diff --git a/docs-md/customization/exemptions.md b/docs-md/customization/exemptions.md
index 5f22420e..2f0095ec 100644
--- a/docs-md/customization/exemptions.md
+++ b/docs-md/customization/exemptions.md
@@ -21,21 +21,32 @@ kubectl annotate deployment my-deployment polaris.fairwinds.com/cpuRequestsMissi
 
 ## Config
 
-You can add exemptions by using a combination of namespace, controller names, and container names via the config. You have to specify a list of rules and at least one of the following: a namespace, a list of controller names, or a list of container names, e.g.
+To add exemptions via the config, you have to specify at least one or more of the following: 
+- A namespace
+- A list of controller names
+- A list of container names
+
+You can also specify a list of particular rules. If no rules are specified then every rule is exempted. 
+
+Controller names and container names are matched as a prefix, so an empty string will match every controller or container respectively.
+
+For example:
 ```yaml
 exemptions:
-  # exemption valid in kube-system namespace and dns-controller controller for all containers
+  # exemption valid for all rules on all containers in all controllers in default namespace
+  - namespace: default
+  # exemption valid for hostNetworkSet rule on all containers in dns-controller controller in kube-system namespace
   - namespace: kube-system
     controllerNames:
       - dns-controller
     rules:
       - hostNetworkSet
-  # exemption valid in all namespaces and dns-controller controller for all containers
+  # exemption valid for hostNetworkSet rule on all containers in dns-controller controller in all namespaces
   - controllerNames:
       - dns-controller
     rules:
       - hostNetworkSet
-  # exemption valid in kube-system namespace and all controllers for coredns container
+  # exemption valid for hostNetworkSet rule on coredns container in all controllers in kube-system namespace
   - namespace: kube-system
   - containerNames:
       - coredns
diff --git a/pkg/config/exemptions_test.go b/pkg/config/exemptions_test.go
index 82a0ad36..844a754c 100644
--- a/pkg/config/exemptions_test.go
+++ b/pkg/config/exemptions_test.go
@@ -65,9 +65,10 @@ exemptions:
     rules:
       - multipleReplicasForDeployment
       - priorityClassNotSet
+  - namespace: polaris
 `
 
-func TestNamespaceExemption(t *testing.T) {
+func TestNamespaceExemptionForSpecifiedRules(t *testing.T) {
 	parsedConf, err := Parse([]byte(confContainerTest))
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -83,10 +84,33 @@ func TestNamespaceExemption(t *testing.T) {
 	actionable = parsedConf.IsActionable("multipleReplicasForDeployment", "prometheus", "controller1", "")
 	assert.False(t, actionable)
 
+	actionable = parsedConf.IsActionable("pullPolicyNotAlways", "prometheus", "controller1", "")
+	assert.True(t, actionable)
+
 	actionable = parsedConf.IsActionable("multipleReplicasForDeployment", "kube-system", "", "")
 	assert.True(t, actionable)
 }
 
+func TestNamespaceExemptionForAllRules(t *testing.T) {
+	parsedConf, err := Parse([]byte(confContainerTest))
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	actionable := parsedConf.IsActionable("multipleReplicasForDeployment", "polaris", "", "")
+	assert.False(t, actionable)
+
+	actionable = parsedConf.IsActionable("multipleReplicasForDeployment", "polaris", "controller1", "container11")
+	assert.False(t, actionable)
+
+	actionable = parsedConf.IsActionable("multipleReplicasForDeployment", "polaris", "", "container11")
+	assert.False(t, actionable)
+
+	actionable = parsedConf.IsActionable("multipleReplicasForDeployment", "polaris", "controller1", "")
+	assert.False(t, actionable)
+
+	actionable = parsedConf.IsActionable("pullPolicyNotAlways", "polaris", "controller1", "")
+	assert.False(t, actionable)
+}
+
 func TestControllerExemption(t *testing.T) {
 	parsedConf, err := Parse([]byte(confContainerTest))
 	assert.NoError(t, err)