diff --git a/src/cmd/Makefile.am b/src/cmd/Makefile.am
index 013b711c334a..64b56831c287 100644
--- a/src/cmd/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/cmd/Makefile.am
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ AM_CPPFLAGS = \
 	$(ZMQ_CFLAGS)
 
 fluxcmd_ldadd = \
+	$(top_builddir)/src/common/libkvs/libkvs.la \
 	$(top_builddir)/src/common/libflux-internal.la \
 	$(top_builddir)/src/common/libflux-core.la \
 	$(top_builddir)/src/common/libflux-optparse.la \
diff --git a/src/cmd/flux-kvs.c b/src/cmd/flux-kvs.c
index b984e93a56f6..595ce9252bb5 100644
--- a/src/cmd/flux-kvs.c
+++ b/src/cmd/flux-kvs.c
@@ -25,15 +25,18 @@
 #if HAVE_CONFIG_H
 #include "config.h"
 #endif
+#include <sys/ioctl.h>
 #include <flux/core.h>
 #include <flux/optparse.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <jansson.h>
+#include <czmq.h>
 
 #include "src/common/libutil/xzmalloc.h"
 #include "src/common/libutil/log.h"
 #include "src/common/libutil/readall.h"
+#include "src/common/libkvs/treeobj.h"
 
 int cmd_get (optparse_t *p, int argc, char **argv);
 int cmd_put (optparse_t *p, int argc, char **argv);
@@ -48,9 +51,12 @@ int cmd_dropcache (optparse_t *p, int argc, char **argv);
 int cmd_copy (optparse_t *p, int argc, char **argv);
 int cmd_move (optparse_t *p, int argc, char **argv);
 int cmd_dir (optparse_t *p, int argc, char **argv);
+int cmd_ls (optparse_t *p, int argc, char **argv);
 
 static void dump_kvs_dir (kvsdir_t *dir, bool Ropt, bool dopt);
 
+#define min(a,b) ((a)<(b)?(a):(b))
+
 static struct optparse_option dir_opts[] =  {
     { .name = "recursive", .key = 'R', .has_arg = 0,
       .usage = "Recursively display keys under subdirectories",
@@ -61,6 +67,28 @@ static struct optparse_option dir_opts[] =  {
     OPTPARSE_TABLE_END
 };
 
+static struct optparse_option ls_opts[] =  {
+    { .name = "recursive", .key = 'R', .has_arg = 0,
+      .usage = "List directory recursively",
+    },
+    { .name = "directory", .key = 'd', .has_arg = 0,
+      .usage = "List directory instead of contents",
+    },
+    { .name = "width", .key = 'w', .has_arg = 1,
+      .usage = "Set output width to COLS.  0 means no limit",
+    },
+    { .name = "1", .key = '1', .has_arg = 0,
+      .usage = "Force one entry per line",
+    },
+    { .name = "classify", .key = 'F', .has_arg = 0,
+      .usage = "Append indicator (one of .@) to entries",
+    },
+    { .name = "columns", .key = 'C', .has_arg = 0,
+      .usage = "List entries by columns",
+    },
+    OPTPARSE_TABLE_END
+};
+
 static struct optparse_option watch_opts[] =  {
     { .name = "recursive", .key = 'R', .has_arg = 0,
       .usage = "Recursively display keys under subdirectories",
@@ -116,6 +144,13 @@ static struct optparse_subcommand subcommands[] = {
       0,
       dir_opts
     },
+    { "ls",
+      "[-R] [-d] [-w COLS] [-1] [-W] [-C] [key...]",
+      "List directory",
+      cmd_ls,
+      0,
+      ls_opts
+    },
     { "unlink",
       "key [key...]",
       "Remove key",
@@ -816,6 +851,251 @@ int cmd_dir (optparse_t *p, int argc, char **argv)
     return (0);
 }
 
+/* Find longest name in a directory.
+ */
+static int get_dir_maxname (kvsdir_t *dir)
+{
+    kvsitr_t *itr;
+    const char *name;
+    int max = 0;
+
+    if (!(itr = kvsitr_create (dir)))
+        log_err_exit ("kvsitr_create");
+    while ((name = kvsitr_next (itr)))
+        if (max < strlen (name))
+            max = strlen (name);
+    kvsitr_destroy (itr);
+    return max;
+}
+
+/* Find longest name in a list of names.
+ */
+static int get_list_maxname (zlist_t *names)
+{
+    const char *name;
+    int max = 0;
+
+    name = zlist_first (names);
+    while (name) {
+        if (max < strlen (name))
+            max = strlen (name);
+        name = zlist_next (names);
+    }
+    return max;
+}
+
+/* Determine terminal window width to use for columnar output.
+ * --width=COLS or -1 force the width to COLS or 1, respectively.
+ * If not forced and not a tty, use 1, unless -C, then use 80.
+ * Otherwise ask the tty how wide it is.
+ * N.B. --width=0 forces "unlimited" width.
+ */
+static int get_window_width (optparse_t *p, int fd)
+{
+    struct winsize w;
+    int width;
+
+    if (optparse_hasopt (p, "1"))
+        return 1;
+    if ((width = optparse_get_int (p, "width", -1)) >= 0)
+        return width;
+    if (ioctl (fd, TIOCGWINSZ, &w) == 0)
+        return w.ws_col;
+    if (optparse_hasopt (p, "columns"))
+        return 80;
+    return 1;
+}
+
+/* List the content of 'dir', arranging output in columns that fit 'win_width'.
+ */
+static void list_kvs_dir_single (kvsdir_t *dir, int win_width, optparse_t *p)
+{
+    kvsitr_t *itr;
+    const char *name;
+    int col_width = get_dir_maxname (dir) + 4;
+    int col = 0;
+    char *namebuf;
+
+    if (!(namebuf = malloc (col_width + 2)))
+        log_err_exit ("malloc");
+    if (!(itr = kvsitr_create (dir)))
+        log_err_exit ("kvsitr_create");
+    while ((name = kvsitr_next (itr))) {
+        if (win_width != 0 && col + col_width > win_width && col > 0) {
+            printf ("\n");
+            col = 0;
+        }
+        strcpy (namebuf, name);
+        if (optparse_hasopt (p, "classify")) {
+            if (kvsdir_isdir (dir, name))
+                strcat (namebuf, ".");
+            else if (kvsdir_issymlink (dir, name))
+                strcat (namebuf, "@");
+        }
+        printf ("%-*s", min (col_width, win_width), namebuf);
+        col += col_width;
+    }
+    printf ("\n");
+    kvsitr_destroy (itr);
+    free (namebuf);
+}
+
+/* List contents of directory pointed to by 'key'.
+ * This function is called recursively if the -R option was specified.
+ */
+static void list_kvs_dir (flux_t *h, const char *key, optparse_t *p,
+                          int win_width, bool print_label, bool print_vspace)
+{
+    flux_future_t *f;
+    kvsdir_t *dir;
+    kvsitr_t *itr;
+    const char *name, *json_str;
+
+    if (!(f = flux_kvs_lookup (h, FLUX_KVS_READDIR, key))
+                || flux_kvs_lookup_get (f, &json_str) < 0) {
+        log_err_exit ("%s", key);
+        goto done;
+    }
+
+    if (print_label)
+        printf ("%s%s:\n", print_vspace ? "\n" : "", key);
+    if (!(dir = kvsdir_create (h, NULL, key, json_str)))
+        log_err_exit ("kvsdir_create");
+    list_kvs_dir_single (dir, win_width, p);
+
+    if (optparse_hasopt (p, "recursive")) {
+        if (!(itr = kvsitr_create (dir)))
+            log_err_exit ("kvsitr_create");
+        while ((name = kvsitr_next (itr))) {
+            if (kvsdir_isdir (dir, name)) {
+                char *nkey;
+                if (!(nkey = kvsdir_key_at (dir, name))) {
+                    log_err ("%s: kvsdir_key_at failed", name);
+                    continue;
+                }
+                list_kvs_dir (h, nkey, p, win_width, print_label, true);
+                free (nkey);
+            }
+        }
+        kvsdir_destroy (dir);
+    }
+done:
+    flux_future_destroy (f);
+}
+
+/* List keys, arranging in columns so that they fit within 'win_width'.
+ * The keys are popped off the list and freed.
+ */
+static void list_kvs_keys (zlist_t *singles, int win_width)
+{
+    char *name;
+    int col_width = get_list_maxname (singles) + 4;
+    int col = 0;
+
+    while ((name = zlist_pop (singles))) {
+        if (win_width != 0 && col + col_width > win_width && col > 0) {
+            printf ("\n");
+            col = 0;
+        }
+        printf ("%-*s", min (col_width, win_width), name);
+        col += col_width;
+        free (name);
+    }
+    printf ("\n");
+}
+
+/* Put key in 'dirs' or 'singles' list, depending on whether
+ * its contents are to be listed or not.  If -F is specified,
+ * 'singles' key names are decorated based on their type.
+ */
+static void categorize_key (optparse_t *p, const char *key,
+                            zlist_t *dirs, zlist_t *singles)
+{
+    flux_t *h = (flux_t *)optparse_get_data (p, "flux_handle");
+    flux_future_t *f;
+    const char *json_str;
+    char *nkey;
+    json_t *treeobj = NULL;
+
+    if (!(f = flux_kvs_lookup (h, FLUX_KVS_TREEOBJ, key)))
+        log_err_exit ("flux_kvs_lookup");
+    if (flux_kvs_lookup_get (f, &json_str) < 0) {
+        fprintf (stderr, "%s: %s\n", key, flux_strerror (errno));
+        goto done;
+    }
+    if (!(treeobj = treeobj_decode (json_str)))
+        log_err_exit ("%s: metadata decode error", key);
+    if (treeobj_is_dir (treeobj) || treeobj_is_dirref (treeobj)) {
+        if (optparse_hasopt (p, "directory")) {
+            nkey = xasprintf ("%s%s", key,
+                              optparse_hasopt (p, "classify") ? "." : "");
+            if (zlist_append (singles, nkey) < 0)
+                log_err_exit ("zlist_append");
+        }
+        else
+            if (zlist_append (dirs, xstrdup (key)) < 0)
+                log_err_exit ("zlist_append");
+    }
+    else if (treeobj_is_val (treeobj) || treeobj_is_valref (treeobj)) {
+        if (zlist_append (singles, xstrdup (key)) < 0)
+            log_err_exit ("zlist_append");
+    }
+    else if (treeobj_is_symlink (treeobj)) {
+        nkey = xasprintf ("%s%s", key,
+                          optparse_hasopt (p, "classify") ? "@" : "");
+        if (zlist_append (singles, nkey) < 0)
+            log_err_exit ("zlist_append");
+    }
+done:
+    json_decref (treeobj);
+    flux_future_destroy (f);
+    return;
+}
+
+/* Mimic ls(1).
+ * Strategy: sort keys from command line into two lists: 'dirs' for
+ * directories to be expanded, and 'singles' for others.
+ * First display the singles, then display directories, optionally recursing.
+ * Assume "." if no keys were specified on the command line.
+ */
+int cmd_ls (optparse_t *p, int argc, char **argv)
+{
+    flux_t *h = (flux_t *)optparse_get_data (p, "flux_handle");
+    int optindex = optparse_option_index (p);
+    int win_width = get_window_width (p, STDOUT_FILENO);
+    zlist_t *dirs, *singles;
+    char *key;
+    bool print_label = false;   // print "name:" before directory contents
+    bool print_vspace = false;  // print vertical space before label
+
+    if (!(dirs = zlist_new ()) || !(singles = zlist_new ()))
+        log_err_exit ("zlist_new");
+
+    if (optindex == argc)
+        categorize_key (p, ".", dirs, singles);
+    while (optindex < argc)
+        categorize_key (p, argv[optindex++], dirs, singles);
+
+    if (zlist_size (singles) > 0) {
+        list_kvs_keys (singles, win_width);
+        print_label = true;
+        print_vspace = true;
+    }
+
+    if (optparse_hasopt (p, "recursive") || zlist_size (dirs) > 1)
+        print_label = true;
+    while ((key = zlist_pop (dirs))) {
+        list_kvs_dir (h, key, p, win_width, print_label, print_vspace);
+        print_vspace = true;
+        free (key);
+    }
+
+    zlist_destroy (&dirs);
+    zlist_destroy (&singles);
+
+    return (0);
+}
+
 int cmd_copy (optparse_t *p, int argc, char **argv)
 {
     flux_t *h = (flux_t *)optparse_get_data (p, "flux_handle");