diff --git a/tests/integration/test_read.py b/tests/integration/test_read.py
index da18769..881a958 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_read.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_read.py
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
-import re
-from uuid import uuid4
+import json
 import pytest
+import re
 
 from toot import api
 from toot.exceptions import ConsoleError
+from uuid import uuid4
 
 
 def test_instance(app, run):
@@ -13,6 +14,14 @@ def test_instance(app, run):
     assert "running Mastodon" in out
 
 
+def test_instance_json(app, run):
+    out = run("instance", "--json")
+    data = json.loads(out)
+    assert data["title"] is not None
+    assert data["description"] is not None
+    assert data["version"] is not None
+
+
 def test_instance_anon(app, run_anon, base_url):
     out = run_anon("instance", base_url)
     assert "Mastodon" in out
diff --git a/toot/auth.py b/toot/auth.py
index 5ba301e..0311013 100644
--- a/toot/auth.py
+++ b/toot/auth.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def create_app_interactive(base_url):
 def get_instance_domain(base_url):
     print_out("Looking up instance info...")
 
-    instance = api.get_instance(base_url)
+    instance = api.get_instance(base_url).json()
 
     print_out(
         f"Found instance <blue>{instance['title']}</blue> "
diff --git a/toot/commands.py b/toot/commands.py
index 0cdaaa6..503147f 100644
--- a/toot/commands.py
+++ b/toot/commands.py
@@ -542,15 +542,19 @@ def instance(app, user, args):
         raise ConsoleError("Please specify an instance.")
 
     try:
-        instance = api.get_instance(base_url).json()
-        instance = from_dict(Instance, instance)
-        print_instance(instance)
+        response = api.get_instance(base_url)
     except ApiError:
         raise ConsoleError(
             f"Instance not found at {base_url}.\n"
             "The given domain probably does not host a Mastodon instance."
         )
 
+    if args.json:
+        print(response.text)
+    else:
+        instance = from_dict(Instance, response.json())
+        print_instance(instance)
+
 
 def notifications(app, user, args):
     if args.clear:
diff --git a/toot/console.py b/toot/console.py
index 9515d68..5638502 100644
--- a/toot/console.py
+++ b/toot/console.py
@@ -439,6 +439,7 @@ READ_COMMANDS = [
                 "nargs": "?",
             }),
             scheme_arg,
+            json_arg,
         ],
         require_auth=False,
     ),
@@ -454,6 +455,7 @@ READ_COMMANDS = [
                 "default": False,
                 "help": "Resolve non-local accounts",
             }),
+            json_arg,
         ],
         require_auth=True,
     ),