diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ebc7fb8d..6ee32b70 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -211,6 +211,17 @@ When specifying the repo source of the fixture you have a few options as to whic
    puppet_version: '>= 6.0.0'
    ```
 
+Using Forge Authorization
+==============
+
+In order to perform forge operations which required authorization, such as installing premium modules, you can export your forge api key as an environment variable in your terminal.
+
+```bash
+FORGE_API_KEY='your_api_key'
+```
+
+puppetlabs_spec_helper will then automatically append this key to all `puppet module install` requests when running `rake spec_prep`.
+
  **Notes:**
 
  * `ref` and `branch` can be used together to get a specific revision on a specific branch
diff --git a/lib/puppetlabs_spec_helper/tasks/fixtures.rb b/lib/puppetlabs_spec_helper/tasks/fixtures.rb
index f2368dcf..d3b72abe 100644
--- a/lib/puppetlabs_spec_helper/tasks/fixtures.rb
+++ b/lib/puppetlabs_spec_helper/tasks/fixtures.rb
@@ -379,6 +379,9 @@ def download_module(remote, opts)
           flags = " #{opts['flags']}" if opts['flags']
         end
 
+        forge_token = ENV.fetch('FORGE_API_KEY', nil)
+        flags += " --forge_authorization \"Bearer #{forge_token}\"" if forge_token
+
         return false if File.directory?(target) && (ref.empty? || opts['ref'] == module_version(target))
 
         # The PMT cannot handle multi threaded runs due to cache directory collisons
diff --git a/spec/unit/puppetlabs_spec_helper/tasks/fixture_helpers_spec.rb b/spec/unit/puppetlabs_spec_helper/tasks/fixture_helpers_spec.rb
index f3354368..d9bae09f 100644
--- a/spec/unit/puppetlabs_spec_helper/tasks/fixture_helpers_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/puppetlabs_spec_helper/tasks/fixture_helpers_spec.rb
@@ -165,6 +165,29 @@
       end
     end
 
+    context 'when forge_api_key env variable is set' do
+      before do
+        # required to prevent unwanted output on stub of $CHILD_STATUS
+        RSpec::Mocks.configuration.allow_message_expectations_on_nil = true
+      end
+
+      after do
+        RSpec::Mocks.configuration.allow_message_expectations_on_nil = false
+      end
+
+      it 'correctly sets --forge_authorization' do
+        allow(ENV).to receive(:fetch).with('FORGE_API_KEY', nil).and_return('myforgeapikey')
+        # Mock the system call to prevent actual execution
+        allow_any_instance_of(Kernel).to receive(:system) do |command| # rubocop:disable RSpec/AnyInstance
+          expect(command).to include('--forge_authorization "Bearer myforgeapikey"')
+          # Simulate setting $CHILD_STATUS to a successful status
+          allow($CHILD_STATUS).to receive(:success?).and_return(true)
+          true
+        end
+        helper.download_module('puppetlabs-stdlib', 'target' => 'spec/fixtures/modules/stdlib')
+      end
+    end
+
     context 'when file specifies repository fixtures' do
       before do
         allow(File).to receive(:exist?).with('.fixtures.yml').and_return true