diff --git a/scripts/rest_client.py b/scripts/rest_client.py
index 2232b8421..6a3b2126b 100755
--- a/scripts/rest_client.py
+++ b/scripts/rest_client.py
@@ -331,6 +331,13 @@ def add_arguments():
                         default=[]
                         )
 
+    parser.add_argument('--json',
+                        help='Output data in json form rather than a python dict',
+                        dest='json',
+                        action='store_true',
+                        default=False
+                        )
+
     args = parser.parse_args()
     return vars(args)
 
@@ -379,8 +386,11 @@ def main(args):
         print_commands()
         return
 
-    print(getattr(client, command)(*args["command_arguments"]))
-
+    output = getattr(client, command)(*args["command_arguments"])
+    if args['json']:
+        print(json.dumps(output))
+    else:
+        print(output)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     args = add_arguments()