diff --git a/pkg/model/workflow.go b/pkg/model/workflow.go
index 7fbecd6c537..b8a39f19143 100644
--- a/pkg/model/workflow.go
+++ b/pkg/model/workflow.go
@@ -116,10 +116,10 @@ func (w *Workflow) WorkflowDispatchConfig() *WorkflowDispatch {
 }
 
 type WorkflowCallInput struct {
-	Description string `yaml:"description"`
-	Required    bool   `yaml:"required"`
-	Default     string `yaml:"default"`
-	Type        string `yaml:"type"`
+	Description string    `yaml:"description"`
+	Required    bool      `yaml:"required"`
+	Default     yaml.Node `yaml:"default"`
+	Type        string    `yaml:"type"`
 }
 
 type WorkflowCallOutput struct {
diff --git a/pkg/runner/expression.go b/pkg/runner/expression.go
index 2e3152b0993..dca35380d60 100644
--- a/pkg/runner/expression.go
+++ b/pkg/runner/expression.go
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ func getEvaluatorInputs(ctx context.Context, rc *RunContext, step step, ghc *mod
 			for k, v := range config.Inputs {
 				value := nestedMapLookup(ghc.Event, "inputs", k)
 				if value == nil {
-					value = v.Default
+					v.Default.Decode(&value)
 				}
 				if v.Type == "boolean" {
 					inputs[k] = value == "true"
@@ -531,21 +531,24 @@ func setupWorkflowInputs(ctx context.Context, inputs *map[string]interface{}, rc
 
 		for name, input := range config.Inputs {
 			value := rc.caller.runContext.Run.Job().With[name]
+
 			if value != nil {
-				if str, ok := value.(string); ok {
+				node := yaml.Node{}
+				_ = node.Encode(value)
+				if rc.caller.runContext.ExprEval != nil {
 					// evaluate using the calling RunContext (outside)
-					value = rc.caller.runContext.ExprEval.Interpolate(ctx, str)
+					_ = rc.caller.runContext.ExprEval.EvaluateYamlNode(ctx, &node)
 				}
+				_ = node.Decode(&value)
 			}
 
 			if value == nil && config != nil && config.Inputs != nil {
-				value = input.Default
+				def := input.Default
 				if rc.ExprEval != nil {
-					if str, ok := value.(string); ok {
-						// evaluate using the called RunContext (inside)
-						value = rc.ExprEval.Interpolate(ctx, str)
-					}
+					// evaluate using the called RunContext (inside)
+					_ = rc.ExprEval.EvaluateYamlNode(ctx, &def)
 				}
+				_ = def.Decode(&value)
 			}
 
 			(*inputs)[name] = value
diff --git a/pkg/runner/testdata/.github/workflows/local-reusable-workflow.yml b/pkg/runner/testdata/.github/workflows/local-reusable-workflow.yml
index d32dc5b8ea4..2befe5f35f6 100644
--- a/pkg/runner/testdata/.github/workflows/local-reusable-workflow.yml
+++ b/pkg/runner/testdata/.github/workflows/local-reusable-workflow.yml
@@ -45,23 +45,23 @@ jobs:
 
     - name: test required bool
       run: |
-        echo inputs.bool_required=${{ inputs.bool_required }}
-        [[ "${{ inputs.bool_required }}" = "true" ]] || exit 1
+        echo inputs.bool_required=${{ tojson(inputs.bool_required) }}
+        [[ "${{ tojson(inputs.bool_required) }}" = "true" ]] || exit 1
 
     - name: test optional bool
       run: |
-        echo inputs.bool_optional=${{ inputs.bool_optional }}
-        [[ "${{ inputs.bool_optional }}" = "true" ]] || exit 1
+        echo inputs.bool_optional=${{ tojson(inputs.bool_optional) }}
+        [[ "${{ tojson(inputs.bool_optional) }}" = "true" ]] || exit 1
 
     - name: test required number
       run: |
-        echo inputs.number_required=${{ inputs.number_required }}
-        [[ "${{ inputs.number_required == 1 }}" = "true" ]] || exit 1
+        echo inputs.number_required=${{ tojson(inputs.number_required) }}
+        [[ "${{ tojson(inputs.number_required) == '1' }}" = "true" ]] || exit 1
 
     - name: test optional number
       run: |
-        echo inputs.number_optional=${{ inputs.number_optional }}
-        [[ "${{ inputs.number_optional == 1 }}" = "true" ]] || exit 1
+        echo inputs.number_optional=${{ tojson(inputs.number_optional) }}
+        [[ "${{ tojson(inputs.number_optional) == '1' }}" = "true" ]] || exit 1
 
     - name: test secret
       run: |