diff --git a/rpminspect.yaml b/rpminspect.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eece100
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rpminspect.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+---
+inspections:
+    # see RHEL-12233
+    unicode:
+        exclude: ext/json/tests
+    # tracked as #1988529 php disables LTO in RHEL 9
+    lto: off
+
+emptyrpm:
+    # metapackage
+    expected_empty:
+        - php
+