diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a28e2b7..02ae326 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -191,7 +191,9 @@ This configuration is a `.json` file in the following format.
     "tag_resolver": {
       "method": "semver"
     },
-    "base_branches": []
+    "base_branches": [
+      "dev"
+    ]
 }
 ```
 
diff --git a/configs_test/configuration_base_branches_develop.json b/configs_test/configuration_base_branches_develop.json
index dc1f435..ab7f59a 100644
--- a/configs_test/configuration_base_branches_develop.json
+++ b/configs_test/configuration_base_branches_develop.json
@@ -1,19 +1,24 @@
 {
-    "categories": [
-        {
-            "title": "",
-            "labels": ["dev", "Bump"]
-        }
-    ],
-    "ignore_labels": [],
-    "sort": "DESC",
-    "pr_template": "${{NUMBER}}",
-    "label_extractor": [
-        {
-          "pattern": ".*(dev|Bump).*",
-          "target": "$1",
-          "on_property": "title"
-        }
-      ],
-    "base_branches": ["develop"]
+  "categories": [
+    {
+      "title": "",
+      "labels": [
+        "dev",
+        "Bump"
+      ]
+    }
+  ],
+  "ignore_labels": [],
+  "sort": "DESC",
+  "pr_template": "${{NUMBER}}",
+  "label_extractor": [
+    {
+      "pattern": ".*(dev|Bump).*",
+      "target": "$1",
+      "on_property": "title"
+    }
+  ],
+  "base_branches": [
+    "develop"
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/configs_test/configuration_base_branches_main.json b/configs_test/configuration_base_branches_main.json
index 6a14020..6310639 100644
--- a/configs_test/configuration_base_branches_main.json
+++ b/configs_test/configuration_base_branches_main.json
@@ -1,19 +1,24 @@
 {
-    "categories": [
-        {
-            "title": "",
-            "labels": ["dev", "Bump"]
-        }
-    ],
-    "ignore_labels": [],
-    "sort": "DESC",
-    "pr_template": "${{NUMBER}}",
-    "label_extractor": [
-        {
-          "pattern": ".*(dev|Bump).*",
-          "target": "$1",
-          "on_property": "title"
-        }
-      ],
-    "base_branches": ["main"]
+  "categories": [
+    {
+      "title": "",
+      "labels": [
+        "dev",
+        "Bump"
+      ]
+    }
+  ],
+  "ignore_labels": [],
+  "sort": "DESC",
+  "pr_template": "${{NUMBER}}",
+  "label_extractor": [
+    {
+      "pattern": ".*(dev|Bump).*",
+      "target": "$1",
+      "on_property": "title"
+    }
+  ],
+  "base_branches": [
+    "main"
+  ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/releaseNotes.ts b/src/releaseNotes.ts
index 4d4500b..c7d4d27 100755
--- a/src/releaseNotes.ts
+++ b/src/releaseNotes.ts
@@ -128,11 +128,12 @@ export class ReleaseNotes {
       return commmit.sha
     })
 
+    // retrieve base branches we allow
+    const baseBranches = configuration.base_branches || DefaultConfiguration.base_branches
+    const allBaseBranchesAllowed = baseBranches.length === 0
+
     // return only the pull requests associated with this release
     return pullRequests.filter(pr => {
-      const baseBranches = configuration.base_branches || DefaultConfiguration.base_branches
-      const allBaseBranchesAllowed = baseBranches.length === 0
-
       return releaseCommitHashes.includes(pr.mergeCommitSha)
         && (allBaseBranchesAllowed || baseBranches.includes(pr.baseBranch))
     })