diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 13667f2..34b4867 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ For default values you only need:
 | checkout-ref                 | ref                 |                          |
 | checkout-repository          | repository          | ${{ github.repository }} |
 | checkout-token               | token               | ${{ github.token }}      |
+| checkout-ssh-key             | ssh-key             |                          |
 | checkout-persist-credentials | persist-credentials | false                    |
 
 ## setup-java
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index 2df4fef..6991ebf 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ inputs:
     required: false
     default: ${{ github.token }}
 
+  checkout-ssh-key:
+    description: 'SSH key used to fetch the repository. It allows to run authenticated git commands'
+    required: false
+
   # java jdk params
 
   java-version:
@@ -115,6 +119,7 @@ runs:
         ref: '${{ inputs.checkout-ref }}'
         repository: '${{ inputs.checkout-repository }}'
         token: '${{ inputs.checkout-token }}'
+        ssh-key: '${{ inputs.checkout-ssh-key }}'
 
     - uses: actions/setup-java@v4
       with: