diff --git a/django/core/management.py b/django/core/management.py
index b7ff3e6955..0a04a7e830 100644
--- a/django/core/management.py
+++ b/django/core/management.py
@@ -1413,7 +1413,7 @@ def load_data(fixture_labels, verbosity=1):
 load_data.help_doc = 'Installs the named fixture(s) in the database'
 load_data.args = "[--verbosity] fixture, fixture, ..."
  
-def dump_data(app_labels, format='json'):
+def dump_data(app_labels, format='json', indent=None):
     "Output the current contents of the database as a fixture of the given format"
     from django.db.models import get_app, get_apps, get_models
     from django.core import serializers
@@ -1435,7 +1435,7 @@ def dump_data(app_labels, format='json'):
         for model in get_models(app):
             objects.extend(model.objects.all())
     try:
-        print serializers.serialize(format, objects)
+        print serializers.serialize(format, objects, indent=indent)
     except Exception, e:
         sys.stderr.write(style.ERROR("Unable to serialize database: %s\n" % e))
 dump_data.help_doc = 'Output the contents of the database as a fixture of the given format'
@@ -1525,6 +1525,8 @@ def execute_from_command_line(action_mapping=DEFAULT_ACTION_MAPPING, argv=None):
         help='Tells Django to NOT use the auto-reloader when running the development server.')
     parser.add_option('--format', default='json', dest='format',
         help='Specifies the output serialization format for fixtures')    
+    parser.add_option('--indent', default=None, dest='indent',
+        type='int', help='Specifies the indent level to use when pretty-printing output')
     parser.add_option('--verbosity', action='store', dest='verbosity', default='1',
         type='choice', choices=['0', '1', '2'],
         help='Verbosity level; 0=minimal output, 1=normal output, 2=all output'),
@@ -1579,7 +1581,7 @@ def execute_from_command_line(action_mapping=DEFAULT_ACTION_MAPPING, argv=None):
             parser.print_usage_and_exit()
     elif action == 'dumpdata':
         try:
-            action_mapping[action](args[1:], options.format)
+            action_mapping[action](args[1:], options.format, options.indent)
         except IndexError:
             parser.print_usage_and_exit()
     elif action in ('startapp', 'startproject'):
diff --git a/docs/django-admin.txt b/docs/django-admin.txt
index 81b02d9e11..371c44e010 100644
--- a/docs/django-admin.txt
+++ b/docs/django-admin.txt
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ setting the Python path for you.
 .. _import search path: http://diveintopython.org/getting_to_know_python/everything_is_an_object.html
 
 --format
----------
+--------
 
 **New in Django development version**
 
@@ -490,6 +490,19 @@ of a registered serializer.
 Displays a help message that includes a terse list of all available actions and
 options.
 
+--indent
+--------
+
+**New in Django development version**
+
+Example usage::
+
+    django-admin.py dumpdata --indent=4
+
+Specifies the number of spaces that will be used for indentation when 
+pretty-printing output. By default, output will *not* be pretty-printed.
+Pretty-printing will only be enabled if the indent option is provided.
+
 --noinput
 ---------