diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8cff2e138..c5274ff83 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -899,7 +899,7 @@ export GITHUB_MCP_TOOL_ADD_ISSUE_COMMENT_DESCRIPTION="an alternative description
 
 - **get_file_contents** - Get file or directory contents
   - `owner`: Repository owner (username or organization) (string, required)
-  - `path`: Path to file/directory (directories must end with a slash '/') (string, required)
+  - `path`: Path to file/directory (directories must end with a slash '/') (string, optional)
   - `ref`: Accepts optional git refs such as `refs/tags/{tag}`, `refs/heads/{branch}` or `refs/pull/{pr_number}/head` (string, optional)
   - `repo`: Repository name (string, required)
   - `sha`: Accepts optional commit SHA. If specified, it will be used instead of ref (string, optional)
diff --git a/pkg/github/__toolsnaps__/get_file_contents.snap b/pkg/github/__toolsnaps__/get_file_contents.snap
index e550e8db8..53f5a29e5 100644
--- a/pkg/github/__toolsnaps__/get_file_contents.snap
+++ b/pkg/github/__toolsnaps__/get_file_contents.snap
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
         "type": "string"
       },
       "path": {
+        "default": "/",
         "description": "Path to file/directory (directories must end with a slash '/')",
         "type": "string"
       },
@@ -29,8 +30,7 @@
     },
     "required": [
       "owner",
-      "repo",
-      "path"
+      "repo"
     ],
     "type": "object"
   },
diff --git a/pkg/github/repositories.go b/pkg/github/repositories.go
index 732f20ab1..186bd2321 100644
--- a/pkg/github/repositories.go
+++ b/pkg/github/repositories.go
@@ -462,8 +462,8 @@ func GetFileContents(getClient GetClientFn, getRawClient raw.GetRawClientFn, t t
 				mcp.Description("Repository name"),
 			),
 			mcp.WithString("path",
-				mcp.Required(),
 				mcp.Description("Path to file/directory (directories must end with a slash '/')"),
+				mcp.DefaultString("/"),
 			),
 			mcp.WithString("ref",
 				mcp.Description("Accepts optional git refs such as `refs/tags/{tag}`, `refs/heads/{branch}` or `refs/pull/{pr_number}/head`"),
diff --git a/pkg/github/repositories_test.go b/pkg/github/repositories_test.go
index 0b9c5d9f9..4977bb0a9 100644
--- a/pkg/github/repositories_test.go
+++ b/pkg/github/repositories_test.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func Test_GetFileContents(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Contains(t, tool.InputSchema.Properties, "path")
 	assert.Contains(t, tool.InputSchema.Properties, "ref")
 	assert.Contains(t, tool.InputSchema.Properties, "sha")
-	assert.ElementsMatch(t, tool.InputSchema.Required, []string{"owner", "repo", "path"})
+	assert.ElementsMatch(t, tool.InputSchema.Required, []string{"owner", "repo"})
 
 	// Mock response for raw content
 	mockRawContent := []byte("# Test Repository\n\nThis is a test repository.")