diff --git a/cmd/gpt.c b/cmd/gpt.c
index 76a95ade6c..17f2b839d7 100644
--- a/cmd/gpt.c
+++ b/cmd/gpt.c
@@ -350,17 +350,46 @@ static int get_gpt_info(struct blk_desc *dev_desc)
 }
 
 /* a wrapper to test get_gpt_info */
-static int do_get_gpt_info(struct blk_desc *dev_desc)
+static int do_get_gpt_info(struct blk_desc *dev_desc, char * const namestr)
 {
-	int ret;
+	int numparts;
 
-	ret = get_gpt_info(dev_desc);
-	if (ret > 0) {
-		print_gpt_info();
+	numparts = get_gpt_info(dev_desc);
+
+	if (numparts > 0) {
+		if (namestr) {
+			char disk_guid[UUID_STR_LEN + 1];
+			char *partitions_list;
+			int partlistlen;
+			int ret = -1;
+
+			ret = get_disk_guid(dev_desc, disk_guid);
+			if (ret < 0)
+				return ret;
+
+			partlistlen = calc_parts_list_len(numparts);
+			partitions_list = malloc(partlistlen);
+			if (!partitions_list) {
+				del_gpt_info();
+				return -ENOMEM;
+			}
+			memset(partitions_list, '\0', partlistlen);
+
+			ret = create_gpt_partitions_list(numparts, disk_guid,
+							 partitions_list);
+			if (ret < 0)
+				printf("Error: Could not create partition list string!\n");
+			else
+				env_set(namestr, partitions_list);
+
+			free(partitions_list);
+		} else {
+			print_gpt_info();
+		}
 		del_gpt_info();
 		return 0;
 	}
-	return ret;
+	return numparts;
 }
 #endif
 
@@ -982,7 +1011,7 @@ static int do_gpt(struct cmd_tbl *cmdtp, int flag, int argc, char *const argv[])
 		ret = do_disk_guid(blk_dev_desc, argv[4]);
 #ifdef CONFIG_CMD_GPT_RENAME
 	} else if (strcmp(argv[1], "read") == 0) {
-		ret = do_get_gpt_info(blk_dev_desc);
+		ret = do_get_gpt_info(blk_dev_desc, (argc == 5) ? argv[4] : NULL);
 	} else if ((strcmp(argv[1], "swap") == 0) ||
 		   (strcmp(argv[1], "rename") == 0)) {
 		ret = do_rename_gpt_parts(blk_dev_desc, argv[1], argv[4], argv[5]);
@@ -1028,8 +1057,9 @@ U_BOOT_CMD(gpt, CONFIG_SYS_MAXARGS, 1, do_gpt,
 	" gpt guid mmc 0 varname\n"
 #ifdef CONFIG_CMD_GPT_RENAME
 	"gpt partition renaming commands:\n"
-	" gpt read <interface> <dev>\n"
+	" gpt read <interface> <dev> [<varname>]\n"
 	"    - read GPT into a data structure for manipulation\n"
+	"    - read GPT partitions into environment variable\n"
 	" gpt swap <interface> <dev> <name1> <name2>\n"
 	"    - change all partitions named name1 to name2\n"
 	"      and vice-versa\n"
diff --git a/doc/README.gpt b/doc/README.gpt
index ac975f66b8..91e397d06f 100644
--- a/doc/README.gpt
+++ b/doc/README.gpt
@@ -237,6 +237,23 @@ doc/arch/index.rst:
 => gpt swap host 0 name othername
 [ . . . ]
 
+Modifying GPT partition layout from U-Boot:
+===========================================
+
+The entire GPT partition layout can be exported to an environment
+variable and then modified enmasse. Users can change the partition
+numbers, offsets, names and sizes. The resulting variable can used to
+reformat the device. Here is an example of reading the GPT partitions
+into a variable and then modifying them:
+
+U-BOOT> gpt read mmc 0 current_partitions
+U-BOOT> env edit current_partitions
+edit: uuid_disk=[...];name=part1,start=0x4000,size=0x4000,uuid=[...];
+name=part2,start=0xc000,size=0xc000,uuid=[...];[ . . . ]
+
+U-BOOT> gpt write mmc 0 $current_partitions
+U-BOOT> gpt verify mmc 0 $current_partitions
+
 Partition type GUID:
 ====================