diff --git a/cli/templatecreate.go b/cli/templatecreate.go
index 8c8ce9e034610..7ab36feb3e6de 100644
--- a/cli/templatecreate.go
+++ b/cli/templatecreate.go
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 	"unicode/utf8"
 
-	"github.com/briandowns/spinner"
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"golang.org/x/xerrors"
@@ -19,16 +18,16 @@ import (
 	"github.com/coder/coder/coderd/util/ptr"
 	"github.com/coder/coder/codersdk"
 	"github.com/coder/coder/provisionerd"
-	"github.com/coder/coder/provisionersdk"
 )
 
 func templateCreate() *cobra.Command {
 	var (
-		directory       string
 		provisioner     string
 		provisionerTags []string
 		parameterFile   string
 		defaultTTL      time.Duration
+
+		uploadFlags templateUploadFlags
 	)
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "create [name]",
@@ -45,11 +44,9 @@ func templateCreate() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 
-			var templateName string
-			if len(args) == 0 {
-				templateName = filepath.Base(directory)
-			} else {
-				templateName = args[0]
+			templateName, err := uploadFlags.templateName(args)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
 			}
 
 			if utf8.RuneCountInString(templateName) > 31 {
@@ -62,31 +59,10 @@ func templateCreate() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			// Confirm upload of the directory.
-			prettyDir := prettyDirectoryPath(directory)
-			_, err = cliui.Prompt(cmd, cliui.PromptOptions{
-				Text:      fmt.Sprintf("Create and upload %q?", prettyDir),
-				IsConfirm: true,
-				Default:   cliui.ConfirmYes,
-			})
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-
-			spin := spinner.New(spinner.CharSets[5], 100*time.Millisecond)
-			spin.Writer = cmd.OutOrStdout()
-			spin.Suffix = cliui.Styles.Keyword.Render(" Uploading directory...")
-			spin.Start()
-			defer spin.Stop()
-			archive, err := provisionersdk.Tar(directory, provisionersdk.TemplateArchiveLimit)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-
-			resp, err := client.Upload(cmd.Context(), codersdk.ContentTypeTar, archive)
+			resp, err := uploadFlags.upload(cmd, client)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			spin.Stop()
 
 			tags, err := ParseProvisionerTags(provisionerTags)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -105,12 +81,14 @@ func templateCreate() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 
-			_, err = cliui.Prompt(cmd, cliui.PromptOptions{
-				Text:      "Confirm create?",
-				IsConfirm: true,
-			})
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
+			if !uploadFlags.stdin() {
+				_, err = cliui.Prompt(cmd, cliui.PromptOptions{
+					Text:      "Confirm create?",
+					IsConfirm: true,
+				})
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
 			}
 
 			createReq := codersdk.CreateTemplateRequest{
@@ -134,12 +112,11 @@ func templateCreate() *cobra.Command {
 			return nil
 		},
 	}
-	currentDirectory, _ := os.Getwd()
-	cmd.Flags().StringVarP(&directory, "directory", "d", currentDirectory, "Specify the directory to create from")
-	cmd.Flags().StringVarP(&provisioner, "test.provisioner", "", "terraform", "Customize the provisioner backend")
 	cmd.Flags().StringVarP(&parameterFile, "parameter-file", "", "", "Specify a file path with parameter values.")
 	cmd.Flags().StringArrayVarP(&provisionerTags, "provisioner-tag", "", []string{}, "Specify a set of tags to target provisioner daemons.")
 	cmd.Flags().DurationVarP(&defaultTTL, "default-ttl", "", 24*time.Hour, "Specify a default TTL for workspaces created from this template.")
+	uploadFlags.register(cmd.Flags())
+	cmd.Flags().StringVarP(&provisioner, "test.provisioner", "", "terraform", "Customize the provisioner backend")
 	// This is for testing!
 	err := cmd.Flags().MarkHidden("test.provisioner")
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cli/templatecreate_test.go b/cli/templatecreate_test.go
index d9ed25ebdb99c..e44c8c7e2a2ce 100644
--- a/cli/templatecreate_test.go
+++ b/cli/templatecreate_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package cli_test
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"os"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ func TestTemplateCreate(t *testing.T) {
 			match string
 			write string
 		}{
-			{match: "Create and upload", write: "yes"},
+			{match: "Upload", write: "yes"},
 			{match: "compute.main"},
 			{match: "smith (linux, i386)"},
 			{match: "Confirm create?", write: "yes"},
@@ -84,6 +85,38 @@ func TestTemplateCreate(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, <-execDone)
 	})
 
+	t.Run("CreateStdin", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+		client := coderdtest.New(t, &coderdtest.Options{IncludeProvisionerDaemon: true})
+		coderdtest.CreateFirstUser(t, client)
+		source, err := echo.Tar(&echo.Responses{
+			Parse:          echo.ParseComplete,
+			ProvisionApply: provisionCompleteWithAgent,
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		args := []string{
+			"templates",
+			"create",
+			"my-template",
+			"--directory", "-",
+			"--test.provisioner", string(database.ProvisionerTypeEcho),
+			"--default-ttl", "24h",
+		}
+		cmd, root := clitest.New(t, args...)
+		clitest.SetupConfig(t, client, root)
+		pty := ptytest.New(t)
+		cmd.SetIn(bytes.NewReader(source))
+		cmd.SetOut(pty.Output())
+
+		execDone := make(chan error)
+		go func() {
+			execDone <- cmd.Execute()
+		}()
+
+		require.NoError(t, <-execDone)
+	})
+
 	t.Run("WithParameter", func(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Parallel()
 		client := coderdtest.New(t, &coderdtest.Options{IncludeProvisionerDaemon: true})
@@ -108,7 +141,7 @@ func TestTemplateCreate(t *testing.T) {
 			match string
 			write string
 		}{
-			{match: "Create and upload", write: "yes"},
+			{match: "Upload", write: "yes"},
 			{match: "Enter a value:", write: "bananas"},
 			{match: "Confirm create?", write: "yes"},
 		}
@@ -148,7 +181,7 @@ func TestTemplateCreate(t *testing.T) {
 			match string
 			write string
 		}{
-			{match: "Create and upload", write: "yes"},
+			{match: "Upload", write: "yes"},
 			{match: "Confirm create?", write: "yes"},
 		}
 		for _, m := range matches {
@@ -188,7 +221,7 @@ func TestTemplateCreate(t *testing.T) {
 			write string
 		}{
 			{
-				match: "Create and upload",
+				match: "Upload",
 				write: "yes",
 			},
 			{
diff --git a/cli/templatepush.go b/cli/templatepush.go
index 9c146a9b8cbcf..3ba612d7e674f 100644
--- a/cli/templatepush.go
+++ b/cli/templatepush.go
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@ package cli
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/briandowns/spinner"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
 	"golang.org/x/xerrors"
 
 	"github.com/coder/coder/cli/cliui"
@@ -16,14 +18,81 @@ import (
 	"github.com/coder/coder/provisionersdk"
 )
 
+// templateUploadFlags is shared by `templates create` and `templates push`.
+type templateUploadFlags struct {
+	directory string
+}
+
+func (pf *templateUploadFlags) register(f *pflag.FlagSet) {
+	currentDirectory, _ := os.Getwd()
+	f.StringVarP(&pf.directory, "directory", "d", currentDirectory, "Specify the directory to create from, use '-' to read tar from stdin")
+}
+
+func (pf *templateUploadFlags) stdin() bool {
+	return pf.directory == "-"
+}
+
+func (pf *templateUploadFlags) upload(cmd *cobra.Command, client *codersdk.Client) (*codersdk.UploadResponse, error) {
+	var (
+		content []byte
+		err     error
+	)
+	if pf.stdin() {
+		content, err = io.ReadAll(cmd.InOrStdin())
+	} else {
+		prettyDir := prettyDirectoryPath(pf.directory)
+		_, err = cliui.Prompt(cmd, cliui.PromptOptions{
+			Text:      fmt.Sprintf("Upload %q?", prettyDir),
+			IsConfirm: true,
+			Default:   cliui.ConfirmYes,
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+
+		content, err = provisionersdk.Tar(pf.directory, provisionersdk.TemplateArchiveLimit)
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, xerrors.Errorf("read tar: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	spin := spinner.New(spinner.CharSets[5], 100*time.Millisecond)
+	spin.Writer = cmd.OutOrStdout()
+	spin.Suffix = cliui.Styles.Keyword.Render(" Uploading directory...")
+	spin.Start()
+	defer spin.Stop()
+
+	resp, err := client.Upload(cmd.Context(), codersdk.ContentTypeTar, content)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, xerrors.Errorf("upload: %w", err)
+	}
+	return &resp, nil
+}
+
+func (pf *templateUploadFlags) templateName(args []string) (string, error) {
+	if pf.stdin() {
+		// Can't infer name from directory if none provided.
+		if len(args) == 0 {
+			return "", xerrors.New("template name argument must be provided")
+		}
+		return args[0], nil
+	}
+
+	name := filepath.Base(pf.directory)
+	if len(args) > 0 {
+		name = args[0]
+	}
+	return name, nil
+}
+
 func templatePush() *cobra.Command {
 	var (
-		directory       string
 		versionName     string
 		provisioner     string
 		parameterFile   string
 		alwaysPrompt    bool
 		provisionerTags []string
+		uploadFlags     templateUploadFlags
 	)
 
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
@@ -40,41 +109,20 @@ func templatePush() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 
-			name := filepath.Base(directory)
-			if len(args) > 0 {
-				name = args[0]
-			}
-
-			template, err := client.TemplateByName(cmd.Context(), organization.ID, name)
+			name, err := uploadFlags.templateName(args)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 
-			// Confirm upload of the directory.
-			prettyDir := prettyDirectoryPath(directory)
-			_, err = cliui.Prompt(cmd, cliui.PromptOptions{
-				Text:      fmt.Sprintf("Upload %q?", prettyDir),
-				IsConfirm: true,
-				Default:   cliui.ConfirmYes,
-			})
+			template, err := client.TemplateByName(cmd.Context(), organization.ID, name)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 
-			spin := spinner.New(spinner.CharSets[5], 100*time.Millisecond)
-			spin.Writer = cmd.OutOrStdout()
-			spin.Suffix = cliui.Styles.Keyword.Render(" Uploading directory...")
-			spin.Start()
-			defer spin.Stop()
-			content, err := provisionersdk.Tar(directory, provisionersdk.TemplateArchiveLimit)
+			resp, err := uploadFlags.upload(cmd, client)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			resp, err := client.Upload(cmd.Context(), codersdk.ContentTypeTar, content)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-			spin.Stop()
 
 			tags, err := ParseProvisionerTags(provisionerTags)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -112,13 +160,12 @@ func templatePush() *cobra.Command {
 		},
 	}
 
-	currentDirectory, _ := os.Getwd()
-	cmd.Flags().StringVarP(&directory, "directory", "d", currentDirectory, "Specify the directory to create from")
 	cmd.Flags().StringVarP(&provisioner, "test.provisioner", "", "terraform", "Customize the provisioner backend")
 	cmd.Flags().StringVarP(&parameterFile, "parameter-file", "", "", "Specify a file path with parameter values.")
 	cmd.Flags().StringVarP(&versionName, "name", "", "", "Specify a name for the new template version. It will be automatically generated if not provided.")
 	cmd.Flags().StringArrayVarP(&provisionerTags, "provisioner-tag", "", []string{}, "Specify a set of tags to target provisioner daemons.")
 	cmd.Flags().BoolVar(&alwaysPrompt, "always-prompt", false, "Always prompt all parameters. Does not pull parameter values from active template version")
+	uploadFlags.register(cmd.Flags())
 	cliui.AllowSkipPrompt(cmd)
 	// This is for testing!
 	err := cmd.Flags().MarkHidden("test.provisioner")
diff --git a/cli/templatepush_test.go b/cli/templatepush_test.go
index 4aa7867c0df8b..0ade770324813 100644
--- a/cli/templatepush_test.go
+++ b/cli/templatepush_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package cli_test
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
@@ -208,6 +209,47 @@ func TestTemplatePush(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.Len(t, templateVersions, 2)
 		assert.NotEqual(t, template.ActiveVersionID, templateVersions[1].ID)
 	})
+
+	t.Run("Stdin", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+		client := coderdtest.New(t, &coderdtest.Options{IncludeProvisionerDaemon: true})
+		user := coderdtest.CreateFirstUser(t, client)
+		version := coderdtest.CreateTemplateVersion(t, client, user.OrganizationID, nil)
+		_ = coderdtest.AwaitTemplateVersionJob(t, client, version.ID)
+
+		source, err := echo.Tar(&echo.Responses{
+			Parse:          echo.ParseComplete,
+			ProvisionApply: echo.ProvisionComplete,
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		template := coderdtest.CreateTemplate(t, client, user.OrganizationID, version.ID)
+
+		cmd, root := clitest.New(
+			t, "templates", "push", "--directory", "-",
+			"--test.provisioner", string(database.ProvisionerTypeEcho),
+			template.Name,
+		)
+		clitest.SetupConfig(t, client, root)
+		pty := ptytest.New(t)
+		cmd.SetIn(bytes.NewReader(source))
+		cmd.SetOut(pty.Output())
+
+		execDone := make(chan error)
+		go func() {
+			execDone <- cmd.Execute()
+		}()
+
+		require.NoError(t, <-execDone)
+
+		// Assert that the template version changed.
+		templateVersions, err := client.TemplateVersionsByTemplate(context.Background(), codersdk.TemplateVersionsByTemplateRequest{
+			TemplateID: template.ID,
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Len(t, templateVersions, 2)
+		assert.NotEqual(t, template.ActiveVersionID, templateVersions[1].ID)
+	})
 }
 
 func latestTemplateVersion(t *testing.T, client *codersdk.Client, templateID uuid.UUID) (codersdk.TemplateVersion, []codersdk.Parameter) {
diff --git a/cli/testdata/coder_templates_create_--help.golden b/cli/testdata/coder_templates_create_--help.golden
index 7fd1d9121d58f..aebabdd55d1f5 100644
--- a/cli/testdata/coder_templates_create_--help.golden
+++ b/cli/testdata/coder_templates_create_--help.golden
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ Usage:
 Flags:
       --default-ttl duration          Specify a default TTL for workspaces created from this
                                       template. (default 24h0m0s)
-  -d, --directory string              Specify the directory to create from (default
-                                      "/tmp/coder-cli-test-workdir")
+  -d, --directory string              Specify the directory to create from, use '-' to read
+                                      tar from stdin (default "/tmp/coder-cli-test-workdir")
   -h, --help                          help for create
       --parameter-file string         Specify a file path with parameter values.
       --provisioner-tag stringArray   Specify a set of tags to target provisioner daemons.
diff --git a/cli/testdata/coder_templates_push_--help.golden b/cli/testdata/coder_templates_push_--help.golden
index 348adaf179a92..baf55609e7f17 100644
--- a/cli/testdata/coder_templates_push_--help.golden
+++ b/cli/testdata/coder_templates_push_--help.golden
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ Usage:
 Flags:
       --always-prompt                 Always prompt all parameters. Does not pull parameter
                                       values from active template version
-  -d, --directory string              Specify the directory to create from (default
-                                      "/tmp/coder-cli-test-workdir")
+  -d, --directory string              Specify the directory to create from, use '-' to read
+                                      tar from stdin (default "/tmp/coder-cli-test-workdir")
   -h, --help                          help for push
       --name string                   Specify a name for the new template version. It will be
                                       automatically generated if not provided.
diff --git a/provisioner/echo/serve.go b/provisioner/echo/serve.go
index 6684b92c6ee94..705fb0a3be2ae 100644
--- a/provisioner/echo/serve.go
+++ b/provisioner/echo/serve.go
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func (e *echo) Parse(request *proto.Parse_Request, stream proto.DRPCProvisioner_
 		if err != nil {
 			if index == 0 {
 				// Error if nothing is around to enable failed states.
-				return xerrors.New("no state")
+				return xerrors.Errorf("no state: %w", err)
 			}
 			break
 		}