diff --git a/.github/workflows/merge.yml b/.github/workflows/merge.yml
index 56d6b29ec..73c142242 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/merge.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/merge.yml
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ jobs:
           ssh-key: ${{ secrets.SSH_KEY }}
           # needs to be set so we can change token
           persist-credentials: false # Whether to configure the token or SSH key with the local git config
+      - uses: webfactory/ssh-agent@v0.7.0
+        with:
+          ssh-private-key: ${{ secrets.SSH_KEY }}
       - name: Set git config username and email
         run: git config user.email "ryan.basmajian@forgerock.com" && git config user.name "ryanbas21"
         shell: bash