diff --git a/zuul/lib/gerrit.py b/zuul/lib/gerrit.py
index 6c7906b..025de3d 100644
--- a/zuul/lib/gerrit.py
+++ b/zuul/lib/gerrit.py
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@
                        key_filename=self.keyfile)
         self.client = client
 
-    def _ssh(self, command):
+    def _ssh(self, command, stdin_data=None):
         if not self.client:
             self._open()
 
@@ -195,6 +195,9 @@
             self._open()
             stdin, stdout, stderr = self.client.exec_command(command)
 
+        if stdin_data:
+            stdin.write(stdin_data)
+
         out = stdout.read()
         self.log.debug("SSH received stdout:\n%s" % out)