diff --git a/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md b/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md
index eea80c57e..63b277110 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ program](https://hackerone.com/tendermint).
 
 
 ### FEATURES:
+- [log] new `log_format` config option, which can be set to 'plain' for colored
+  text or 'json' for JSON output
 
 ### IMPROVEMENTS:
 
diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/root.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/root.go
index 89ffbe749..6d79f75c0 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/root.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/commands/root.go
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@ var RootCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		if config.LogFormat == cfg.LogFormatJSON {
+			logger = log.NewTMJSONLogger(log.NewSyncWriter(os.Stdout))
+		}
 		logger, err = tmflags.ParseLogLevel(config.LogLevel, logger, cfg.DefaultLogLevel())
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index ea6582c09..23b033994 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ const (
 	FuzzModeDrop = iota
 	// FuzzModeDelay is a mode in which we randomly sleep
 	FuzzModeDelay
+
+	// LogFormatPlain is a format for colored text
+	LogFormatPlain = "plain"
+	// LogFormatJSON is a format for json output
+	LogFormatJSON = "json"
 )
 
 // NOTE: Most of the structs & relevant comments + the
@@ -94,6 +99,9 @@ func (cfg *Config) SetRoot(root string) *Config {
 // ValidateBasic performs basic validation (checking param bounds, etc.) and
 // returns an error if any check fails.
 func (cfg *Config) ValidateBasic() error {
+	if err := cfg.BaseConfig.ValidateBasic(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if err := cfg.RPC.ValidateBasic(); err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "Error in [rpc] section")
 	}
@@ -145,6 +153,9 @@ type BaseConfig struct {
 	// Output level for logging
 	LogLevel string `mapstructure:"log_level"`
 
+	// Output format: 'plain' (colored text) or 'json'
+	LogFormat string `mapstructure:"log_format"`
+
 	// Path to the JSON file containing the initial validator set and other meta data
 	Genesis string `mapstructure:"genesis_file"`
 
@@ -179,6 +190,7 @@ func DefaultBaseConfig() BaseConfig {
 		ProxyApp:          "tcp://127.0.0.1:26658",
 		ABCI:              "socket",
 		LogLevel:          DefaultPackageLogLevels(),
+		LogFormat:         LogFormatPlain,
 		ProfListenAddress: "",
 		FastSync:          true,
 		FilterPeers:       false,
@@ -221,6 +233,17 @@ func (cfg BaseConfig) DBDir() string {
 	return rootify(cfg.DBPath, cfg.RootDir)
 }
 
+// ValidateBasic performs basic validation (checking param bounds, etc.) and
+// returns an error if any check fails.
+func (cfg BaseConfig) ValidateBasic() error {
+	switch cfg.LogFormat {
+	case LogFormatPlain, LogFormatJSON:
+	default:
+		return errors.New("unknown log_format (must be 'plain' or 'json')")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // DefaultLogLevel returns a default log level of "error"
 func DefaultLogLevel() string {
 	return "error"
diff --git a/config/toml.go b/config/toml.go
index 89be3783d..6f0578e44 100644
--- a/config/toml.go
+++ b/config/toml.go
@@ -86,6 +86,9 @@ db_dir = "{{ js .BaseConfig.DBPath }}"
 # Output level for logging, including package level options
 log_level = "{{ .BaseConfig.LogLevel }}"
 
+# Output format: 'plain' (colored text) or 'json'
+log_format = "{{ .BaseConfig.LogFormat }}"
+
 ##### additional base config options #####
 
 # Path to the JSON file containing the initial validator set and other meta data
diff --git a/docs/tendermint-core/configuration.md b/docs/tendermint-core/configuration.md
index 7052ca507..13894a308 100644
--- a/docs/tendermint-core/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/tendermint-core/configuration.md
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ db_dir = "data"
 # Output level for logging
 log_level = "state:info,*:error"
 
+# Output format: 'plain' (colored text) or 'json'
+log_format = "plain"
+
 ##### additional base config options #####
 
 # The ID of the chain to join (should be signed with every transaction and vote)