diff --git a/.github/workflows/deprecate_release.yml b/.github/workflows/deprecate_release.yml
index f611e9dfd2..9bd66c381c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deprecate_release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deprecate_release.yml
@@ -10,14 +10,10 @@ on:
         required: true
         type: string
         description: The release commit hash that should be deprecated
-        # TODO remove this before merging - testing only
-        default: e81b212ab
       deprecationMessage:
         required: true
         type: string
         description: The deprecation message to apply to the affected package versions
-        # TODO remove this before merging - testing only
-        default: test deprecation message
 
 jobs:
   install:
@@ -38,4 +34,5 @@ jobs:
       - uses: ./.github/actions/setup_node
       - uses: ./.github/actions/restore_install_cache
       - name: Deprecate release versions
-        run: npx tsx scripts/deprecate_release.ts --commit-hash ${{ inputs.commitHash }} --deprecation-message ${{ inputs.deprecationMessage }}
+        # TODO remove defaults before merging -- for testing only
+        run: npx tsx scripts/deprecate_release.ts --commit-hash ${{ inputs.commitHash || 'e81b212ab' }} --deprecation-message ${{ inputs.deprecationMessage || 'test deprecation message' }}