diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/test.yaml b/.gitea/workflows/test.yaml
index 36301a8..8b10982 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/test.yaml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/test.yaml
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         env:
           GO_INSTALL_COMMANDS: code.jakeyoungdev.com/jake/mctl@v0.3.4
-          GO_INSTALL_ARCH: amd64
         run: |
           chmod +x install.sh
           ./install.sh
@@ -28,4 +27,18 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: "check go installed command"
         shell: bash
-        run: mctl -v | grep "mctl version v0.3.4"
\ No newline at end of file
+        run: mctl -v | grep "mctl version v0.3.4"
+
+      - name: "remove go"
+        shell: bash
+        env:
+          GO_INSTALL_COMMANDS: code.jakeyoungdev.com/jake/mctl@v0.3.4
+          GO_INSTALL_PURGE: yes
+          GO_INSTALL_VERSION: 1.23.2
+        run: |
+          rm go.mod
+          ./install.sh
+
+      - name: "check go version"
+        shell: bash
+        run: go version | grep "go version go1.23.2 linux/amd64"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 60f987b..6ce8a1d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -14,15 +14,16 @@ Use a tagged release to avoid unexpected changes that may come to the master bra
 ```
 
 #### Go verions
-Go version is determined using the go.mod file in the root of working directory. Go files are pulled directly from the go download [site](https://go.dev/dl/) and all go commands are installed using 'go install' after setup. If a Go version is already present the 'purge' input must be set to 'yes' to avoid errors.
+The Go version installed is determined by the version specified in the go.mod file. If not mod file is present the 'version' input is used. Go files are pulled directly from the Go download [site](https://go.dev/dl/) and all go commands are installed using 'go install' after setup. If a different version of Go is already installed the 'purge' input must be set to 'yes' to remove it and avoid errors.
+
 #### Inputs
 Some inputs are available to customize the installation
 |Input|Required|Values|Default|Description|
 |---|---|---|---|---|
-|arch|no|any arch for Go|amd64|system architecture for golang
-|purge|no|yes/no|no|remove any golang files found on system before install
+|arch|no|any arch for Go|amd64|system architecture for go
+|purge|no|yes/no|no|remove any go files found on system before install
 |commands|no|any public go repositories|.|links to any commands to be installed using 'go install'
-
+|version|no|any go version|.|the go version to use if no mod file is present
 
 ## Issues
 This repo is a as brain-dead as I could make it and is intended to be as fast and low-level as possible. Please open an issue for any problems or suggestions.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/action.yaml b/action.yaml
index dbe0be6..2e58758 100644
--- a/action.yaml
+++ b/action.yaml
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ inputs:
     description: "Optional, any commands to be installed with 'go install', must include version"
     required: false
     default: "."
+  version:
+    description: "Optional, the Go version to install if no go.mod file is present"
+    required: false
+    default: "."
 runs:
   using: composite
   steps:
@@ -22,4 +26,5 @@ runs:
       env:
         GO_INSTALL_COMMANDS: ${{ inputs.commands }}
         GO_INSTALL_ARCH: ${{ inputs.arch }}
-        GO_INSTALL_PURGE: ${{ inputs.purge }}
\ No newline at end of file
+        GO_INSTALL_PURGE: ${{ inputs.purge }}
+        GO_INSTALL_VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index 20ab819..3895f37 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -27,8 +27,13 @@ echo "Parsing go version"
 # -P uses perl syntax
 DL_VERSION_RAW="$(grep "^go [0-9]+.[0-9]+" go.mod -P)"
 if [[ -z "$DL_VERSION_RAW" ]]; then
-  echo "FATAL: Unable to pull version from go.mod"
-  exit 1
+  #no go.mod file found
+  DL_VERSION_RAW=$GO_INSTALL_VERSION
+  #no version input set either
+  if [[ "$DL_VERSION_RAW" == "." ]]; then
+    echo "FATAL: No Go version found, set version input if no go.mod file is present"
+    exit 1
+  fi
 fi
 echo "Found go version: ${DL_VERSION_RAW}"