diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 844d866..4a14ad5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 
 All notable changes to Rich Foot will be documented in this file.
 
+## [1.5.1] - 2024-10-31
+
+### Fixed
+- Fixed bug where excluded folders were not being saved correctly
+
 ## [1.5.0] - 2024-10-31
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/UPDATE.md b/UPDATE.md
index b094b72..3098edd 100644
--- a/UPDATE.md
+++ b/UPDATE.md
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 ## 🎉 What's New
 
+### v1.5.1
+- Fixed bug where excluded folders were not being saved correctly
+
 ### v1.5.0
 #### New Customization Options
 Rich Foot now offers extensive customization options for fine-tuning the appearance of your note footers:
diff --git a/example-vault.zip b/example-vault.zip
index 8b678b3..3905971 100644
Binary files a/example-vault.zip and b/example-vault.zip differ
diff --git a/example-vault/rich-foot-example/.obsidian/plugins/rich-foot/data.json b/example-vault/rich-foot-example/.obsidian/plugins/rich-foot/data.json
index ac5b39f..5a0a8fa 100644
--- a/example-vault/rich-foot-example/.obsidian/plugins/rich-foot/data.json
+++ b/example-vault/rich-foot-example/.obsidian/plugins/rich-foot/data.json
@@ -12,5 +12,5 @@
   "showBacklinks": true,
   "showOutlinks": true,
   "showDates": true,
-  "lastVersion": "1.4.0"
+  "lastVersion": "1.5.0"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/example-vault/rich-foot-example/.obsidian/plugins/rich-foot/main.js b/example-vault/rich-foot-example/.obsidian/plugins/rich-foot/main.js
index 1fb5bb0..ab8a977 100644
--- a/example-vault/rich-foot-example/.obsidian/plugins/rich-foot/main.js
+++ b/example-vault/rich-foot-example/.obsidian/plugins/rich-foot/main.js
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ var ReleaseNotesModal = class extends import_obsidian.Modal {
 };
 
 // virtual-module:virtual:release-notes
-var releaseNotes = "<h2>\u{1F389} What&#39;s New</h2>\n<h3>v1.5.0</h3>\n<h4>New Customization Options</h4>\n<p>Rich Foot now offers extensive customization options for fine-tuning the appearance of your note footers:</p>\n<h5>Border Controls</h5>\n<ul>\n<li>Adjustable border width (1-10px)</li>\n<li>Multiple border styles (solid, dashed, dotted, double, groove, ridge, inset, outset)</li>\n<li>Border opacity control (0-1)</li>\n</ul>\n<h5>Link Appearance</h5>\n<ul>\n<li>Customizable border radius for links (0-15px)</li>\n<li>Opacity control for backlinks and outlinks (0-1)</li>\n</ul>\n<h5>Date Display</h5>\n<ul>\n<li>Adjustable opacity for created/modified dates (0-1)</li>\n</ul>\n";
+var releaseNotes = "<h2>\u{1F389} What&#39;s New</h2>\n<h3>v1.5.1</h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Fixed bug where excluded folders were not being saved correctly</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>v1.5.0</h3>\n<h4>New Customization Options</h4>\n<p>Rich Foot now offers extensive customization options for fine-tuning the appearance of your note footers:</p>\n<h5>Border Controls</h5>\n<ul>\n<li>Adjustable border width (1-10px)</li>\n<li>Multiple border styles (solid, dashed, dotted, double, groove, ridge, inset, outset)</li>\n<li>Border opacity control (0-1)</li>\n</ul>\n<h5>Link Appearance</h5>\n<ul>\n<li>Customizable border radius for links (0-15px)</li>\n<li>Opacity control for backlinks and outlinks (0-1)</li>\n</ul>\n<h5>Date Display</h5>\n<ul>\n<li>Adjustable opacity for created/modified dates (0-1)</li>\n</ul>\n";
 
 // src/main.js
 var DEFAULT_SETTINGS = {
@@ -88,7 +88,8 @@ var DEFAULT_SETTINGS = {
   borderRadius: 15,
   datesOpacity: 1,
   linksOpacity: 1,
-  showReleaseNotes: true
+  showReleaseNotes: true,
+  excludedFolders: []
 };
 var RichFootPlugin = class extends import_obsidian2.Plugin {
   async onload() {
@@ -120,7 +121,11 @@ var RichFootPlugin = class extends import_obsidian2.Plugin {
     this.contentObserver = new MutationObserver(this.updateRichFoot);
   }
   async loadSettings() {
-    this.settings = Object.assign({}, DEFAULT_SETTINGS, await this.loadData());
+    const loadedData = await this.loadData();
+    this.settings = Object.assign({}, DEFAULT_SETTINGS, loadedData);
+    if (!Array.isArray(this.settings.excludedFolders)) {
+      this.settings.excludedFolders = [];
+    }
   }
   async saveSettings() {
     await this.saveData(this.settings);
@@ -315,6 +320,10 @@ var RichFootPlugin = class extends import_obsidian2.Plugin {
   }
   // Add this method to check if a file should be excluded
   shouldExcludeFile(filePath) {
+    var _a;
+    if (!((_a = this.settings) == null ? void 0 : _a.excludedFolders)) {
+      return false;
+    }
     return this.settings.excludedFolders.some((folder) => filePath.startsWith(folder));
   }
 };
@@ -324,6 +333,7 @@ var RichFootSettingTab = class extends import_obsidian2.PluginSettingTab {
     this.plugin = plugin;
   }
   display() {
+    var _a;
     let { containerEl } = this;
     containerEl.empty();
     containerEl.addClass("rich-foot-settings");
@@ -334,19 +344,21 @@ var RichFootSettingTab = class extends import_obsidian2.PluginSettingTab {
       cls: "setting-item-description"
     });
     const excludedFoldersContainer = containerEl.createDiv("excluded-folders-container");
-    this.plugin.settings.excludedFolders.forEach((folder, index) => {
-      const folderDiv = excludedFoldersContainer.createDiv("excluded-folder-item");
-      folderDiv.createSpan({ text: folder });
-      const deleteButton = folderDiv.createEl("button", {
-        text: "Delete",
-        cls: "excluded-folder-delete"
+    if ((_a = this.plugin.settings) == null ? void 0 : _a.excludedFolders) {
+      this.plugin.settings.excludedFolders.forEach((folder, index) => {
+        const folderDiv = excludedFoldersContainer.createDiv("excluded-folder-item");
+        folderDiv.createSpan({ text: folder });
+        const deleteButton = folderDiv.createEl("button", {
+          text: "Delete",
+          cls: "excluded-folder-delete"
+        });
+        deleteButton.addEventListener("click", async () => {
+          this.plugin.settings.excludedFolders.splice(index, 1);
+          await this.plugin.saveSettings();
+          this.display();
+        });
       });
-      deleteButton.addEventListener("click", async () => {
-        this.plugin.settings.excludedFolders.splice(index, 1);
-        await this.plugin.saveSettings();
-        this.display();
-      });
-    });
+    }
     const newFolderSetting = new import_obsidian2.Setting(containerEl).setName("Add excluded folder").setDesc("Enter a folder path or browse to select").addText((text) => text.setPlaceholder("folder/subfolder").onChange(() => {
     })).addButton((button) => button.setButtonText("Browse").onClick(async () => {
       const folder = await this.browseForFolder();
diff --git a/example-vault/rich-foot-example/.obsidian/plugins/rich-foot/manifest.json b/example-vault/rich-foot-example/.obsidian/plugins/rich-foot/manifest.json
index 387ea66..5706193 100644
--- a/example-vault/rich-foot-example/.obsidian/plugins/rich-foot/manifest.json
+++ b/example-vault/rich-foot-example/.obsidian/plugins/rich-foot/manifest.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
     "id": "rich-foot",
     "name": "Rich Foot",
-    "version": "1.5.0",
+    "version": "1.5.1",
     "minAppVersion": "1.6.0",
     "description": "Adds backlink tags and created/modified dates to the footer of your notes.",
     "author": "Justin Parker",
diff --git a/example-vault/rich-foot-example/.obsidian/workspace.json b/example-vault/rich-foot-example/.obsidian/workspace.json
index 73b9083..2bb88c6 100644
--- a/example-vault/rich-foot-example/.obsidian/workspace.json
+++ b/example-vault/rich-foot-example/.obsidian/workspace.json
@@ -166,12 +166,12 @@
   "active": "e2b1b7584f7a474c",
   "lastOpenFiles": [
     "backlink test.md",
+    "exclude/no rich-feet here.md",
+    "exclude/me too/no rich-feet here either.md",
     "🦶 Rich Foot.md",
     "images/rich-feet-3.jpg",
     "images/rich-feet.jpg",
     "images/rich-feet-2.jpg",
-    "exclude/me too/no rich-feet here either.md",
-    "exclude/no rich-feet here.md",
     "images",
     "exclude/me too",
     "exclude",
diff --git a/manifest.json b/manifest.json
index 387ea66..5706193 100644
--- a/manifest.json
+++ b/manifest.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
     "id": "rich-foot",
     "name": "Rich Foot",
-    "version": "1.5.0",
+    "version": "1.5.1",
     "minAppVersion": "1.6.0",
     "description": "Adds backlink tags and created/modified dates to the footer of your notes.",
     "author": "Justin Parker",
diff --git a/src/main.js b/src/main.js
index ca650ca..ed3aa8d 100644
--- a/src/main.js
+++ b/src/main.js
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ const DEFAULT_SETTINGS = {
     borderRadius: 15,
     datesOpacity: 1,
     linksOpacity: 1,
-    showReleaseNotes: true
+    showReleaseNotes: true,
+    excludedFolders: []
 };
 
 class RichFootSettings {
@@ -74,7 +75,13 @@ class RichFootPlugin extends Plugin {
     }
 
     async loadSettings() {
-        this.settings = Object.assign({}, DEFAULT_SETTINGS, await this.loadData());
+        const loadedData = await this.loadData();
+        this.settings = Object.assign({}, DEFAULT_SETTINGS, loadedData);
+        
+        // Ensure excludedFolders is always an array
+        if (!Array.isArray(this.settings.excludedFolders)) {
+            this.settings.excludedFolders = [];
+        }
     }
 
     async saveSettings() {
@@ -325,6 +332,9 @@ class RichFootPlugin extends Plugin {
 
     // Add this method to check if a file should be excluded
     shouldExcludeFile(filePath) {
+        if (!this.settings?.excludedFolders) {
+            return false;
+        }
         return this.settings.excludedFolders.some(folder => filePath.startsWith(folder));
     }
 }
@@ -353,21 +363,23 @@ class RichFootSettingTab extends PluginSettingTab {
         const excludedFoldersContainer = containerEl.createDiv('excluded-folders-container');
         
         // Display current excluded folders
-        this.plugin.settings.excludedFolders.forEach((folder, index) => {
-            const folderDiv = excludedFoldersContainer.createDiv('excluded-folder-item');
-            folderDiv.createSpan({ text: folder });
-            
-            const deleteButton = folderDiv.createEl('button', {
-                text: 'Delete',
-                cls: 'excluded-folder-delete'
-            });
-            
-            deleteButton.addEventListener('click', async () => {
-                this.plugin.settings.excludedFolders.splice(index, 1);
-                await this.plugin.saveSettings();
-                this.display(); // Refresh the display
+        if (this.plugin.settings?.excludedFolders) {
+            this.plugin.settings.excludedFolders.forEach((folder, index) => {
+                const folderDiv = excludedFoldersContainer.createDiv('excluded-folder-item');
+                folderDiv.createSpan({ text: folder });
+                
+                const deleteButton = folderDiv.createEl('button', {
+                    text: 'Delete',
+                    cls: 'excluded-folder-delete'
+                });
+                
+                deleteButton.addEventListener('click', async () => {
+                    this.plugin.settings.excludedFolders.splice(index, 1);
+                    await this.plugin.saveSettings();
+                    this.display();
+                });
             });
-        });
+        }
 
         // Add new folder section
         const newFolderSetting = new Setting(containerEl)