diff --git a/lib/platform/gitlab/index.ts b/lib/platform/gitlab/index.ts
index 87b9b5ddb5a81acf09c90ef484898d772b4c203c..1552676e528ee452741fb5be89987726dc75f9f2 100644
--- a/lib/platform/gitlab/index.ts
+++ b/lib/platform/gitlab/index.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import { RenovateConfig } from '../../config';
 const defaultConfigFile = configFileNames[0];
 let config: {
   storage: GitStorage;
+  gitPrivateKey?: string;
   repository: string;
   localDir: string;
   defaultBranch: string;
@@ -107,11 +108,13 @@ export function cleanRepo(): void {
 // Initialize GitLab by getting base branch
 export async function initRepo({
   repository,
+  gitPrivateKey,
   localDir,
   optimizeForDisabled,
 }: RepoParams): Promise<RepoConfig> {
   config = {} as any;
   config.repository = urlEscape(repository);
+  config.gitPrivateKey = gitPrivateKey;
   config.localDir = localDir;
   let res: GotResponse<{
     archived: boolean;