diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index e43b815772f..8638fd16ae8 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ RUN easy-add --var os=${TARGETOS} --var arch=${TARGETARCH}${TARGETVARIANT} \
   --var version=0.1.1 --var app=maven-metadata-release --file {{.app}} \
   --from https://github.com/itzg/{{.app}}/releases/download/{{.version}}/{{.app}}_{{.version}}_{{.os}}_{{.arch}}.tar.gz
 
-ARG MC_HELPER_VERSION=1.24.8
+ARG MC_HELPER_VERSION=1.24.9
 ARG MC_HELPER_BASE_URL=https://github.com/itzg/mc-image-helper/releases/download/${MC_HELPER_VERSION}
 RUN curl -fsSL ${MC_HELPER_BASE_URL}/mc-image-helper-${MC_HELPER_VERSION}.tgz \
   | tar -C /usr/share -zxf - \
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ COPY --chmod=755 scripts/start* /
 COPY --chmod=755 bin/ /usr/local/bin/
 COPY --chmod=755 bin/mc-health /health.sh
 COPY --chmod=644 files/log4j2.xml /image/log4j2.xml
+COPY --chmod=644 files/cf-exclude-include.json /image/cf-exclude-include.json
 COPY --chmod=755 files/auto /auto
 
 RUN dos2unix /start* /auto/*
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index aafec5536e6..590abfb09df 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -651,11 +651,18 @@ The following two examples both refer to version 1.0.7 of ATM8:
 -e TYPE=AUTO_CURSEFORGE -e CF_SLUG=all-the-mods-8 -e CF_FILENAME_MATCHER=1.0.7
 ```
 
-If there are mods that need to be excluded, such as ones that did not properly declare as a client mod via the file's game versions, then they can be excluded by passing a comma or space delimited list of project IDs via `CF_EXCLUDE_MODS`. Similarly, there are some mods that are incorrectly tagged as client only. For those, pass the project IDs via `CF_FORCE_INCLUDE_MODS`. Known, mis-tagged mods have been included in the defaults.
+A lot of the time there are mods that need to be excluded, such as ones that did not properly declare as a client mod via the file's game versions. Similarly, there are some mods that are incorrectly tagged as client only. The following describes two options to exclude/include mods:
+
+Global and per modpack exclusions can be declared in a JSON file and referenced with `CF_EXCLUDE_INCLUDE_FILE`. By default, [the file bundled with the image](files/cf-exclude-include.json) will be used. The schema of this file [is documented here](https://github.com/itzg/mc-image-helper#excludeinclude-file-schema).
+
+Alternatively, they can be excluded by passing a comma or space delimited list of **project** slugs or IDs via `CF_EXCLUDE_MODS`. Similarly, there are some mods that are incorrectly tagged as client only. For those, pass the **project** slugs or IDs via `CF_FORCE_INCLUDE_MODS`. If either of these are set, then `CF_EXCLUDE_INCLUDE_FILE` will be **disabled**.
+
+If needing to iterate on the options above, set `CF_FORCE_SYNCHRONIZE` to "true" to ensure the exclude/includes are re-evaluated.
+
+> **NOTE:** these options are provided to empower you get your server up and running quickly. Please help out by reporting an issue with the respective mod project. Ideally mod developers should [use correct registrations for one-sided client mods](https://docs.minecraftforge.net/en/latest/concepts/sides/#writing-one-sided-mods). Understandably, those code changes may be non-trivial, so mod authors can also add "Client" to the game versions when publishing.
 
 Other configuration available:
 - `CF_PARALLEL_DOWNLOADS` (default is 4): specify how many parallel mod downloads to perform
-- `CF_FORCE_SYNCHRONIZE`: set to "true" to force the inputs and exclusions to be re-evaluated
 
 ### Old approach
 
diff --git a/files/cf-exclude-include.json b/files/cf-exclude-include.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..62ad8e64f33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files/cf-exclude-include.json
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+{
+  "globalExcludes": [
+    "oculus",
+    "extreme-sound-muffler",
+    "entityculling",
+    "rubidium",
+    "nekos-enchanted-books",
+    "skin-layers-3d",
+    "not-enough-animations",
+    "entity-texture-features-fabric",
+    "carry-on",
+    "ignitioncoil",
+    "defensive-measures"
+  ],
+  "globalForceIncludes": [
+    "revelationary"
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/start-deployAutoCF b/scripts/start-deployAutoCF
index da85aa5e049..135e6429e54 100644
--- a/scripts/start-deployAutoCF
+++ b/scripts/start-deployAutoCF
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ set -eu
 : "${CF_FILENAME_MATCHER:=}"
 : "${CF_PARALLEL_DOWNLOADS:=4}"
 : "${CF_FORCE_SYNCHRONIZE:=false}"
+: "${CF_EXCLUDE_INCLUDE_FILE:=/image/cf-exclude-include.json}"
+: "${CF_EXCLUDE_MODS:=}"
+: "${CF_FORCE_INCLUDE_MODS:=}"
 
 resultsFile=/data/.install-curseforge.env
 
@@ -35,27 +38,18 @@ args+=(
   --force-synchronize="$CF_FORCE_SYNCHRONIZE"
 )
 
-defaultModExcludes=(
-  581495 # oculus
-  363363 # extreme-sound-muffler
-  448233 # entityculling
-  574856 # rubidium
-  441114 # nekos-enchanted-books
-  521480 # skin-layers-3d
-  433760 # not-enough-animations
-  568563 # entity-texture-features-fabric
-  274259 # carry-on
-  787666 # ignitioncoil, not a client mod, but doesn't seem to play nice with server mode
-  700629 # defensive-measures
-  )
-: "${CF_EXCLUDE_MODS:=${defaultModExcludes[@]}}"
-args+=(--exclude-mods="$CF_EXCLUDE_MODS")
-
-defaultModForceIncludes=(
-  656526 # revelationary
-)
-: "${CF_FORCE_INCLUDE_MODS:=${defaultModForceIncludes[@]}}"
-args+=(--force-include-mods="$CF_FORCE_INCLUDE_MODS")
+if [[ $CF_EXCLUDE_MODS || $CF_FORCE_INCLUDE_MODS ]]; then
+  if [[ $CF_EXCLUDE_MODS ]]; then
+    args+=( --exclude-mods="$CF_EXCLUDE_MODS" )
+  fi
+  if [[ $CF_FORCE_INCLUDE_MODS ]]; then
+    args+=( --force-include-mods="$CF_FORCE_INCLUDE_MODS" )
+  fi
+else
+  if [[ $CF_EXCLUDE_INCLUDE_FILE ]]; then
+    args+=( --exclude-include-file="$CF_EXCLUDE_INCLUDE_FILE" )
+  fi
+fi
 
 if ! mc-image-helper install-curseforge "${args[@]}"; then
     log "ERROR failed to auto-install CurseForge modpack"