diff --git a/redis.conf b/redis.conf
index d37760176..870849a79 100644
--- a/redis.conf
+++ b/redis.conf
@@ -1194,6 +1194,22 @@ lua-time-limit 5000
 #
 # cluster-replica-no-failover no
 
+# This option, when set to yes, allows nodes to serve read traffic while the
+# the cluster is in a down state, as long as it believes it owns the slots. 
+#
+# This is useful for two cases.  The first case is for when an application 
+# doesn't require consistency of data during node failures or network partitions.
+# One example of this is a cache, where as long as the node has the data it
+# should be able to serve it. 
+#
+# The second use case is for configurations that don't meet the recommended  
+# three shards but want to enable cluster mode and scale later. A 
+# master outage in a 1 or 2 shard configuration causes a read/write outage to the
+# entire cluster without this option set, with it set there is only a write outage.
+# Without a quorum of masters, slot ownership will not change automatically. 
+#
+# cluster-allow-reads-when-down no
+
 # In order to setup your cluster make sure to read the documentation
 # available at http://redis.io web site.
 
diff --git a/src/cluster.c b/src/cluster.c
index 9e6ddb2c4..a18543e0b 100644
--- a/src/cluster.c
+++ b/src/cluster.c
@@ -5476,8 +5476,8 @@ void readwriteCommand(client *c) {
  * already "down" but it is fragile to rely on the update of the global state,
  * so we also handle it here.
  *
- * CLUSTER_REDIR_DOWN_STATE if the cluster is down but the user attempts to
- * execute a command that addresses one or more keys. */
+ * CLUSTER_REDIR_DOWN_STATE and CLUSTER_REDIR_DOWN_RO_STATE if the cluster is 
+ * down but the user attempts to execute a command that addresses one or more keys. */
 clusterNode *getNodeByQuery(client *c, struct redisCommand *cmd, robj **argv, int argc, int *hashslot, int *error_code) {
     clusterNode *n = NULL;
     robj *firstkey = NULL;
@@ -5595,10 +5595,19 @@ clusterNode *getNodeByQuery(client *c, struct redisCommand *cmd, robj **argv, in
      * without redirections or errors in all the cases. */
     if (n == NULL) return myself;
 
-    /* Cluster is globally down but we got keys? We can't serve the request. */
+    /* Cluster is globally down but we got keys? We only serve the request
+     * if it is a read command and when allow_reads_when_down is enabled. */
     if (server.cluster->state != CLUSTER_OK) {
-        if (error_code) *error_code = CLUSTER_REDIR_DOWN_STATE;
-        return NULL;
+        if (!server.cluster_allow_reads_when_down) {
+            if (error_code) *error_code = CLUSTER_REDIR_DOWN_STATE;
+            return NULL;
+        }
+
+        if (!(cmd->flags & CMD_READONLY) && !(cmd->proc == evalCommand) 
+                && !(cmd->proc == evalShaCommand)) {
+            if (error_code) *error_code = CLUSTER_REDIR_DOWN_RO_STATE;
+            return NULL;
+        }
     }
 
     /* Return the hashslot by reference. */
@@ -5667,6 +5676,8 @@ void clusterRedirectClient(client *c, clusterNode *n, int hashslot, int error_co
         addReplySds(c,sdsnew("-TRYAGAIN Multiple keys request during rehashing of slot\r\n"));
     } else if (error_code == CLUSTER_REDIR_DOWN_STATE) {
         addReplySds(c,sdsnew("-CLUSTERDOWN The cluster is down\r\n"));
+    } else if (error_code == CLUSTER_REDIR_DOWN_RO_STATE) {
+        addReplySds(c,sdsnew("-CLUSTERDOWN The cluster is down and only accepts read commands\r\n"));
     } else if (error_code == CLUSTER_REDIR_DOWN_UNBOUND) {
         addReplySds(c,sdsnew("-CLUSTERDOWN Hash slot not served\r\n"));
     } else if (error_code == CLUSTER_REDIR_MOVED ||
@@ -5701,7 +5712,10 @@ int clusterRedirectBlockedClientIfNeeded(client *c) {
         dictEntry *de;
         dictIterator *di;
 
-        /* If the cluster is down, unblock the client with the right error. */
+        /* If the cluster is down, unblock the client with the right error.
+         * If the cluster is configured to allow reads on cluster down, we
+         * still want to emit this error since a write will be required
+         * to unblock them which may never come.  */
         if (server.cluster->state == CLUSTER_FAIL) {
             clusterRedirectClient(c,NULL,0,CLUSTER_REDIR_DOWN_STATE);
             return 1;
diff --git a/src/cluster.h b/src/cluster.h
index 3ba60df6e..35fc0cbfa 100644
--- a/src/cluster.h
+++ b/src/cluster.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #define CLUSTER_REDIR_MOVED 4         /* -MOVED redirection required. */
 #define CLUSTER_REDIR_DOWN_STATE 5    /* -CLUSTERDOWN, global state. */
 #define CLUSTER_REDIR_DOWN_UNBOUND 6  /* -CLUSTERDOWN, unbound slot. */
+#define CLUSTER_REDIR_DOWN_RO_STATE 7 /* -CLUSTERDOWN, allow reads. */
 
 struct clusterNode;
 
diff --git a/src/config.c b/src/config.c
index 5bfb0de5c..3d53e656b 100644
--- a/src/config.c
+++ b/src/config.c
@@ -2166,6 +2166,8 @@ standardConfig configs[] = {
     createBoolConfig("syslog-enabled", NULL, IMMUTABLE_CONFIG, server.syslog_enabled, 0, NULL, NULL),
     createBoolConfig("cluster-enabled", NULL, IMMUTABLE_CONFIG, server.cluster_enabled, 0, NULL, NULL),
     createBoolConfig("appendonly", NULL, MODIFIABLE_CONFIG, server.aof_enabled, 0, NULL, updateAppendonly),
+    createBoolConfig("cluster-allow-reads-when-down", NULL, MODIFIABLE_CONFIG, server.cluster_allow_reads_when_down, 0, NULL, NULL),
+
 
     /* String Configs */
     createStringConfig("aclfile", NULL, IMMUTABLE_CONFIG, ALLOW_EMPTY_STRING, server.acl_filename, "", NULL, NULL),
diff --git a/src/module.c b/src/module.c
index 5d9a39387..a4e7cbe2c 100644
--- a/src/module.c
+++ b/src/module.c
@@ -3174,6 +3174,9 @@ fmterr:
  * EINVAL: wrong command arity.
  * ENOENT: command does not exist.
  * EPERM:  operation in Cluster instance with key in non local slot.
+ * EROFS:  operation in Cluster instance when a write command is sent
+ *         in a readonly state.
+ * ENETDOWN: operation in Cluster instance when cluster is down.
  *
  * This API is documented here: https://redis.io/topics/modules-intro
  */
@@ -3231,13 +3234,20 @@ RedisModuleCallReply *RM_Call(RedisModuleCtx *ctx, const char *cmdname, const ch
      * trying to access non-local keys, with the exception of commands
      * received from our master. */
     if (server.cluster_enabled && !(ctx->client->flags & CLIENT_MASTER)) {
+        int error_code;
         /* Duplicate relevant flags in the module client. */
         c->flags &= ~(CLIENT_READONLY|CLIENT_ASKING);
         c->flags |= ctx->client->flags & (CLIENT_READONLY|CLIENT_ASKING);
-        if (getNodeByQuery(c,c->cmd,c->argv,c->argc,NULL,NULL) !=
+        if (getNodeByQuery(c,c->cmd,c->argv,c->argc,NULL,&error_code) !=
                            server.cluster->myself)
         {
-            errno = EPERM;
+            if (error_code == CLUSTER_REDIR_DOWN_RO_STATE) { 
+                errno = EROFS;
+            } else if (error_code == CLUSTER_REDIR_DOWN_STATE) { 
+                errno = ENETDOWN;
+            } else {
+                errno = EPERM;
+            }
             goto cleanup;
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/scripting.c b/src/scripting.c
index 7cf21f408..98d4b2b7e 100644
--- a/src/scripting.c
+++ b/src/scripting.c
@@ -679,15 +679,27 @@ int luaRedisGenericCommand(lua_State *lua, int raise_error) {
     if (server.cluster_enabled && !server.loading &&
         !(server.lua_caller->flags & CLIENT_MASTER))
     {
+        int error_code;
         /* Duplicate relevant flags in the lua client. */
         c->flags &= ~(CLIENT_READONLY|CLIENT_ASKING);
         c->flags |= server.lua_caller->flags & (CLIENT_READONLY|CLIENT_ASKING);
-        if (getNodeByQuery(c,c->cmd,c->argv,c->argc,NULL,NULL) !=
+        if (getNodeByQuery(c,c->cmd,c->argv,c->argc,NULL,&error_code) !=
                            server.cluster->myself)
         {
-            luaPushError(lua,
-                "Lua script attempted to access a non local key in a "
-                "cluster node");
+            if (error_code == CLUSTER_REDIR_DOWN_RO_STATE) { 
+                luaPushError(lua,
+                    "Lua script attempted to execute a write command while the "
+                    "cluster is down and readonly");
+            } else if (error_code == CLUSTER_REDIR_DOWN_STATE) { 
+                luaPushError(lua,
+                    "Lua script attempted to execute a command while the "
+                    "cluster is down");
+            } else {
+                luaPushError(lua,
+                    "Lua script attempted to access a non local key in a "
+                    "cluster node");
+            }
+
             goto cleanup;
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/server.h b/src/server.h
index f2c93241c..b5e51002b 100644
--- a/src/server.h
+++ b/src/server.h
@@ -1334,6 +1334,8 @@ struct redisServer {
                                       to set in order to suppress certain
                                       native Redis Cluster features. Check the
                                       REDISMODULE_CLUSTER_FLAG_*. */
+    int cluster_allow_reads_when_down; /* Are reads allowed when the cluster
+                                        is down? */
     /* Scripting */
     lua_State *lua; /* The Lua interpreter. We use just one for all clients */
     client *lua_client;   /* The "fake client" to query Redis from Lua */