diff --git a/integrationTests/basic/jwt_auth.test.js b/integrationTests/basic/jwt_auth.test.js
index c761bd4..423758d 100644
--- a/integrationTests/basic/jwt_auth.test.js
+++ b/integrationTests/basic/jwt_auth.test.js
@@ -233,6 +233,15 @@ describe('jwt auth', () => {
             expect(core.exportVariable).toBeCalledWith('SECRET', 'SUPERSECRET');
         })
 
+        it('successfully authenticates as default role without specifying it', async () => {
+            when(core.getInput)
+                .calledWith('role')
+                .mockReturnValueOnce(null);
+
+            await exportSecrets();
+            expect(core.exportVariable).toBeCalledWith('SECRET', 'SUPERSECRET');
+        })
+
     });
 
 });
diff --git a/src/auth.js b/src/auth.js
index ba89eeb..5e9cb20 100644
--- a/src/auth.js
+++ b/src/auth.js
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ async function retrieveToken(method, client) {
         case 'jwt': {
             /** @type {string} */
             let jwt;
-            const role = core.getInput('role', { required: true });
+            const role = core.getInput('role', { required: false });
             const privateKeyRaw = core.getInput('jwtPrivateKey', { required: false });
             const privateKey = Buffer.from(privateKeyRaw, 'base64').toString();
             const keyPassword = core.getInput('jwtKeyPassword', { required: false });