -193,8 +193,8 @@ export class GradleUserHomeCache extends AbstractCache {
     }
 
     protected getCachePath(): string[] {
-        const rawPaths: string[] = JSON.parse(
-            core.getInput(INCLUDE_PATHS_PARAMETER)
+        const rawPaths: string[] = core.getMultilineInput(
+            INCLUDE_PATHS_PARAMETER
         )
         rawPaths.push(META_FILE_DIR)
         const resolvedPaths = rawPaths.map(x => this.resolveCachePath(x))