diff --git a/variables.tf b/variables.tf
index 801dacb..ff58e45 100644
--- a/variables.tf
+++ b/variables.tf
@@ -165,4 +165,5 @@ variable "enforce_prs" {
 variable collaborators {
   type = map(string)
   description = "list of repo callaborators"
+  default = {}
 }