diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 54df1fe..8f93cf0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -53,6 +53,20 @@ jobs:
         npm run verify:installed ytt kbld
         npm run verify:not:installed kapp kwt imgpkg vendir
 
+  test-e2e-exclude-apps:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v1
+    - uses: ./
+      with:
+        exclude: kwt, vendir
+        token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+    - run: npm install
+    - name: check specific apps are installed
+      run: |
+        npm run verify:installed ytt kbld kapp imgpkg
+        npm run verify:not:installed kwt vendir
+
   test-e2e-specific-version:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2935fbf..f4a3604 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -43,6 +43,18 @@ steps:
     kbld version
 ```
 
+To exclude specific apps:
+
+```yaml
+steps:
+- uses: vmware-tanzu/carvel-setup-action@v1
+  with:
+    exclude: kwt, vendir
+- run: |
+    ytt version
+    kbld version
+```
+
 To use a specific version of an app:
 
 ```yaml
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index 3d43317..f693367 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ inputs:
     description: List apps to download if you don't need all
     required: false
     default: ""
+  exclude:
+    description: List apps to exclude if you want most but not all
+    required: false
+    default: ""
   ytt:
     description: ytt version
     required: false
diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index 88666de..6acb5b1 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -15147,7 +15147,7 @@ class Inputs {
         this._env = env;
     }
     getAppsToDownload() {
-        const apps = this.parseAppsList();
+        const apps = this.includeAppsList();
         if (apps.length == 0) {
             // if no options specified, download all
             apps.push(...this.getAllApps());
@@ -15167,9 +15167,18 @@ class Inputs {
         }
         return exports.carvelApps;
     }
-    parseAppsList() {
+    includeAppsList() {
+        const apps = this.parseAppList('only');
+        if (apps.length == 0) {
+            // if no `only` option specified, include all by default
+            apps.push(...this.getAllApps());
+        }
+        const excludeApps = this.parseAppList('exclude');
+        return apps.filter(appName => !excludeApps.includes(appName));
+    }
+    parseAppList(input) {
         return this._core
-            .getInput('only')
+            .getInput(input)
             .split(',')
             .map((appName) => appName.trim())
             .filter((appName) => appName != '');
diff --git a/src/inputs.ts b/src/inputs.ts
index 736b9fe..3b7120e 100644
--- a/src/inputs.ts
+++ b/src/inputs.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ export class Inputs {
   }
 
   public getAppsToDownload(): AppInfo[] {
-    const apps = this.parseAppsList()
+    const apps = this.includeAppsList()
 
     if (apps.length == 0) {
       // if no options specified, download all
@@ -39,9 +39,22 @@ export class Inputs {
     return carvelApps
   }
 
-  private parseAppsList(): string[] {
+  private includeAppsList(): string[] {
+    const apps = this.parseAppList('only')
+
+    if (apps.length == 0) {
+      // if no `only` option specified, include all by default
+      apps.push(...this.getAllApps())
+    }
+
+    const excludeApps = this.parseAppList('exclude')
+
+    return apps.filter(appName => !excludeApps.includes(appName))
+  }
+
+  private parseAppList(input: string): string[] {
     return this._core
-      .getInput('only')
+      .getInput(input)
       .split(',')
       .map((appName: string) => appName.trim())
       .filter((appName: string) => appName != '')
diff --git a/test/unit/inputs.test.ts b/test/unit/inputs.test.ts
index e430a23..e94e986 100644
--- a/test/unit/inputs.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/inputs.test.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ describe('Inputs', () => {
   function createInputs(platform: string, inputs: {[key: string]: string} = {}): Inputs {
     const core = mock<ActionsCore>()
     core.getInput.calledWith('only').mockReturnValue(inputs.only || '')
+    core.getInput.calledWith('exclude').mockReturnValue(inputs.exclude || '')
     for (let appName of carvelApps) {
       core.getInput.calledWith(appName).mockReturnValue(inputs[appName] || 'latest')
     }
@@ -57,6 +58,17 @@ describe('Inputs', () => {
       ])
     })
 
+    test('limits apps to "only" list', () => {
+      const inputs = createInputs("linux", { only: "ytt, kbld" })
+    
+      const apps = inputs.getAppsToDownload()
+    
+      expect(apps).toEqual([
+        { name: "ytt", "version": "latest" },
+        { name: "kbld", "version": "latest" }
+      ])
+    })
+
     test('allows for app list override', () => {
       const inputs = createInputs("linux", { only: "ytt, kbld", ytt: "0.28.0" })
     
@@ -68,6 +80,19 @@ describe('Inputs', () => {
       ])
     })
 
+    test('excludes apps from "exclude" list', () => {
+      const inputs = createInputs("linux", { exclude: "ytt, kwt", kapp: "0.34.0" })
+    
+      const apps = inputs.getAppsToDownload()
+    
+      expect(apps).toEqual([
+        { name: "kbld", "version": "latest" },
+        { name: "kapp", "version": "0.34.0" },
+        { name: "imgpkg", "version": "latest" },
+        { name: "vendir", "version": "latest" }
+      ])
+    })
+
     test('validates app names', () => {
       const inputs = createInputs("linux", { only: "ytt, kbl" })    
       expect(() => inputs.getAppsToDownload()).toThrowError("Unknown app: kbl")