diff --git a/pkg/git/read.go b/pkg/git/read.go
index a4b4cbaf..52f4bd50 100644
--- a/pkg/git/read.go
+++ b/pkg/git/read.go
@@ -128,7 +128,8 @@ func getExcludesFile(cfg *gitConfigPkg.Config) string {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	return ""
+
+	return "~/.gitignore"
 }
 
 func parseExcludesFile(excludesfile string) ([]gitignore.Pattern, error) {