An oiler for supplying lubricant to a pneumatically driven surgical instrument has: a wick chamber; an oil reservoir; and a gas reservoir. The wick chamber is open to the conduit through which gas is supplied to the instrument. A wick is disposed in the wick chamber. An oil-soaked member is disposed in the wick chamber. A lubricant soaked member is disposed in the oil reservoir. The gas reservoir holds a charge of gas. When gas is supplied to the instrument, oil is educed from the wick and oil reservoir and flows with the gas stream to the instrument. Upon the shut off of the gas, the gas charge vents from the of gas reservoir. This gas delivers a charge of oil to the wick. Some of this oil is discharged from the oiler to the supply conduit. This oil lubricates the instrument when it is initially reactuated.