diff --git a/lib/synx/project.rb b/lib/synx/project.rb
index 4006821..5720587 100644
--- a/lib/synx/project.rb
+++ b/lib/synx/project.rb
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ module Synx
     SYNXRONIZE_DIR = File.join(ENV["HOME"], '.synx')
     private_constant :SYNXRONIZE_DIR
 
-    DEFAULT_EXCLUSIONS = %W(/Libraries /Frameworks /Products)
+    DEFAULT_EXCLUSIONS = %W(/Libraries /Frameworks /Products /Pods)
     private_constant :DEFAULT_EXCLUSIONS
 
     attr_accessor :delayed_groups_set_path, :group_exclusions, :prune
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ module Synx
     def group_exclusions=(new_exclusions)
       new_exclusions.each do |exclusion|
         # Group paths always start with a '/', so put one there if it isn't already.
-        exclusion.prepend("/") unless exclusion[0] == "/"
+        exclusion = "/" + exclusion unless exclusion[0] == "/"
         # Don't check our own default exclusions -- they may not have it in their project.
         unless DEFAULT_EXCLUSIONS.include?(exclusion)
           # remove leading '/' for this check
diff --git a/spec/synx/project_spec.rb b/spec/synx/project_spec.rb
index 9d92ebb..3ec3bd4 100644
--- a/spec/synx/project_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/synx/project_spec.rb
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ describe Synx::Project do
       end
 
       it "should add the group exclusions to the array" do
-        expect(DUMMY_SYNX_TEST_PROJECT.group_exclusions.sort).to eq(%W(/Libraries /Products /Frameworks /dummy /dummy/SuchGroup/VeryChildGroup).sort)
+        expect(DUMMY_SYNX_TEST_PROJECT.group_exclusions.sort).to eq(%W(/Libraries /Products /Frameworks /Pods /dummy /dummy/SuchGroup/VeryChildGroup).sort)
       end
     end