diff --git a/command/kv_put.go b/command/kv_put.go
index f5e1fa5de2..98c70b00c5 100644
--- a/command/kv_put.go
+++ b/command/kv_put.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package command
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"encoding/base64"
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
@@ -45,6 +46,9 @@ Usage: consul kv put [options] KEY [DATA]
 
       $ consul kv put webapp/beta/active
 
+  If the -base64 flag is specified, the data will be treated as base 64
+  encoded.
+
   To perform a Check-And-Set operation, specify the -cas flag with the
   appropriate -modify-index flag corresponding to the key you want to perform
   the CAS operation on:
@@ -62,6 +66,9 @@ KV Put Options:
                           lock. The session must already exist and be specified
                           via the -session flag. The default value is false.
 
+  -base64                 Treat the data as base 64 encoded. The default value
+                          is false.
+
   -cas                    Perform a Check-And-Set operation. Specifying this
                           value also requires the -modify-index flag to be set.
                           The default value is false.
@@ -95,6 +102,7 @@ func (c *KVPutCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 	token := cmdFlags.String("token", "", "")
 	cas := cmdFlags.Bool("cas", false, "")
 	flags := cmdFlags.Uint64("flags", 0, "")
+	base64encoded := cmdFlags.Bool("base64", false, "")
 	modifyIndex := cmdFlags.Uint64("modify-index", 0, "")
 	session := cmdFlags.String("session", "", "")
 	acquire := cmdFlags.Bool("acquire", false, "")
@@ -111,6 +119,14 @@ func (c *KVPutCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 		return 1
 	}
 
+	dataBytes := []byte(data)
+	if *base64encoded {
+		dataBytes, err = base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(data)
+		if err != nil {
+			c.Ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Error! Cannot base 64 decode data: %s", err))
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Session is reauired for release or acquire
 	if (*release || *acquire) && *session == "" {
 		c.Ui.Error("Error! Missing -session (required with -acquire and -release)")
@@ -137,7 +153,7 @@ func (c *KVPutCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 		Key:         key,
 		ModifyIndex: *modifyIndex,
 		Flags:       *flags,
-		Value:       []byte(data),
+		Value:       dataBytes,
 		Session:     *session,
 	}
 
diff --git a/command/kv_put_test.go b/command/kv_put_test.go
index 5b84a68b38..3735652c80 100644
--- a/command/kv_put_test.go
+++ b/command/kv_put_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package command
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"encoding/base64"
 	"io"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
@@ -100,6 +101,42 @@ func TestKVPutCommand_Run(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestKVPutCommand_RunBase64(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, client := testAgentWithAPIClient(t)
+	defer srv.Shutdown()
+	waitForLeader(t, srv.httpAddr)
+
+	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
+	c := &KVPutCommand{Ui: ui}
+
+	const encodedString = "aGVsbG8gd29ybGQK"
+
+	args := []string{
+		"-http-addr=" + srv.httpAddr,
+		"-base64",
+		"foo", encodedString,
+	}
+
+	code := c.Run(args)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d. %#v", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	}
+
+	data, _, err := client.KV().Get("foo", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	expected, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(encodedString)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	if !bytes.Equal(data.Value, []byte(expected)) {
+		t.Errorf("bad: %#v, %s", data.Value, data.Value)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestKVPutCommand_File(t *testing.T) {
 	srv, client := testAgentWithAPIClient(t)
 	defer srv.Shutdown()
diff --git a/website/source/docs/commands/kv/put.html.markdown.erb b/website/source/docs/commands/kv/put.html.markdown.erb
index 5719f15677..562f75835a 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/commands/kv/put.html.markdown.erb
+++ b/website/source/docs/commands/kv/put.html.markdown.erb
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ Usage: `consul kv put [options] KEY [DATA]`
   operation will create the key and obtain the lock. The session must already
   exist and be specified via the -session flag. The default value is false.
 
+* `-base64` - Treat the data as base 64 encoded. The default value is false.
+
 * `-cas` - Perform a Check-And-Set operation. Specifying this value also
   requires the -modify-index flag to be set. The default value is false.
 
@@ -60,6 +62,13 @@ $ consul kv put redis/config/connections
 Success! Data written to: redis/config/connections
 ```
 
+If the `-base64` flag is set, the data will be decoded before writing:
+
+```
+$ consul kv put -base64 foo/encoded aGVsbG8gd29ybGQK
+Success! Data written to: foo/encoded
+```
+
 !> **Be careful when overwriting data!** The above operation would overwrite
 the value at the key to the empty value.