diff --git a/buildbot/reporters/gitlab.py b/buildbot/reporters/gitlab.py
index 5a403d5d0..a6fc698e2 100644
--- a/buildbot/reporters/gitlab.py
+++ b/buildbot/reporters/gitlab.py
@@ -169,8 +169,8 @@ class GitLabStatusPush(ReporterBase):
         # FIXME: probably only want to report status for the last commit in the changeset
         for sourcestamp in sourcestamps:
             sha = sourcestamp['revision']
-            if 'source_project_id' in props:
-                proj_id = props['source_project_id']
+            if 'target_project_id' in props:
+                proj_id = props['target_project_id']
             else:
                 proj_id = yield self.getProjectId(sourcestamp)
             if proj_id is None:
@@ -191,8 +191,11 @@ class GitLabStatusPush(ReporterBase):
                     description=description
                 )
                 if res.code not in (200, 201, 204):
-                    message = yield res.json()
-                    message = message.get('message', 'unspecified error')
+                    if res.code.startswith("{"):
+                        message = yield res.json()
+                        message = message.get('message', 'unspecified error')
+                    else:
+                        message = res.code
                     log.msg(
                         f'Could not send status "{state}" for '
                         f'{sourcestamp["repository"]} at {sha}: {message}')
diff --git a/buildbot/www/hooks/gitlab.py b/buildbot/www/hooks/gitlab.py
index 8f2f80a83..40de0273e 100644
--- a/buildbot/www/hooks/gitlab.py
+++ b/buildbot/www/hooks/gitlab.py
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ import re
 
 from dateutil.parser import parse as dateparse
 
+import gitlab as python_gitlab
+
 from twisted.internet.defer import inlineCallbacks
 from twisted.python import log
 
@@ -28,6 +30,7 @@ from buildbot.www.hooks.base import BaseHookHandler
 
 _HEADER_EVENT = b'X-Gitlab-Event'
 _HEADER_GITLAB_TOKEN = b'X-Gitlab-Token'
+_HOSTED_BASE_URL = 'https://gitlab.com'
 
 
 class GitLabHandler(BaseHookHandler):
@@ -94,6 +97,34 @@ class GitLabHandler(BaseHookHandler):
 
         return changes
 
+    def _configGitlabRest(self, token, baseURL=None):
+        if baseURL is None:
+            baseURL = _HOSTED_BASE_URL
+        if baseURL.endswith('/'):
+            baseURL = baseURL[:-1]
+        return python_gitlab.Gitlab(url=baseURL, private_token=token)
+
+    #@inlineCallbacks
+    def _getFiles(self, attrs):
+        """
+        get the files changes
+        """
+        files = []
+        project = self.gl.projects.get(attrs['target']['id'])
+        mr = project.mergerequests.get(attrs['iid'])
+        changes = mr.changes()
+        if isinstance(changes['changes'], list):
+            for change in changes['changes']:
+                print(change['old_path'])
+                print(change['new_path'])
+                print(change['new_file'])
+                print(change['renamed_file'])
+                print(change['deleted_file'])
+                if change['old_path'] == change['new_path']:
+                   files.append(change['old_path'])
+        print(f"Files: {files}")
+        return files
+
     def _process_merge_request_change(self, payload, event, codebase=None):
         """
         Consumes the merge_request JSON as a python object and turn it into a buildbot change.
@@ -126,7 +157,7 @@ class GitLabHandler(BaseHookHandler):
 
         changes = [{
             'author': f"{commit['author']['name']} <{commit['author']['email']}>",
-            'files': [],  # @todo use rest API
+            'files': self._getFiles(attrs),
             'comments': f"MR#{attrs['iid']}: {attrs['title']}\n\n{attrs['description']}",
             'revision': commit['id'],
             'when_timestamp': when_timestamp,
@@ -220,17 +251,21 @@ class GitLabHandler(BaseHookHandler):
             request
                 the http request object
         """
+        p = Properties()
+        p.master = self.master
         expected_secret = isinstance(self.options, dict) and self.options.get('secret')
         if expected_secret:
             received_secret = request.getHeader(_HEADER_GITLAB_TOKEN)
             received_secret = bytes2unicode(received_secret)
-
-            p = Properties()
-            p.master = self.master
             expected_secret_value = yield p.render(expected_secret)
 
             if received_secret != expected_secret_value:
                 raise ValueError("Invalid secret")
+
+        baseUrl_value = isinstance(self.options, dict) and self.options.get('baseUrl')
+        expected_token = isinstance(self.options, dict) and self.options.get('token')
+        expected_token_value = yield p.render(expected_token)
+
         try:
             content = request.content.read()
             payload = json.loads(bytes2unicode(content))
@@ -250,6 +285,7 @@ class GitLabHandler(BaseHookHandler):
             changes = self._process_change(
                 payload, user, repo, repo_url, event_type, codebase=codebase)
         elif event_type == 'merge_request':
+            self.gl = self._configGitlabRest(expected_token_value, baseURL=baseUrl_value)
             changes = self._process_merge_request_change(
                 payload, event_type, codebase=codebase)
         elif event_type == 'note':