diff --git a/doc/cli.markdown b/doc/cli.markdown
index 8ace6915..395c324a 100644
--- a/doc/cli.markdown
+++ b/doc/cli.markdown
@@ -2655,6 +2655,10 @@ device type (Check available types with `balena devices supported`)
 
 path to OS image file (e.g. balena.img) or block device (e.g. /dev/disk2)
 
+#### -j, --json
+
+produce JSON output instead of tabular output
+
 ## config reconfigure
 
 Interactively reconfigure a provisioned device or OS image.
diff --git a/lib/commands/config/read.ts b/lib/commands/config/read.ts
index 79cf0670..99d3b3f6 100644
--- a/lib/commands/config/read.ts
+++ b/lib/commands/config/read.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ interface FlagsDef {
 	type: string;
 	drive?: string;
 	help: void;
+	json: boolean;
 }
 
 export default class ConfigReadCmd extends Command {
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ export default class ConfigReadCmd extends Command {
 		type: cf.deviceType,
 		drive: cf.driveOrImg,
 		help: cf.help,
+		json: cf.json,
 	};
 
 	public static authenticated = true;
@@ -63,7 +65,11 @@ export default class ConfigReadCmd extends Command {
 		const config = await import('balena-config-json');
 		const configJSON = await config.read(drive, options.type);
 
-		const prettyjson = await import('prettyjson');
-		console.info(prettyjson.render(configJSON));
+		if (options.json) {
+			console.log(JSON.stringify(configJSON, null, 4));
+		} else {
+			const prettyjson = await import('prettyjson');
+			console.log(prettyjson.render(configJSON));
+		}
 	}
 }