diff --git a/src/pkg/flag/flag.go b/src/pkg/flag/flag.go
index 964f5541b8..1719af89a1 100644
--- a/src/pkg/flag/flag.go
+++ b/src/pkg/flag/flag.go
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ package flag
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"os"
 	"sort"
 	"strconv"
@@ -228,6 +229,7 @@ type FlagSet struct {
 	args          []string // arguments after flags
 	exitOnError   bool     // does the program exit if there's an error?
 	errorHandling ErrorHandling
+	output        io.Writer // nil means stderr; use out() accessor
 }
 
 // A Flag represents the state of a flag.
@@ -254,6 +256,19 @@ func sortFlags(flags map[string]*Flag) []*Flag {
 	return result
 }
 
+func (f *FlagSet) out() io.Writer {
+	if f.output == nil {
+		return os.Stderr
+	}
+	return f.output
+}
+
+// SetOutput sets the destination for usage and error messages.
+// If output is nil, os.Stderr is used.
+func (f *FlagSet) SetOutput(output io.Writer) {
+	f.output = output
+}
+
 // VisitAll visits the flags in lexicographical order, calling fn for each.
 // It visits all flags, even those not set.
 func (f *FlagSet) VisitAll(fn func(*Flag)) {
@@ -315,15 +330,16 @@ func Set(name, value string) error {
 	return commandLine.Set(name, value)
 }
 
-// PrintDefaults prints to standard error the default values of all defined flags in the set.
+// PrintDefaults prints, to standard error unless configured
+// otherwise, the default values of all defined flags in the set.
 func (f *FlagSet) PrintDefaults() {
-	f.VisitAll(func(f *Flag) {
+	f.VisitAll(func(flag *Flag) {
 		format := "  -%s=%s: %s\n"
-		if _, ok := f.Value.(*stringValue); ok {
+		if _, ok := flag.Value.(*stringValue); ok {
 			// put quotes on the value
 			format = "  -%s=%q: %s\n"
 		}
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, format, f.Name, f.DefValue, f.Usage)
+		fmt.Fprintf(f.out(), format, flag.Name, flag.DefValue, flag.Usage)
 	})
 }
 
@@ -334,7 +350,7 @@ func PrintDefaults() {
 
 // defaultUsage is the default function to print a usage message.
 func defaultUsage(f *FlagSet) {
-	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Usage of %s:\n", f.name)
+	fmt.Fprintf(f.out(), "Usage of %s:\n", f.name)
 	f.PrintDefaults()
 }
 
@@ -601,7 +617,7 @@ func (f *FlagSet) Var(value Value, name string, usage string) {
 	flag := &Flag{name, usage, value, value.String()}
 	_, alreadythere := f.formal[name]
 	if alreadythere {
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s flag redefined: %s\n", f.name, name)
+		fmt.Fprintf(f.out(), "%s flag redefined: %s\n", f.name, name)
 		panic("flag redefinition") // Happens only if flags are declared with identical names
 	}
 	if f.formal == nil {
@@ -624,7 +640,7 @@ func Var(value Value, name string, usage string) {
 // returns the error.
 func (f *FlagSet) failf(format string, a ...interface{}) error {
 	err := fmt.Errorf(format, a...)
-	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
+	fmt.Fprintln(f.out(), err)
 	f.usage()
 	return err
 }
diff --git a/src/pkg/flag/flag_test.go b/src/pkg/flag/flag_test.go
index 698c15f2c5..a9561f269f 100644
--- a/src/pkg/flag/flag_test.go
+++ b/src/pkg/flag/flag_test.go
@@ -5,10 +5,12 @@
 package flag_test
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	. "flag"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"sort"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 )
@@ -206,6 +208,17 @@ func TestUserDefined(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestSetOutput(t *testing.T) {
+	var flags FlagSet
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	flags.SetOutput(&buf)
+	flags.Init("test", ContinueOnError)
+	flags.Parse([]string{"-unknown"})
+	if out := buf.String(); !strings.Contains(out, "-unknown") {
+		t.Logf("expected output mentioning unknown; got %q", out)
+	}
+}
+
 // This tests that one can reset the flags. This still works but not well, and is
 // superseded by FlagSet.
 func TestChangingArgs(t *testing.T) {