diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2d0bf3a..7176a0f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ jobs:
 ### Filtering issues, pull requests and discussions
 
 This step will lock only issues, and exclude issues created before 2018,
-or those with the `upstream` or `help-wanted` labels applied.
+or those with the `help wanted` or `upstream` labels applied.
 
 <!-- prettier-ignore -->
 ```yaml
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ or those with the `upstream` or `help-wanted` labels applied.
       - uses: dessant/lock-threads@v5
         with:
           exclude-issue-created-before: '2018-01-01T00:00:00Z'
-          exclude-any-issue-labels: 'upstream, help-wanted'
+          exclude-any-issue-labels: 'help wanted, upstream'
           process-only: 'issues'
 ```
 
@@ -393,11 +393,10 @@ labels applied.
           include-any-issue-labels: 'incomplete, invalid'
           include-all-pr-labels: 'qa: done, published'
           process-only: 'issues, prs'
-
 ```
 
 This step will lock discussions that have not had any activity
-in the past 180 days.
+in the past 180 days, and have the `qa: verified` label applied.
 
 <!-- prettier-ignore -->
 ```yaml
@@ -405,8 +404,8 @@ in the past 180 days.
       - uses: dessant/lock-threads@v5
         with:
           discussion-inactive-days: '180'
+          include-any-discussion-labels: 'qa: verified'
           process-only: 'discussions'
-
 ```
 
 ### Commenting and labeling
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index acf48f6..a8f3055 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -226,12 +226,16 @@ class App {
         .map(label => `label:"${label}"`)
         .join(' ')}`;
     } else if (includeAnyLabels) {
-      query += ` label:${includeAnyLabels.join(',')}`;
+      query += ` label:${includeAnyLabels
+        .map(label => `"${label}"`)
+        .join(',')}`;
     }
 
     const excludeAnyLabels = this.config[`exclude-any-${threadType}-labels`];
     if (excludeAnyLabels) {
-      query += ` -label:${excludeAnyLabels.join(',')}`;
+      query += ` -label:${excludeAnyLabels
+        .map(label => `"${label}"`)
+        .join(',')}`;
     }
 
     const excludeCreatedQuery = this.getFilterByDateQuery({
diff --git a/src/schema.js b/src/schema.js
index 5e119c7..392dc3f 100644
--- a/src/schema.js
+++ b/src/schema.js
@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@ const extendedJoi = Joi.extend(joi => {
         if (value) {
           value = value
             .split(',')
-            .map(item => item.trim())
+            .map(item =>
+              // remove quotes around list item
+              item.replace(/^\s*["'](.+)["']\s*$/, '$1').trim()
+            )
             .filter(Boolean);
         }