diff --git a/utils/get-developers b/utils/get-developers
index 8e5796beaf..b45e617bff 100755
--- a/utils/get-developers
+++ b/utils/get-developers
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ def __main__():
     if action > 1:
         parser.error("Cannot do more than one action")
     if action == 0:
-        parser.error("No action specified")
+        if sys.stdin.isatty():
+            parser.error("No action specified")
+        args.patches.append(sys.stdin)
 
     devs = getdeveloperlib.parse_developers(args.filename)
     if devs is None: