diff --git a/util/src/main/java/io/kubernetes/client/ProtoClient.java b/util/src/main/java/io/kubernetes/client/ProtoClient.java
index 780ae423f3..3d5120b28b 100644
--- a/util/src/main/java/io/kubernetes/client/ProtoClient.java
+++ b/util/src/main/java/io/kubernetes/client/ProtoClient.java
@@ -132,6 +132,20 @@ public <T extends Message> ObjectOrStatus<T> update(
     return request(obj.newBuilderForType(), path, "PUT", obj, apiVersion, kind);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Merge a Kubernetes API object using protocol buffer encoding. Performs a PATCH
+   *
+   * @param obj The object to merge
+   * @param path The URL path to call
+   * @param apiVersion The api version to use
+   * @param kind The kind of the object
+   * @return An ObjectOrStatus which contains the Object requested, or a Status about the request.
+   */
+  public <T extends Message> ObjectOrStatus<T> merge(
+      T obj, String path, String apiVersion, String kind) throws ApiException, IOException {
+    return request(obj.newBuilderForType(), path, "PATCH", obj, apiVersion, kind);
+  }
+
   /**
    * Delete a kubernetes API object using protocol buffer encoding.
    *