diff --git a/.changeset/rude-weeks-retire.md b/.changeset/rude-weeks-retire.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fddddd7a9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/rude-weeks-retire.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/plugin-catalog-backend': minor
+---
+
+Added refresh function to the EntityProviderConnection to be able to schedule refreshes from entity providers.
diff --git a/plugins/catalog-node/src/api/provider.ts b/plugins/catalog-node/src/api/provider.ts
index fa7659ee32..437da4e7d6 100644
--- a/plugins/catalog-node/src/api/provider.ts
+++ b/plugins/catalog-node/src/api/provider.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ export interface EntityProviderConnection {
    * Applies either a full or delta update to the catalog engine.
    */
   applyMutation(mutation: EntityProviderMutation): Promise<void>;
+  refresh(keys: string[]): Promise<void>;
 }
 
 /**