diff --git a/ironicclient/common/cliutils.py b/ironicclient/common/cliutils.py
index d7897e82e..1511cceb5 100644
--- a/ironicclient/common/cliutils.py
+++ b/ironicclient/common/cliutils.py
@@ -154,7 +154,8 @@ def print_list(objs, fields, formatters=None, sortby_index=0,
     :param json_flag: print the list as JSON instead of table
     """
     if json_flag:
-        print(json.dumps([o._info for o in objs]))
+        print(json.dumps([o._info for o in objs], indent=4,
+                         separators=(',', ': ')))
         return
     formatters = formatters or {}
     mixed_case_fields = mixed_case_fields or []
@@ -205,7 +206,7 @@ def print_dict(dct, dict_property="Property", wrap=0, dict_value='Value',
     :param json_flag: print `dict` as JSON instead of table
     """
     if json_flag:
-        print(json.dumps(dct))
+        print(json.dumps(dct, indent=4, separators=(',', ': ')))
         return
     pt = prettytable.PrettyTable([dict_property, dict_value])
     pt.align = 'l'
diff --git a/ironicclient/tests/unit/common/test_cliutils.py b/ironicclient/tests/unit/common/test_cliutils.py
index 2db025313..b24ef38a2 100644
--- a/ironicclient/tests/unit/common/test_cliutils.py
+++ b/ironicclient/tests/unit/common/test_cliutils.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 
+import json
 import sys
 
 import fixtures
@@ -597,12 +598,7 @@ class PrintResultStringTestCase(test_base.BaseTestCase):
         out = sys.stdout.getvalue()
         sys.stdout.close()
         sys.stdout = orig
-        expected = ['''\
-[{"name": "k1", "value": 1}]
-''', '''\
-[{"value": 1, "name": "k1"}]
-''']
-        self.assertIn(out, expected)
+        self.assertEqual([objs[0]._info], json.loads(out))
 
     def test_print_dict_string(self):
         orig = sys.stdout
@@ -628,12 +624,8 @@ class PrintResultStringTestCase(test_base.BaseTestCase):
         out = sys.stdout.getvalue()
         sys.stdout.close()
         sys.stdout = orig
-        expected = ['''\
-{"K": "k", "Key": "Value"}
-''', '''\
-{"Key": "Value", "K": "k"}
-''']
-        self.assertIn(out, expected)
+        expected = {"K": "k", "Key": "Value"}
+        self.assertEqual(expected, json.loads(out))
 
     def test_print_dict_string_custom_headers(self):
         orig = sys.stdout
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/add-json-option-0cf29be2a97e0212.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/add-json-option-0cf29be2a97e0212.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1de9ea1b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/add-json-option-0cf29be2a97e0212.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+features:
+  - Add a --json option to the client to display the JSON
+    response body from the Ironic API without formatting it.