diff --git a/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py b/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
index 9e5620eef..15ac1372c 100755
--- a/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
@@ -1939,7 +1939,10 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
             self.to_stdout(formatSeconds(info_dict['duration']))
         print_mandatory('format')
         if self.params.get('forcejson', False):
-            self.to_stdout(json.dumps(self.sanitize_info(info_dict)))
+            if self.params.get('indent_json', False):
+                self.to_stdout(json.dumps(self.sanitize_info(info_dict), indent=2))
+            else:
+                self.to_stdout(json.dumps(self.sanitize_info(info_dict)))
 
     @_catch_unsafe_file_extension
     def process_info(self, info_dict):
diff --git a/youtube_dl/__init__.py b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
index 3c1272e7b..3a2d8d992 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/__init__.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
@@ -439,6 +439,7 @@ def _real_main(argv=None):
         # just for deprecation check
         'autonumber': opts.autonumber if opts.autonumber is True else None,
         'usetitle': opts.usetitle if opts.usetitle is True else None,
+        'indent_json': opts.pretty_json,
     }
 
     with YoutubeDL(ydl_opts) as ydl:
diff --git a/youtube_dl/options.py b/youtube_dl/options.py
index 61705d1f0..887deb48d 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/options.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/options.py
@@ -679,6 +679,11 @@ def parseOpts(overrideArguments=None):
         '--no-call-home',
         dest='call_home', action='store_false', default=False,
         help='Do NOT contact the youtube-dl server for debugging')
+    verbosity.add_option(
+        '--pretty-json',
+        dest='pretty_json', action='store_true', default=False,
+        help='Print json with indentation. Only when --dump-json is provided'
+    )
 
     filesystem = optparse.OptionGroup(parser, 'Filesystem Options')
     filesystem.add_option(