diff --git a/empack/file_patterns.py b/empack/file_patterns.py
index 53b0ea9..744eac0 100644
--- a/empack/file_patterns.py
+++ b/empack/file_patterns.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ def match(self, path):
 
 
 class FileFilter:
-    def __init__(self, include_patterns=None, exclude_patterns=None):
+    def __init__(self, exclude_patterns=None):
         def patter_from_dict(**d):
             if "pattern" in d:
                 return UnixPattern(**d)
@@ -35,11 +35,10 @@ def patter_from_dict(**d):
         self.exclude_patterns = [patter_from_dict(**p) for p in exclude_patterns]
 
     def match(self, path):
-        include = True
         for ep in self.exclude_patterns:
             if ep.match(path):
                 return False
-        return include
+        return True
 
 
 class PkgFileFilter:
@@ -57,10 +56,8 @@ def __init__(self, packages=None, default=None):
             if isinstance(v, dict):
                 exclude_patterns = default_exclude_patterns
                 if "exclude_patterns" in v:
-                    exclude_patterns = exclude_patterns + default_exclude_patterns
+                    exclude_patterns = exclude_patterns + v["exclude_patterns"]
                 self.packages[k] = FileFilter(exclude_patterns=exclude_patterns)
-            elif isinstance(v, list):
-                self.packages[k] = [FileFilter(**x) for x in v]
             else:
                 err = f"invalid value for package {k}: {v}"
                 raise ValueError(err)