diff --git a/maven-release-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugins/release/AbstractScmReleaseMojo.java b/maven-release-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugins/release/AbstractScmReleaseMojo.java
index fcdda10b0..29c4f9d5c 100644
--- a/maven-release-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugins/release/AbstractScmReleaseMojo.java
+++ b/maven-release-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugins/release/AbstractScmReleaseMojo.java
@@ -40,6 +40,18 @@
 public abstract class AbstractScmReleaseMojo
     extends AbstractReleaseMojo
 {
+    /**
+     * The SCM private key to use.
+     */
+    @Parameter( property = "privateKey" )
+    private String privateKey;
+
+    /**
+     * The SCM Private Key Pass Phrase to use.
+     */
+    @Parameter( property = "passphrase" )
+    private String passphrase;
+
     /**
      * The SCM username to use.
      */
@@ -149,6 +161,10 @@ protected ReleaseDescriptorBuilder createReleaseDescriptor()
     {
         ReleaseDescriptorBuilder descriptor = super.createReleaseDescriptor();
 
+        //SSH support
+        descriptor.setScmPrivateKey(privateKey);
+        descriptor.setScmPrivateKeyPassPhrase(passphrase);
+
         descriptor.setScmPassword( password );
         descriptor.setScmReleaseLabel( tag );
         descriptor.setScmTagNameFormat( tagNameFormat );