diff --git a/changelog/12881.txt b/changelog/12881.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3cdf5b4e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/12881.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:improvement
+command: operator generate-root -decode: allow passing encoded token via stdin
+```
diff --git a/command/operator_generate_root.go b/command/operator_generate_root.go
index 2bbcb11b4..c0b71e2f8 100644
--- a/command/operator_generate_root.go
+++ b/command/operator_generate_root.go
@@ -130,7 +130,8 @@ func (c *OperatorGenerateRootCommand) Flags() *FlagSets {
 		Default:    "",
 		EnvVar:     "",
 		Completion: complete.PredictAnything,
-		Usage:      "The value to decode; setting this triggers a decode operation.",
+		Usage: "The value to decode; setting this triggers a decode operation. " +
+			" If the value is \"-\" then read the encoded token from stdin.",
 	})
 
 	f.BoolVar(&BoolVar{
@@ -328,6 +329,27 @@ func (c *OperatorGenerateRootCommand) decode(client *api.Client, encoded, otp st
 		return 1
 	}
 
+	if encoded == "-" {
+		// Pull our fake stdin if needed
+		stdin := (io.Reader)(os.Stdin)
+		if c.testStdin != nil {
+			stdin = c.testStdin
+		}
+
+		var buf bytes.Buffer
+		if _, err := io.Copy(&buf, stdin); err != nil {
+			c.UI.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Failed to read from stdin: %s", err))
+			return 1
+		}
+
+		encoded = buf.String()
+
+		if encoded == "" {
+			c.UI.Error("Missing encoded value. When using -decode=\"-\" value must be passed via stdin.")
+			return 1
+		}
+	}
+
 	f := client.Sys().GenerateRootStatus
 	switch kind {
 	case generateRootDR:
diff --git a/command/operator_generate_root_test.go b/command/operator_generate_root_test.go
index c087cacf2..84ebc3f94 100644
--- a/command/operator_generate_root_test.go
+++ b/command/operator_generate_root_test.go
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+//go:build !race
 // +build !race
 
 package command
@@ -158,6 +159,96 @@ func TestOperatorGenerateRootCommand_Run(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	})
 
+	t.Run("decode_from_stdin", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		encoded := "Bxg9JQQqOCNKBRICNwMIRzo2J3cWCBRi"
+		otp := "3JhHkONiyiaNYj14nnD9xZQS"
+
+		client, closer := testVaultServer(t)
+		defer closer()
+
+		stdinR, stdinW := io.Pipe()
+		go func() {
+			stdinW.Write([]byte(encoded))
+			stdinW.Close()
+		}()
+
+		ui, cmd := testOperatorGenerateRootCommand(t)
+		cmd.client = client
+		cmd.testStdin = stdinR
+
+		// Simulate piped output to print raw output
+		old := os.Stdout
+		_, w, err := os.Pipe()
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		os.Stdout = w
+
+		code := cmd.Run([]string{
+			"-decode", "-", // read from stdin
+			"-otp", otp,
+		})
+		if exp := 0; code != exp {
+			t.Errorf("expected %d to be %d", code, exp)
+		}
+
+		w.Close()
+		os.Stdout = old
+
+		expected := "4RUmoevJ3lsLni9sTXcNnRE1"
+		combined := ui.OutputWriter.String() + ui.ErrorWriter.String()
+		if combined != expected {
+			t.Errorf("expected %q to be %q", combined, expected)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("decode_from_stdin_empty", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		encoded := ""
+		otp := "3JhHkONiyiaNYj14nnD9xZQS"
+
+		client, closer := testVaultServer(t)
+		defer closer()
+
+		stdinR, stdinW := io.Pipe()
+		go func() {
+			stdinW.Write([]byte(encoded))
+			stdinW.Close()
+		}()
+
+		ui, cmd := testOperatorGenerateRootCommand(t)
+		cmd.client = client
+		cmd.testStdin = stdinR
+
+		// Simulate piped output to print raw output
+		old := os.Stdout
+		_, w, err := os.Pipe()
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		os.Stdout = w
+
+		code := cmd.Run([]string{
+			"-decode", "-", // read from stdin
+			"-otp", otp,
+		})
+		if exp := 1; code != exp {
+			t.Errorf("expected %d to be %d", code, exp)
+		}
+
+		w.Close()
+		os.Stdout = old
+
+		expected := "Missing encoded value"
+		combined := ui.OutputWriter.String() + ui.ErrorWriter.String()
+		if !strings.Contains(combined, expected) {
+			t.Errorf("expected %q to contain %q", combined, expected)
+		}
+	})
+
 	t.Run("cancel", func(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Parallel()
 
diff --git a/website/content/docs/commands/operator/generate-root.mdx b/website/content/docs/commands/operator/generate-root.mdx
index 1c7ea6d31..796e8eb56 100644
--- a/website/content/docs/commands/operator/generate-root.mdx
+++ b/website/content/docs/commands/operator/generate-root.mdx
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ flags](/docs/commands) included on all commands.
 
 - `-decode` `(string: "")` - Decode and output the generated root token. This
   option requires the `-otp` flag be set to the OTP used during initialization.
+  If value is "-" then read the encoded token from stdin.
 
 - `-generate-otp` `(bool: false)` - Generate and print a high-entropy
   one-time-password (OTP) suitable for use with the "-init" flag.