diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 769c82f..a48b9a0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ exclude_queries = {
   "cream" => ["ice cream", "whipped cream"]
 }
 
-Product.search(query).exclude(*exclude_queries[query])
+Product.search(query).exclude(exclude_queries[query])
 ```
 
 You can demote results by boosting by a factor less than one:
diff --git a/lib/searchkick/relation.rb b/lib/searchkick/relation.rb
index 54fc440..5029047 100644
--- a/lib/searchkick/relation.rb
+++ b/lib/searchkick/relation.rb
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ module Searchkick
     end
 
     def exclude!(*args)
-      options[:exclude] = Array(options[:exclude]) + args
+      options[:exclude] = Array(options[:exclude]) + args.flatten
       self
     end
 
diff --git a/test/match_test.rb b/test/match_test.rb
index 6cad659..237316e 100644
--- a/test/match_test.rb
+++ b/test/match_test.rb
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ class MatchTest < Minitest::Test
     store_names ["Butter Tub", "Peanut Butter Tub"]
     assert_search "butter", ["Butter Tub"], exclude: ["peanut butter"]
     assert_search_relation ["Butter Tub"], Product.search("butter", relation: true).exclude("peanut butter")
+    assert_search_relation ["Butter Tub"], Product.search("butter", relation: true).exclude(["peanut butter"])
   end
 
   def test_exclude_butter_word_start
--
libgit2 0.21.0