diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..47e4cd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+.build-docker
diff --git a/rados/conn.go b/rados/conn.go
index b833968..381fa4c 100644
--- a/rados/conn.go
+++ b/rados/conn.go
@@ -262,6 +262,15 @@ func (c *Conn) DeletePool(name string) error {
 
 // MonCommand sends a command to one of the monitors
 func (c *Conn) MonCommand(args []byte) (buffer []byte, info string, err error) {
+	return c.monCommand(args, nil)
+}
+
+// MonCommand sends a command to one of the monitors, with an input buffer
+func (c *Conn) MonCommandWithInputBuffer(args, inputBuffer []byte) (buffer []byte, info string, err error) {
+	return c.monCommand(args, inputBuffer)
+}
+
+func (c *Conn) monCommand(args, inputBuffer []byte) (buffer []byte, info string, err error) {
 	argv := C.CString(string(args))
 	defer C.free(unsafe.Pointer(argv))
 
@@ -269,16 +278,17 @@ func (c *Conn) MonCommand(args []byte) (buffer []byte, info string, err error) {
 		outs, outbuf       *C.char
 		outslen, outbuflen C.size_t
 	)
-	inbuf := C.CString("")
+	inbuf := C.CString(string(inputBuffer))
+	inbufLen := len(inputBuffer)
 	defer C.free(unsafe.Pointer(inbuf))
 
 	ret := C.rados_mon_command(c.cluster,
 		&argv, 1,
-		inbuf,       // bulk input (e.g. crush map)
-		C.size_t(0), // length inbuf
-		&outbuf,     // buffer
-		&outbuflen,  // buffer length
-		&outs,       // status string
+		inbuf,              // bulk input (e.g. crush map)
+		C.size_t(inbufLen), // length inbuf
+		&outbuf,            // buffer
+		&outbuflen,         // buffer length
+		&outs,              // status string
 		&outslen)
 
 	if outslen > 0 {
diff --git a/rados/rados_test.go b/rados/rados_test.go
index c72e6ab..b0f8159 100644
--- a/rados/rados_test.go
+++ b/rados/rados_test.go
@@ -477,6 +477,7 @@ func TestMonCommand(t *testing.T) {
 	conn, _ := rados.NewConn()
 	conn.ReadDefaultConfigFile()
 	conn.Connect()
+	defer conn.Shutdown()
 
 	command, err := json.Marshal(map[string]string{"prefix": "df", "format": "json"})
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
@@ -488,8 +489,43 @@ func TestMonCommand(t *testing.T) {
 	var message map[string]interface{}
 	err = json.Unmarshal(buf, &message)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
+}
 
-	conn.Shutdown()
+func TestMonCommandWithInputBuffer(t *testing.T) {
+	conn, _ := rados.NewConn()
+	conn.ReadDefaultConfigFile()
+	conn.Connect()
+	defer conn.Shutdown()
+
+	// first add the new test user, specifying its key in the input buffer
+	command, err := json.Marshal(map[string]interface{}{
+		"prefix": "auth add",
+		"format": "json",
+		"entity": "client.testMonCommandUser",
+	})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	inbuf := []byte(`[client.testMonCommandUser]
+key = AQD4PGNXBZJNHhAA582iUgxe9DsN+MqFN4Z6Jw==
+`)
+
+	buf, info, err := conn.MonCommandWithInputBuffer(command, inbuf)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "added key for client.testMonCommandUser", info)
+	assert.Equal(t, "", string(buf[:]))
+
+	// now get the key, and verify it is equal to the key we specified in the input buffer for "auth add"
+	command, err = json.Marshal(map[string]interface{}{
+		"prefix": "auth get-key",
+		"format": "json",
+		"entity": "client.testMonCommandUser",
+	})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	buf, info, err = conn.MonCommand(command)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "", info)
+	assert.Equal(t, `{"key":"AQD4PGNXBZJNHhAA582iUgxe9DsN+MqFN4Z6Jw=="}`, string(buf[:]))
 }
 
 func TestObjectListObjects(t *testing.T) {