diff --git a/protos/buf.yaml b/protos/buf.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7f47acfee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protos/buf.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+version: v1
+name: ""
+deps: []
+build:
+  excludes:
+    - google/protobuf/compiler
+    - google/protobuf/util
diff --git a/src/grpc.ts b/src/grpc.ts
index defdc63a2..2c78ad889 100644
--- a/src/grpc.ts
+++ b/src/grpc.ts
@@ -256,6 +256,12 @@ export class GrpcClient {
     return grpcPackage;
   }
 
+  loadFromPackageDefinition(packageDef: grpcProtoLoader.PackageDefinition) {
+    const grpcPackage = this.grpc.loadPackageDefinition(packageDef);
+    console.log('loaded:', grpcPackage);
+    return grpcPackage;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Load gRPC proto service from a filename looking in googleapis common protos
    * when necessary. Caches the loaded protos so the subsequent loads don't do