diff --git a/nvme-print-json.c b/nvme-print-json.c
index 1b757e0ced..ae82a80125 100644
--- a/nvme-print-json.c
+++ b/nvme-print-json.c
@@ -197,9 +197,9 @@ static void json_id_iocs_iocsc(struct json_object *obj_iocsc, __u64 iocsc)
 	obj_add_str(obj_iocsc, "NVM Command Set", nvmcs ? "Selected" : "Not selected");
 }
 
-static bool human(void)
+static bool verbose_mode(void)
 {
-	return json_print_ops.flags & VERBOSE;
+	return json_print_ops.flags & VERBOSE || nvme_cfg.output_format_ver == 2;
 }
 
 static void json_id_iocs(struct nvme_id_iocs *iocs)
@@ -699,7 +699,7 @@ static void json_smart_log(struct nvme_smart_log *smart, unsigned int nsid,
 	nvme_uint128_t media_errors = le128_to_cpu(smart->media_errors);
 	nvme_uint128_t num_err_log_entries = le128_to_cpu(smart->num_err_log_entries);
 
-	if (human()) {
+	if (verbose_mode()) {
 		struct json_object *crt = json_create_object();
 
 		obj_add_int(crt, "value", smart->critical_warning);
@@ -1357,7 +1357,7 @@ static void json_single_property(int offset, uint64_t value64)
 	char json_str[STR_LEN];
 	uint32_t value32 = (uint32_t)value64;
 
-	if (human()) {
+	if (verbose_mode()) {
 		json_single_property_human(offset, value64, r);
 	} else {
 		sprintf(json_str, "0x%02x", offset);
@@ -2540,7 +2540,7 @@ static void json_print_nvme_subsystem_list(nvme_root_t r, bool show_ana)
 			obj_add_str(subsystem_attrs, "Name", nvme_subsystem_get_name(s));
 			obj_add_str(subsystem_attrs, "NQN", nvme_subsystem_get_nqn(s));
 
-			if (json_print_ops.flags & VERBOSE) {
+			if (verbose_mode()) {
 				obj_add_str(subsystem_attrs, "Model",
 						nvme_subsystem_get_model(s));
 				obj_add_str(subsystem_attrs, "Serial",
@@ -2572,7 +2572,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_cap(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint64_t cap = mmio_read64(bar + NVME_REG_CAP);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_cap((struct nvme_bar_cap *)&cap, obj_create_array_obj(r, "cap"));
 	else
 		obj_add_uint64(r, "cap", cap);
@@ -2582,7 +2582,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_vs(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t vs = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_VS);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_version(vs, obj_create_array_obj(r, "vs"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "vs", vs);
@@ -2592,7 +2592,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_intms(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t intms = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_INTMS);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_intms(intms, obj_create_array_obj(r, "intms"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "intms", intms);
@@ -2602,7 +2602,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_intmc(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t intmc = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_INTMC);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_intmc(intmc, obj_create_array_obj(r, "intmc"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "intmc", intmc);
@@ -2612,7 +2612,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_cc(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t cc = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_CC);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_cc(cc, obj_create_array_obj(r, "cc"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "cc", cc);
@@ -2622,7 +2622,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_csts(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t csts = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_CSTS);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_csts(csts, obj_create_array_obj(r, "csts"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "csts", csts);
@@ -2632,7 +2632,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_nssr(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t nssr = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_NSSR);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_nssr(nssr, obj_create_array_obj(r, "nssr"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "nssr", nssr);
@@ -2642,7 +2642,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_nssd(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t nssd = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_NSSD);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_nssd(nssd, obj_create_array_obj(r, "nssd"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "nssd", nssd);
@@ -2652,7 +2652,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_crto(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t crto = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_CRTO);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_crto(crto, obj_create_array_obj(r, "crto"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "crto", crto);
@@ -2662,7 +2662,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_aqa(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t aqa = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_AQA);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_aqa(aqa, obj_create_array_obj(r, "aqa"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "aqa", aqa);
@@ -2672,7 +2672,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_asq(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint64_t asq = mmio_read64(bar + NVME_REG_ASQ);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_asq(asq, obj_create_array_obj(r, "asq"));
 	else
 		obj_add_uint64(r, "asq", asq);
@@ -2682,7 +2682,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_acq(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint64_t acq = mmio_read64(bar + NVME_REG_ACQ);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_acq(acq, obj_create_array_obj(r, "acq"));
 	else
 		obj_add_uint64(r, "acq", acq);
@@ -2694,7 +2694,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_cmbloc(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 	uint32_t cmbsz;
 	bool support;
 
-	if (human()) {
+	if (verbose_mode()) {
 		cmbsz = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_CMBSZ);
 		support = nvme_registers_cmbloc_support(cmbsz);
 		json_registers_cmbloc(cmbloc, support, obj_create_array_obj(r, "cmbloc"));
@@ -2707,7 +2707,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_cmbsz(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t cmbsz = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_CMBSZ);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_cmbsz(cmbsz, obj_create_array_obj(r, "cmbsz"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "cmbsz", cmbsz);
@@ -2717,7 +2717,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_bpinfo(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t bpinfo = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_BPINFO);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_bpinfo(bpinfo, obj_create_array_obj(r, "bpinfo"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "bpinfo", bpinfo);
@@ -2727,7 +2727,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_bprsel(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t bprsel = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_BPRSEL);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_bprsel(bprsel, obj_create_array_obj(r, "bprsel"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "bprsel", bprsel);
@@ -2737,7 +2737,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_bpmbl(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint64_t bpmbl = mmio_read64(bar + NVME_REG_BPMBL);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_bpmbl(bpmbl, obj_create_array_obj(r, "bpmbl"));
 	else
 		obj_add_uint64(r, "bpmbl", bpmbl);
@@ -2747,7 +2747,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_cmbmsc(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint64_t cmbmsc = mmio_read64(bar + NVME_REG_CMBMSC);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_cmbmsc(cmbmsc, obj_create_array_obj(r, "cmbmsc"));
 	else
 		obj_add_uint64(r, "cmbmsc", cmbmsc);
@@ -2757,7 +2757,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_cmbsts(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t cmbsts = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_CMBSTS);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_cmbsts(cmbsts, obj_create_array_obj(r, "cmbsts"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "cmbsts", cmbsts);
@@ -2767,7 +2767,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_cmbebs(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t cmbebs = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_CMBEBS);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_cmbebs(cmbebs, obj_create_array_obj(r, "cmbebs"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "cmbebs", cmbebs);
@@ -2777,7 +2777,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_cmbswtp(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t cmbswtp = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_CMBSWTP);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_cmbswtp(cmbswtp, obj_create_array_obj(r, "cmbswtp"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "cmbswtp", cmbswtp);
@@ -2787,7 +2787,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_pmrcap(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t pmrcap = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_PMRCAP);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_pmrcap(pmrcap, obj_create_array_obj(r, "pmrcap"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "pmrcap", pmrcap);
@@ -2797,7 +2797,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_pmrctl(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t pmrctl = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_PMRCTL);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_pmrctl(pmrctl, obj_create_array_obj(r, "pmrctl"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "pmrctl", pmrctl);
@@ -2809,7 +2809,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_pmrsts(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 	uint32_t pmrctl;
 	bool ready;
 
-	if (human()) {
+	if (verbose_mode()) {
 		pmrctl = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_PMRCTL);
 		ready = nvme_registers_pmrctl_ready(pmrctl);
 		json_registers_pmrsts(pmrsts, ready, obj_create_array_obj(r, "pmrsts"));
@@ -2822,7 +2822,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_pmrebs(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t pmrebs = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_PMREBS);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_pmrebs(pmrebs, obj_create_array_obj(r, "pmrebs"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "pmrebs", pmrebs);
@@ -2832,7 +2832,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_pmrswtp(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t pmrswtp = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_PMRSWTP);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_pmrswtp(pmrswtp, obj_create_array_obj(r, "pmrswtp"));
 	else
 		obj_add_int(r, "pmrswtp", pmrswtp);
@@ -2842,7 +2842,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_pmrmscl(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t pmrmscl = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_PMRMSCL);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_pmrmscl(pmrmscl, obj_create_array_obj(r, "pmrmscl"));
 	else
 		obj_add_uint(r, "pmrmscl", pmrmscl);
@@ -2852,7 +2852,7 @@ static void json_ctrl_registers_pmrmscu(void *bar, struct json_object *r)
 {
 	uint32_t pmrmscu = mmio_read32(bar + NVME_REG_PMRMSCU);
 
-	if (human())
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_registers_pmrmscu(pmrmscu, obj_create_array_obj(r, "pmrmscu"));
 	else
 		obj_add_uint(r, "pmrmscu", pmrmscu);
@@ -2997,14 +2997,13 @@ static void json_ctrl_register_human(int offset, uint64_t value, struct json_obj
 
 static void json_ctrl_register(int offset, uint64_t value)
 {
-	bool human = json_print_ops.flags & VERBOSE;
 	struct json_object *r;
 	char json_str[STR_LEN];
 
 	sprintf(json_str, "register: %#04x", offset);
 	r = obj_create(json_str);
 
-	if (human) {
+	if (verbose_mode()) {
 		obj_add_uint64(r, nvme_register_to_string(offset), value);
 		json_ctrl_register_human(offset, value, r);
 	} else {
@@ -3132,7 +3131,7 @@ static void json_nvme_id_ctrl_nvm(struct nvme_id_ctrl_nvm *ctrl_nvm)
 	obj_add_uint(r, "wzdsl", ctrl_nvm->wzdsl);
 	obj_add_uint(r, "aocs", le16_to_cpu(ctrl_nvm->aocs));
 
-	if (json_print_ops.flags & VERBOSE) {
+	if (verbose_mode()) {
 		__u16 rsvd = (ctrl_nvm->aocs & 0xfffe) >> 1;
 		__u8 ralbas = ctrl_nvm->aocs & 0x1;
 
@@ -4490,7 +4489,7 @@ static void json_list_item(nvme_ns_t n)
 
 static void json_print_list_items(nvme_root_t t)
 {
-	if (json_print_ops.flags & VERBOSE)
+	if (verbose_mode())
 		json_detail_list(t);
 	else
 		json_simple_list(t);
@@ -4587,7 +4586,7 @@ static void json_simple_topology(nvme_root_t r)
 			obj_add_str(subsystem_attrs, "Name", nvme_subsystem_get_name(s));
 			obj_add_str(subsystem_attrs, "NQN", nvme_subsystem_get_nqn(s));
 
-			if (json_print_ops.flags & VERBOSE) {
+			if (verbose_mode()) {
 				obj_add_str(subsystem_attrs, "Model",
 						nvme_subsystem_get_model(s));
 				obj_add_str(subsystem_attrs, "Serial",
@@ -4727,7 +4726,7 @@ static void json_directive_show(__u8 type, __u8 oper, __u16 spec, __u32 nsid, __
 	sprintf(json_str, "%#x", result);
 	obj_add_result(r, json_str);
 
-	if (json_print_ops.flags & VERBOSE) {
+	if (verbose_mode()) {
 		json_directive_show_fields(type, oper, result, buf, r);
 	} else if (buf) {
 		data = json_create_array();
diff --git a/nvme.c b/nvme.c
index 4f86b94d10..f6b981ab1f 100644
--- a/nvme.c
+++ b/nvme.c
@@ -200,6 +200,7 @@ static const char *block_count = "number of blocks (zeroes based) on device to a
 static const char *crkey = "current reservation key";
 static const char *csi = "command set identifier";
 static const char *buf_len = "buffer len (if) data is sent or received";
+static const char *deprecated = "deprecated; does nothing";
 static const char *domainid = "Domain Identifier";
 static const char *doper = "directive operation";
 static const char *dspec_w_dtype = "directive specification associated with directive type";
@@ -259,6 +260,7 @@ static const char *pmrmscu = "PMRMSCU=0xe18 register offset";
 
 struct nvme_config nvme_cfg = {
 	.output_format = "normal",
+	.output_format_ver = 1,
 };
 
 static void *mmap_registers(struct nvme_dev *dev, bool writable);
@@ -6911,7 +6913,7 @@ static int dir_send(int argc, char **argv, struct command *cmd, struct plugin *p
 		  OPT_SHRT("dir-spec",       'S', &cfg.dspec,          dspec_w_dtype),
 		  OPT_BYTE("dir-oper",       'O', &cfg.doper,          doper),
 		  OPT_SHRT("endir",          'e', &cfg.endir,          endir),
-		  OPT_FLAG("human-readable", 'H', &cfg.human_readable, human_readable_directive),
+		  OPT_FLAG("human-readable", 'H', &cfg.human_readable, deprecated),
 		  OPT_FLAG("raw-binary",     'b', &cfg.raw_binary,     raw_directive),
 		  OPT_FILE("input-file",     'i', &cfg.file,           input));
 
diff --git a/nvme.h b/nvme.h
index 6d14a2f3b7..3005803368 100644
--- a/nvme.h
+++ b/nvme.h
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ struct nvme_config {
 	int verbose;
 	__u32 timeout;
 	bool dry_run;
+	unsigned int output_format_ver;
 };
 
 /*
@@ -92,6 +93,8 @@ struct nvme_config {
 		##__VA_ARGS__,                                                         \
 		OPT_UINT("timeout",      't', &nvme_cfg.timeout,       timeout),       \
 		OPT_FLAG("dry-run",        0, &nvme_cfg.dry_run,       dry_run),       \
+		OPT_UINT("output-format-version", 0, &nvme_cfg.output_format_ver,      \
+			 "output format version: 1|2"),                                \
 		OPT_END()                                                              \
 	}