diff --git a/vlib/cli/command.v b/vlib/cli/command.v
index 4401c5f455..c5d5d7d53d 100644
--- a/vlib/cli/command.v
+++ b/vlib/cli/command.v
@@ -16,11 +16,13 @@ pub mut:
 	name            string
 	usage           string
 	description     string
+	man_description string
 	version         string
 	pre_execute     FnCommandCallback
 	execute         FnCommandCallback
 	post_execute    FnCommandCallback
 	disable_help    bool
+	disable_man     bool
 	disable_version bool
 	disable_flags   bool
 	sort_flags      bool
@@ -41,7 +43,9 @@ pub fn (cmd Command) str() string {
 	res << '	usage: "$cmd.usage"'
 	res << '	version: "$cmd.version"'
 	res << '	description: "$cmd.description"'
+	res << '	man_description: "$cmd.man_description"'
 	res << '	disable_help: $cmd.disable_help'
+	res << '	disable_man: $cmd.disable_man'
 	res << '	disable_flags: $cmd.disable_flags'
 	res << '	disable_version: $cmd.disable_version'
 	res << '	sort_flags: $cmd.sort_flags'
@@ -155,6 +159,9 @@ fn (mut cmd Command) add_default_flags() {
 		use_version_abbrev := !cmd.flags.contains('v') && cmd.posix_mode
 		cmd.add_flag(version_flag(use_version_abbrev))
 	}
+	if !cmd.disable_man && !cmd.flags.contains('man') {
+		cmd.add_flag(man_flag())
+	}
 }
 
 // add_default_commands adds the command functions of the
@@ -166,6 +173,9 @@ fn (mut cmd Command) add_default_commands() {
 	if !cmd.disable_version && cmd.version != '' && !cmd.commands.contains('version') {
 		cmd.add_command(version_cmd())
 	}
+	if !cmd.disable_man && !cmd.commands.contains('man') && cmd.is_root() {
+		cmd.add_command(man_cmd())
+	}
 }
 
 fn (mut cmd Command) parse_flags() {
@@ -197,6 +207,7 @@ fn (mut cmd Command) parse_commands() {
 	global_flags := cmd.flags.filter(it.global)
 	cmd.check_help_flag()
 	cmd.check_version_flag()
+	cmd.check_man_flag()
 	for i in 0 .. cmd.args.len {
 		arg := cmd.args[i]
 		for j in 0 .. cmd.commands.len {
@@ -248,6 +259,16 @@ fn (cmd Command) check_help_flag() {
 	}
 }
 
+fn (cmd Command) check_man_flag() {
+	if !cmd.disable_man && cmd.flags.contains('man') {
+		man_flag := cmd.flags.get_bool('man') or { return } // ignore error and handle command normally
+		if man_flag {
+			cmd.execute_man()
+			exit(0)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 fn (cmd Command) check_version_flag() {
 	if !cmd.disable_version && cmd.version != '' && cmd.flags.contains('version') {
 		version_flag := cmd.flags.get_bool('version') or { return } // ignore error and handle command normally
@@ -279,6 +300,17 @@ pub fn (cmd Command) execute_help() {
 	}
 }
 
+// execute_help executes the callback registered
+// for the `-man` flag option.
+pub fn (cmd Command) execute_man() {
+	if cmd.commands.contains('man') {
+		man_cmd := cmd.commands.get('man') or { return }
+		man_cmd.execute(man_cmd) or { panic(err) }
+	} else {
+		print(cmd.manpage())
+	}
+}
+
 fn (cmds []Command) get(name string) ?Command {
 	for cmd in cmds {
 		if cmd.name == name {
diff --git a/vlib/cli/man.v b/vlib/cli/man.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c27f233074
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/cli/man.v
@@ -0,0 +1,181 @@
+module cli
+
+import time
+
+fn man_flag() Flag {
+	return Flag{
+		flag: .bool
+		name: 'man'
+		description: 'Prints the auto-generated manpage.'
+	}
+}
+
+fn man_cmd() Command {
+	return Command{
+		name: 'man'
+		usage: '<subcommand>'
+		description: 'Prints the auto-generated manpage.'
+		execute: print_manpage_for_command
+	}
+}
+
+// print_manpage_for_command prints the manpage for the
+// command or subcommand in `man_cmd` to stdout
+pub fn print_manpage_for_command(man_cmd Command) ? {
+	if man_cmd.args.len > 0 {
+		mut cmd := man_cmd.parent
+		for arg in man_cmd.args {
+			mut found := false
+			for sub_cmd in cmd.commands {
+				if sub_cmd.name == arg {
+					cmd = unsafe { &sub_cmd }
+					found = true
+					break
+				}
+			}
+			if !found {
+				args := man_cmd.args.join(' ')
+				println('Invalid command: $args')
+				return
+			}
+		}
+		print(cmd.manpage())
+	} else {
+		if man_cmd.parent != 0 {
+			print(man_cmd.parent.manpage())
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// manpage returns a `string` containing the mdoc(7) manpage for
+// this `Command`
+pub fn (cmd Command) manpage() string {
+	mut mdoc := '.Dd ${time.now().strftime('%B %d, %Y')}\n'
+	mdoc += '.Dt ${cmd.full_name().replace(' ', '-').to_upper()} 1\n'
+	mdoc += '.Os\n.Sh NAME\n.Nm ${cmd.full_name().replace(' ', '-')}\n.Nd $cmd.description\n'
+	mdoc += '.Sh SYNOPSIS\n'
+	mdoc += '.Nm $cmd.root().name\n'
+	if cmd.parent != 0 {
+		mut parents := []Command{}
+		if !cmd.parent.is_root() {
+			parents.prepend(cmd.parent)
+			for {
+				p := parents[0]
+				if p.parent.is_root() {
+					break
+				} else {
+					parents.prepend(p.parent)
+				}
+			}
+			for c in parents {
+				mdoc += '.Ar $c.name\n'
+			}
+		}
+		mdoc += '.Ar $cmd.name\n'
+	}
+	for flag in cmd.flags {
+		mdoc += '.Op'
+		if flag.abbrev != '' {
+			mdoc += ' Fl $flag.abbrev'
+		} else {
+			if cmd.posix_mode {
+				mdoc += ' Fl -$flag.name'
+			} else {
+				mdoc += ' Fl $flag.name'
+			}
+		}
+		match flag.flag {
+			.int, .float, .int_array, .float_array { mdoc += ' Ar num' }
+			.string, .string_array { mdoc += ' Ar string' }
+			else {}
+		}
+		mdoc += '\n'
+	}
+	for i in 0 .. cmd.required_args {
+		mdoc += '.Ar arg$i\n'
+	}
+	if cmd.commands.len > 0 {
+		mdoc += '.Nm $cmd.root().name\n'
+		if cmd.parent != 0 {
+			mut parents := []Command{}
+			if !cmd.parent.is_root() {
+				parents.prepend(cmd.parent)
+				for {
+					p := parents[0]
+					if p.parent.is_root() {
+						break
+					} else {
+						parents.prepend(p.parent)
+					}
+				}
+				for c in parents {
+					mdoc += '.Ar $c.name\n'
+				}
+			}
+			mdoc += '.Ar $cmd.name\n'
+		}
+		mdoc += '.Ar subcommand\n'
+	}
+
+	mdoc += '.Sh DESCRIPTION\n'
+	if cmd.man_description != '' {
+		mdoc += '$cmd.man_description\n'
+	} else if cmd.description != '' {
+		mdoc += '$cmd.description\n'
+	}
+	if cmd.flags.len > 0 {
+		mdoc += '.Pp\nThe options are as follows:\n'
+		mdoc += '.Bl -tag -width indent\n'
+		for flag in cmd.flags {
+			mdoc += '.It'
+			if flag.abbrev != '' {
+				mdoc += ' Fl $flag.abbrev'
+			}
+			if cmd.posix_mode {
+				mdoc += ' Fl -$flag.name'
+			} else {
+				mdoc += ' Fl $flag.name'
+			}
+			mdoc += '\n'
+			if flag.description != '' {
+				mdoc += '$flag.description\n'
+			}
+		}
+		mdoc += '.El\n'
+	}
+	if cmd.commands.len > 0 {
+		mdoc += '.Pp\nThe subcommands are as follows:\n'
+		mdoc += '.Bl -tag -width indent\n'
+		for c in cmd.commands {
+			mdoc += '.It Cm $c.name\n'
+			if c.description != '' {
+				mdoc += '$c.description\n'
+			}
+		}
+		mdoc += '.El\n'
+	}
+
+	if cmd.commands.len > 0 {
+		mdoc += '.Sh SEE ALSO\n'
+		mut cmds := []string{}
+		if cmd.parent != 0 {
+			cmds << cmd.parent.full_name().replace(' ', '-')
+		}
+		for c in cmd.commands {
+			cmds << c.full_name().replace(' ', '-')
+		}
+		cmds.sort()
+		mut i := 1
+		for c in cmds {
+			mdoc += '.Xr $c 1'
+			if i == cmds.len {
+				mdoc += '\n'
+			} else {
+				mdoc += ' ,\n'
+			}
+			i++
+		}
+	}
+
+	return mdoc
+}
diff --git a/vlib/cli/man_test.v b/vlib/cli/man_test.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..461a7b5059
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/cli/man_test.v
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+module cli
+
+fn test_manpage() {
+	mut cmd := Command{
+		name: 'command'
+		description: 'description'
+		commands: [
+			Command{
+				name: 'sub'
+				description: 'subcommand'
+			},
+			Command{
+				name: 'sub2'
+				description: 'another subcommand'
+			},
+		]
+		flags: [
+			Flag{
+				flag: .string
+				name: 'str'
+				description: 'str flag'
+			},
+			Flag{
+				flag: .bool
+				name: 'bool'
+				description: 'bool flag'
+				abbrev: 'b'
+			},
+			Flag{
+				flag: .string
+				name: 'required'
+				abbrev: 'r'
+				required: true
+			},
+		]
+	}
+	cmd.setup()
+	assert cmd.manpage().after_char(`\n`) == r'.Dt COMMAND 1
+.Os
+.Sh NAME
+.Nm command
+.Nd description
+.Sh SYNOPSIS
+.Nm command
+.Op Fl str Ar string
+.Op Fl b
+.Op Fl r Ar string
+.Nm command
+.Ar subcommand
+.Sh DESCRIPTION
+description
+.Pp
+The options are as follows:
+.Bl -tag -width indent
+.It Fl str
+str flag
+.It Fl b Fl bool
+bool flag
+.It Fl r Fl required
+.El
+.Pp
+The subcommands are as follows:
+.Bl -tag -width indent
+.It Cm sub
+subcommand
+.It Cm sub2
+another subcommand
+.El
+.Sh SEE ALSO
+.Xr command-sub 1 ,
+.Xr command-sub2 1
+'
+
+	cmd.posix_mode = true
+	assert cmd.manpage().after_char(`\n`) == r'.Dt COMMAND 1
+.Os
+.Sh NAME
+.Nm command
+.Nd description
+.Sh SYNOPSIS
+.Nm command
+.Op Fl -str Ar string
+.Op Fl b
+.Op Fl r Ar string
+.Nm command
+.Ar subcommand
+.Sh DESCRIPTION
+description
+.Pp
+The options are as follows:
+.Bl -tag -width indent
+.It Fl -str
+str flag
+.It Fl b Fl -bool
+bool flag
+.It Fl r Fl -required
+.El
+.Pp
+The subcommands are as follows:
+.Bl -tag -width indent
+.It Cm sub
+subcommand
+.It Cm sub2
+another subcommand
+.El
+.Sh SEE ALSO
+.Xr command-sub 1 ,
+.Xr command-sub2 1
+'
+}
diff --git a/vlib/v/tests/inout/cli_root_default_help.vv b/vlib/v/tests/inout/cli_root_default_help.vv
index 384624ac71..01da855d72 100644
--- a/vlib/v/tests/inout/cli_root_default_help.vv
+++ b/vlib/v/tests/inout/cli_root_default_help.vv
@@ -3,5 +3,6 @@ import os
 
 fn main() {
 	mut cmd := Command {}
+	cmd.disable_man = true
 	cmd.parse(os.args)
 }