--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -9662,28 +9662,13 @@ f_bufloaded(typval_T *argvars, typval_T 
     rettv->vval.v_number = (buf != NULL && buf->b_ml.ml_mfp != NULL);
 }
 
-static buf_T *get_buf_tv(typval_T *tv, int curtab_only);
-
-/*
- * Get buffer by number or pattern.
- */
     static buf_T *
-get_buf_tv(typval_T *tv, int curtab_only)
-{
-    char_u	*name = tv->vval.v_string;
+buflist_find_by_name(char_u *name, int curtab_only)
+{
     int		save_magic;
     char_u	*save_cpo;
     buf_T	*buf;
 
-    if (tv->v_type == VAR_NUMBER)
-	return buflist_findnr((int)tv->vval.v_number);
-    if (tv->v_type != VAR_STRING)
-	return NULL;
-    if (name == NULL || *name == NUL)
-	return curbuf;
-    if (name[0] == '$' && name[1] == NUL)
-	return lastbuf;
-
     /* Ignore 'magic' and 'cpoptions' here to make scripts portable */
     save_magic = p_magic;
     p_magic = TRUE;
@@ -9695,6 +9680,28 @@ get_buf_tv(typval_T *tv, int curtab_only
 
     p_magic = save_magic;
     p_cpo = save_cpo;
+    return buf;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Get buffer by number or pattern.
+ */
+    static buf_T *
+get_buf_tv(typval_T *tv, int curtab_only)
+{
+    char_u	*name = tv->vval.v_string;
+    buf_T	*buf;
+
+    if (tv->v_type == VAR_NUMBER)
+	return buflist_findnr((int)tv->vval.v_number);
+    if (tv->v_type != VAR_STRING)
+	return NULL;
+    if (name == NULL || *name == NUL)
+	return curbuf;
+    if (name[0] == '$' && name[1] == NUL)
+	return lastbuf;
+
+    buf = buflist_find_by_name(name, curtab_only);
 
     /* If not found, try expanding the name, like done for bufexists(). */
     if (buf == NULL)
@@ -10110,6 +10117,30 @@ get_job_options(typval_T *tv, jobopt_T *
 		opt->jo_io_name[part] =
 		       get_tv_string_buf_chk(item, opt->jo_io_name_buf[part]);
 	    }
+	    else if (STRCMP(hi->hi_key, "in-top") == 0
+		    || STRCMP(hi->hi_key, "in-bot") == 0)
+	    {
+		linenr_T *lp;
+
+		if (!(supported & JO_OUT_IO))
+		    break;
+		if (hi->hi_key[3] == 't')
+		{
+		    lp = &opt->jo_in_top;
+		    opt->jo_set |= JO_IN_TOP;
+		}
+		else
+		{
+		    lp = &opt->jo_in_bot;
+		    opt->jo_set |= JO_IN_BOT;
+		}
+		*lp = get_tv_number(item);
+		if (*lp < 0)
+		{
+		    EMSG2(_(e_invarg2), get_tv_string(item));
+		    return FAIL;
+		}
+	    }
 	    else if (STRCMP(hi->hi_key, "callback") == 0)
 	    {
 		if (!(supported & JO_CALLBACK))
@@ -15103,6 +15134,29 @@ f_job_start(typval_T *argvars UNUSED, ty
 	    JO_MODE_ALL + JO_CB_ALL + JO_TIMEOUT_ALL
 			    + JO_STOPONEXIT + JO_EXIT_CB + JO_OUT_IO) == FAIL)
 	return;
+
+    if ((opt.jo_set & JO_IN_IO) && opt.jo_io[PART_IN] == JIO_BUFFER)
+    {
+	buf_T *buf;
+
+	/* check that we can find the buffer before starting the job */
+	if (!(opt.jo_set & JO_IN_NAME))
+	{
+	    EMSG(_("E915: in-io buffer requires in-name to be set"));
+	    return;
+	}
+	buf = buflist_find_by_name(opt.jo_io_name[PART_IN], FALSE);
+	if (buf == NULL)
+	    return;
+	if (buf->b_ml.ml_mfp == NULL)
+	{
+	    EMSG2(_("E918: buffer must be loaded: %s"),
+						     opt.jo_io_name[PART_IN]);
+	    return;
+	}
+	job->jv_in_buf = buf;
+    }
+
     job_set_options(job, &opt);
 
 #ifndef USE_ARGV
@@ -15194,6 +15248,10 @@ f_job_start(typval_T *argvars UNUSED, ty
     mch_start_job((char *)cmd, job, &opt);
 #endif
 
+#ifdef FEAT_CHANNEL
+    channel_write_in(job->jv_channel);
+#endif
+
 theend:
 #ifdef USE_ARGV
     vim_free(argv);