diff --git a/src/bin_client/test/test_basic.sh b/src/bin_client/test/test_basic.sh
index 72f5a6a70..e10d3beda 100755
--- a/src/bin_client/test/test_basic.sh
+++ b/src/bin_client/test/test_basic.sh
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ $client transfer 10 from bootstrap1 to hardlimit -arg "Unit"
 
 $client originate free account free_account for $key1
 $client get delegate for free_account
+$client register key $key2 as delegate
 $client set delegate for free_account to $key2
 $client get delegate for free_account
 
diff --git a/src/proto_alpha/lib_client/client_proto_context.ml b/src/proto_alpha/lib_client/client_proto_context.ml
index f72c10f35..a66f65a89 100644
--- a/src/proto_alpha/lib_client/client_proto_context.ml
+++ b/src/proto_alpha/lib_client/client_proto_context.ml
@@ -212,6 +212,13 @@ let set_delegate cctxt block ~fee contract ~src_pk ~manager_sk opt_delegate =
   delegate_contract
     cctxt block ~source:contract ~src_pk ~manager_sk ~fee opt_delegate
 
+let register_as_delegate cctxt block ~fee ~manager_sk src_pk =
+  let source = Ed25519.Public_key.hash src_pk in
+  delegate_contract
+    cctxt block
+    ~source:(Contract.implicit_contract source) ~src_pk ~manager_sk ~fee
+    (Some source)
+
 let source_to_keys (wallet : #Proto_alpha.full) block source =
   get_manager wallet block source >>=? fun (_src_name, _src_pkh, src_pk, src_sk) ->
   return (src_pk, src_sk)
diff --git a/src/proto_alpha/lib_client/client_proto_context.mli b/src/proto_alpha/lib_client/client_proto_context.mli
index fdc270166..2947102b1 100644
--- a/src/proto_alpha/lib_client/client_proto_context.mli
+++ b/src/proto_alpha/lib_client/client_proto_context.mli
@@ -44,6 +44,13 @@ val set_delegate :
   public_key_hash option ->
   Operation_list_hash.elt tzresult Lwt.t
 
+val register_as_delegate:
+  #Proto_alpha.full ->
+  Block_services.block ->
+  fee:Tez.tez ->
+  manager_sk:Client_keys.sk_locator ->
+  public_key -> Operation_list_hash.elt tzresult Lwt.t
+
 val operation_submitted_message :
   #Client_context.printer ->
   Operation_hash.t ->
diff --git a/src/proto_alpha/lib_client_commands/client_proto_context_commands.ml b/src/proto_alpha/lib_client_commands/client_proto_context_commands.ml
index 7b575288a..5262912a7 100644
--- a/src/proto_alpha/lib_client_commands/client_proto_context_commands.ml
+++ b/src/proto_alpha/lib_client_commands/client_proto_context_commands.ml
@@ -242,6 +242,20 @@ let commands () =
         operation_submitted_message cctxt oph
       end;
 
+    command ~group ~desc: "Register the public key hash as a delegate."
+      (args1 fee_arg)
+      (prefixes [ "register" ; "key" ]
+       @@ Public_key_hash.alias_param
+         ~name: "mgr" ~desc: "the delegate key"
+       @@ prefixes [ "as" ; "delegate" ]
+       @@ stop)
+      begin fun fee (_, src_pkh) cctxt ->
+        Client_keys.get_key cctxt src_pkh >>=? fun (_, src_pk, src_sk) ->
+        register_as_delegate cctxt
+          ~fee cctxt#block ~manager_sk:src_sk src_pk >>=? fun oph ->
+        operation_submitted_message cctxt oph
+      end;
+
     command ~group:alphanet ~desc: "Open a new FREE account (Alphanet only)."
       (args1 force_switch)
       (prefixes [ "originate" ; "free" ; "account" ]