diff --git a/python-package/xgboost/core.py b/python-package/xgboost/core.py
index 5f1cb8465..86b70a01a 100644
--- a/python-package/xgboost/core.py
+++ b/python-package/xgboost/core.py
@@ -1280,36 +1280,54 @@ class Booster(object):
             ptr = (ctypes.c_char * len(buf)).from_buffer(buf)
             _check_call(_LIB.XGBoosterLoadModelFromBuffer(self.handle, ptr, length))
 
-    def dump_model(self, fout, fmap='', with_stats=False):
+    def dump_model(self, fout, fmap='', with_stats=False, dump_format="text"):
         """
-        Dump model into a text file.
+        Dump model into a text or JSON file.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
-        foout : string
+        fout : string
             Output file name.
         fmap : string, optional
             Name of the file containing feature map names.
-        with_stats : bool (optional)
+        with_stats : bool, optional
             Controls whether the split statistics are output.
+        dump_format : string, optional
+            Format of model dump file. Can be 'text' or 'json'.
         """
         if isinstance(fout, STRING_TYPES):
             fout = open(fout, 'w')
             need_close = True
         else:
             need_close = False
-        ret = self.get_dump(fmap, with_stats)
-        for i in range(len(ret)):
-            fout.write('booster[{}]:\n'.format(i))
-            fout.write(ret[i])
+        ret = self.get_dump(fmap, with_stats, dump_format)
+        if dump_format == 'json':
+            fout.write('[\n')
+            for i in range(len(ret)):
+                fout.write(ret[i])
+                if i < len(ret) - 1:
+                    fout.write(",\n")
+            fout.write('\n]')
+        else:
+            for i in range(len(ret)):
+                fout.write('booster[{}]:\n'.format(i))
+                fout.write(ret[i])
         if need_close:
             fout.close()
 
     def get_dump(self, fmap='', with_stats=False, dump_format="text"):
         """
-        Returns the dump the model as a list of strings.
-        """
+        Returns the model dump as a list of strings.
 
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        fmap : string, optional
+            Name of the file containing feature map names.
+        with_stats : bool, optional
+            Controls whether the split statistics are output.
+        dump_format : string, optional
+            Format of model dump. Can be 'text' or 'json'.
+        """
         length = c_bst_ulong()
         sarr = ctypes.POINTER(ctypes.c_char_p)()
         if self.feature_names is not None and fmap == '':