diff --git a/roles/shake-build/README.rst b/roles/shake-build/README.rst
index 8e5714b71..fde8b7dd3 100644
--- a/roles/shake-build/README.rst
+++ b/roles/shake-build/README.rst
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ Run the shake build system command.
 
    The name of the report.
 
+.. zuul:rolevar:: shake_target
+
+   The name of the target to build.
+
 .. zuul:rolevar:: zuul_work_dir
    :default: {{ zuul.project.src_dir }}
 
diff --git a/roles/shake-build/defaults/main.yaml b/roles/shake-build/defaults/main.yaml
index 052c284d1..307b803d4 100644
--- a/roles/shake-build/defaults/main.yaml
+++ b/roles/shake-build/defaults/main.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 shake_report_name: "shake.html"
+shake_target: ""
 
 zuul_work_dir: "{{ zuul.project.src_dir }}"
diff --git a/roles/shake-build/tasks/main.yaml b/roles/shake-build/tasks/main.yaml
index c5a953c14..22e1652ae 100644
--- a/roles/shake-build/tasks/main.yaml
+++ b/roles/shake-build/tasks/main.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 - block:
     - name: Run shake
-      command: "shake --report={{ report_location }}"
+      command: "shake --report={{ report_location }} {{ shake_target }}"
       vars:
         report_location: "{{ ansible_user_dir }}/zuul-output/logs/{{ shake_report_name }}"
       args:
diff --git a/zuul.d/general-jobs.yaml b/zuul.d/general-jobs.yaml
index d7cd3a41b..b23f9adfd 100644
--- a/zuul.d/general-jobs.yaml
+++ b/zuul.d/general-jobs.yaml
@@ -124,5 +124,10 @@
       Run the shake build system command.
 
       This job produces a shake.html report.
+
+      .. zuul:jobvar:: shake_target
+
+         The name of the target to build.
+
     pre-run: playbooks/shake/pre.yaml
     run: playbooks/shake/run.yaml