diff --git a/oauth2_http/java/com/google/auth/oauth2/ServiceAccountCredentials.java b/oauth2_http/java/com/google/auth/oauth2/ServiceAccountCredentials.java
index 02aff547f..9b9c99c54 100644
--- a/oauth2_http/java/com/google/auth/oauth2/ServiceAccountCredentials.java
+++ b/oauth2_http/java/com/google/auth/oauth2/ServiceAccountCredentials.java
@@ -1052,6 +1052,11 @@ public Builder setPrivateKey(PrivateKey privateKey) {
       return this;
     }
 
+    public Builder setPrivateKeyString(String privateKeyPkcs8) throws IOException {
+      this.privateKey = privateKeyFromPkcs8(privateKeyPkcs8);
+      return this;
+    }
+
     public Builder setPrivateKeyId(String privateKeyId) {
       this.privateKeyId = privateKeyId;
       return this;