diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7c7d9d6..00bc9c2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ jobs:
   buf:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: bufbuild/buf-action@v1
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.BUF_TOKEN }}
@@ -159,7 +158,6 @@ jobs:
   buf:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: bufbuild/buf-action@v1
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.BUF_TOKEN }}
@@ -169,25 +167,17 @@ jobs:
 ### Specify the input directory
 
 To run the action for parameters not declared at the root of the repository,
-set the parameter `input` to the directory of your `buf.yaml` file.
+set the parameter `input` and `breaking_against` to include a subdir to the path
+of your `buf.yaml` file. These parameters are configured as a base input ref.
 
 ```yaml
 - uses: bufbuild/buf-action@v1
   with:
-    input: <path/to/module>
-```
-
-Breaking change detection by default will use the `input` value as a subdirectory for the breaking against value.
-To customize this behavior, set the parameter `breaking_against` to the desired input.
-
-```yaml
-- uses: bufbuild/buf-action@v1
-  with:
-    input: <path/to/module>
+    input: ${{ github.event.repository.clone_url }}#format=git,commit=${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }},subdir=<path/to/module>
     breaking_against: ${{ github.event.repository.clone_url }}#format=git,commit=${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }},subdir=<path/to/module>
 ```
 
-Alternatively, you can checkout the base for the breaking comparison to a local folder
+Alternatively, you can checkout the head and base to a local folder
 and then set the value of `breaking_against` to the path of the base.
 
 ```yaml
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index 3566fad..940dc46 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ inputs:
     description: |-
       Input for the buf command.
     required: false
+    default: ${{ github.event.repository.clone_url }}#format=git,commit=${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha || github.event.head }}
   paths:
     description: |-
       Limit to specific files or directories (separated by newlines).
@@ -112,6 +113,7 @@ inputs:
       Input to compare against for breaking change detection.
       Defaults to the base branch of the pull request or the commit before the push.
     required: false
+    default: ${{ github.event.repository.clone_url }}#format=git,commit=${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha || github.event.before }}
 
   push:
     description: |-
diff --git a/examples/disable-skip/buf-ci.yaml b/examples/disable-skip/buf-ci.yaml
index 65ea635..d041023 100644
--- a/examples/disable-skip/buf-ci.yaml
+++ b/examples/disable-skip/buf-ci.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ jobs:
   buf:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: bufbuild/buf-action@v1
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.BUF_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/examples/only-checks/buf-ci.yaml b/examples/only-checks/buf-ci.yaml
index 58dea69..3157337 100644
--- a/examples/only-checks/buf-ci.yaml
+++ b/examples/only-checks/buf-ci.yaml
@@ -10,5 +10,4 @@ jobs:
   buf:      
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: bufbuild/buf-action@v1
diff --git a/examples/only-sync/buf-ci.yaml b/examples/only-sync/buf-ci.yaml
index 3b6a9d4..99d5973 100644
--- a/examples/only-sync/buf-ci.yaml
+++ b/examples/only-sync/buf-ci.yaml
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ jobs:
   buf:      
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: bufbuild/buf-action@v1
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.BUF_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/examples/push-on-changes/buf-ci.yaml b/examples/push-on-changes/buf-ci.yaml
index c4e48bc..f1febb9 100644
--- a/examples/push-on-changes/buf-ci.yaml
+++ b/examples/push-on-changes/buf-ci.yaml
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ jobs:
   buf:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: bufbuild/buf-action@v1
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.BUF_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/examples/skip-on-commits/buf-ci.yaml b/examples/skip-on-commits/buf-ci.yaml
index b7582b7..b451672 100644
--- a/examples/skip-on-commits/buf-ci.yaml
+++ b/examples/skip-on-commits/buf-ci.yaml
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ jobs:
   buf:      
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: bufbuild/buf-action@v1
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.BUF_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/examples/skip-on-labels/buf-ci.yaml b/examples/skip-on-labels/buf-ci.yaml
index 37637a8..4d86d8e 100644
--- a/examples/skip-on-labels/buf-ci.yaml
+++ b/examples/skip-on-labels/buf-ci.yaml
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ jobs:
   buf:      
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: bufbuild/buf-action@v1
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.BUF_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/examples/validate-push/buf-ci.yaml b/examples/validate-push/buf-ci.yaml
index 6f8dcff..ade310d 100644
--- a/examples/validate-push/buf-ci.yaml
+++ b/examples/validate-push/buf-ci.yaml
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ jobs:
   buf:      
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: bufbuild/buf-action@v1
         with:
           # The token paramater is required to authenticate with the Buf Schema Registry.
diff --git a/examples/version-env/buf-ci.yaml b/examples/version-env/buf-ci.yaml
index 494d832..ef142ef 100644
--- a/examples/version-env/buf-ci.yaml
+++ b/examples/version-env/buf-ci.yaml
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ jobs:
   buf:      
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: bufbuild/buf-action@v1
         with:
           setup_only: true
diff --git a/examples/version-input/buf-ci.yaml b/examples/version-input/buf-ci.yaml
index b856475..f821296 100644
--- a/examples/version-input/buf-ci.yaml
+++ b/examples/version-input/buf-ci.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ jobs:
   buf:      
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: bufbuild/buf-action@v1
         with:
           setup_only: true
diff --git a/examples/version-latest/buf-ci.yaml b/examples/version-latest/buf-ci.yaml
index ce8b724..eb19830 100644
--- a/examples/version-latest/buf-ci.yaml
+++ b/examples/version-latest/buf-ci.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ jobs:
   buf:      
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: bufbuild/buf-action@v1
         with:
           setup_only: true