diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 0e5ca10a70..ff83d993e9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ on:
     branches:
       - '*'
 
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
 jobs:
   testsuite:
     runs-on: ubuntu-18.04
diff --git a/.github/workflows/stale.yml b/.github/workflows/stale.yml
index 855578c375..ebd280469c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/stale.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/stale.yml
@@ -4,9 +4,15 @@ on:
   schedule:
   - cron: "0 0 * * *"
 
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
 jobs:
   stale:
 
+    permissions:
+      issues: write  # for actions/stale to close stale issues
+      pull-requests: write  # for actions/stale to close stale PRs
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     
     steps: