diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d291e8d3e..160cdde13 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -176,7 +176,9 @@ If you are using Azure Blob Storage for context file, you will need to pass [Azu
 You can use `Personal Access Tokens` for Build Contexts from Private Repositories from [GitHub](https://blog.github.com/2012-09-21-easier-builds-and-deployments-using-git-over-https-and-oauth/).
 
 You can either pass this in as part of the git URL (e.g., `git://TOKEN@github.com/acme/myproject.git#refs/heads/mybranch`)
-or using the environment variable `GIT_USERNAME`.
+or using the environment variable `GIT_TOKEN`.
+
+You can also pass `GIT_USERNAME` and `GIT_PASSWORD` (password being the token) if you want to be explicit about the username.
 
 ### Using Standard Input
 If running kaniko and using Standard Input build context, you will need to add the docker or kubernetes `-i, --interactive` flag.
diff --git a/pkg/buildcontext/git.go b/pkg/buildcontext/git.go
index f0b00fc24..1ca42c35b 100644
--- a/pkg/buildcontext/git.go
+++ b/pkg/buildcontext/git.go
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ const (
 
 	gitAuthUsernameEnvKey = "GIT_USERNAME"
 	gitAuthPasswordEnvKey = "GIT_PASSWORD"
+	gitAuthTokenEnvKey    = "GIT_TOKEN"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -65,6 +66,11 @@ func (g *Git) UnpackTarFromBuildContext() (string, error) {
 func getGitAuth() transport.AuthMethod {
 	username := os.Getenv(gitAuthUsernameEnvKey)
 	password := os.Getenv(gitAuthPasswordEnvKey)
+	token := os.Getenv(gitAuthTokenEnvKey)
+	if token != "" {
+		username = token
+		password = ""
+	}
 	if username != "" || password != "" {
 		return &http.BasicAuth{
 			Username: username,
diff --git a/pkg/buildcontext/git_test.go b/pkg/buildcontext/git_test.go
index cefd7a438..0f86ca166 100644
--- a/pkg/buildcontext/git_test.go
+++ b/pkg/buildcontext/git_test.go
@@ -149,6 +149,28 @@ func TestGetGitAuth(t *testing.T) {
 				return
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			testName: "withToken",
+			setEnv: func() (expectedValue transport.AuthMethod) {
+				token := "some-other-token"
+				_ = os.Setenv(gitAuthTokenEnvKey, token)
+				expectedValue = &http.BasicAuth{Username: token}
+				return
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			testName: "withTokenUsernamePassword",
+			setEnv: func() (expectedValue transport.AuthMethod) {
+				username := "foo-user"
+				token := "some-token-45678"
+				pass := "some-password-12345"
+				_ = os.Setenv(gitAuthUsernameEnvKey, username)
+				_ = os.Setenv(gitAuthPasswordEnvKey, pass)
+				_ = os.Setenv(gitAuthTokenEnvKey, token)
+				expectedValue = &http.BasicAuth{Username: token}
+				return
+			},
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {