# rpk connect agent run

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/llms.txt). Component-specific: [streaming-full.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming-full.txt)

---
title: rpk connect agent run
latest-redpanda-tag: v26.1.9
latest-console-tag: v3.7.3
latest-operator-version: v26.1.4
# EOL = End-of-Life (support lifecycle status)
page-is-nearing-eol: "false"
page-is-past-eol: "false"
page-eol-date: March 31, 2027
latest-connect-version: 4.93.0
docname: rpk/rpk-connect/rpk-connect-agent-run
page-component-name: streaming
page-version: "26.1"
page-component-version: "26.1"
page-component-title: Streaming
page-relative-src-path: rpk/rpk-connect/rpk-connect-agent-run.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/docs/edit/main/modules/reference/pages/rpk/rpk-connect/rpk-connect-agent-run.adoc
description: Execute a Redpanda Connect agent as part of a pipeline with MCP tool access.
page-topic-type: reference
learning-objective-1: Find the syntax for executing agents
learning-objective-2: Identify secret management options
learning-objective-3: Look up security-related flags
page-git-created-date: "2026-05-22"
page-git-modified-date: "2026-05-22"
support-status: supported
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/current/reference/rpk/rpk-connect/rpk-connect-agent-run.md -->

> ❗ **IMPORTANT**
>
> This command is experimental and subject to change.

Execute a Redpanda Connect agent as part of a pipeline that has access to tools via the Model Context Protocol (MCP). The command first reads resource definitions from the `mcp` subdirectory and exposes them as tools. It then runs the agent defined in `redpanda_agents.yaml` along with any Python agent modules.

Use this reference to:

-   Find the syntax for executing agents

-   Identify secret management options

-   Look up security-related flags


## [](#usage)Usage

rpk connect agent run \[OPTIONS\]

## [](#example)Example

```bash
rpk connect agent run ./repo
```

To disable all secret lookups:

```bash
rpk connect agent run --secrets none: ./repo
```

## [](#flags)Flags

| Option | Description |
| --- | --- |
| --secrets | Attempt to load secrets from a provided URN. If more than one entry is specified, they are attempted in order until a value is found. Environment variable lookups are specified with the URN env:, which by default is the only entry. To disable all secret lookups, specify a single entry of none: (default: env:). |
| --redpanda-license | Provide an explicit Redpanda license, which enables enterprise functionality. By default, licenses found at the path /etc/redpanda/redpanda.license are applied. |
| --help, -h | Show help for the command. |
| --chroot | (Linux only) Chroot into the provided directory after parsing configuration. Common /etc/ files are copied to the chroot directory, and the directory is made read-only. |
| --chroot-passthrough | (Linux only) Specify additional files to be copied into the chroot directory. Can be specified multiple times. Only valid when --chroot is used. |