diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/node/export/main.go b/internal/app/wwctl/node/export/main.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1645683c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/node/export/main.go
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+package export
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	apinode "github.com/hpcng/warewulf/internal/pkg/api/node"
+	"github.com/hpcng/warewulf/internal/pkg/api/routes/wwapiv1"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+)
+
+func CobraRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	if len(args) == 0 {
+		args = append(args, ".*")
+	}
+	filterList := wwapiv1.NodeList{
+		Output: args,
+	}
+	nodeListMsg := apinode.FilteredNodes(&filterList)
+	/*
+		nodeMap := make(map[string]*node.NodeConf)
+		// got proper yaml back
+		_ = yaml.Unmarshal([]byte(nodeListMsg.NodeConfMapYaml), nodeMap)
+	*/
+	fmt.Println(nodeListMsg.NodeConfMapYaml)
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/node/export/root.go b/internal/app/wwctl/node/export/root.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ce423830
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/node/export/root.go
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package export
+
+import (
+	"github.com/hpcng/warewulf/internal/pkg/node"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+)
+
+var (
+	baseCmd = &cobra.Command{
+		DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
+		Use:                   "export  NODENAME",
+		Short:                 "Export nodes as yaml to stdout",
+		Long:                  "This command exports the given nodes as yaml to stdout.",
+		RunE:                  CobraRunE,
+		ValidArgsFunction: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string, toComplete string) ([]string, cobra.ShellCompDirective) {
+			if len(args) != 0 {
+				return nil, cobra.ShellCompDirectiveNoFileComp
+			}
+
+			nodeDB, _ := node.New()
+			nodes, _ := nodeDB.FindAllNodes()
+			var node_names []string
+			for _, node := range nodes {
+				node_names = append(node_names, node.Id.Get())
+			}
+			return node_names, cobra.ShellCompDirectiveNoFileComp
+		},
+	}
+	NoHeader bool
+)
+
+func init() {
+}
+
+// GetRootCommand returns the root cobra.Command for the application.
+func GetCommand() *cobra.Command {
+	return baseCmd
+}
diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/node/root.go b/internal/app/wwctl/node/root.go
index 27ca7a92..ffc1f80b 100644
--- a/internal/app/wwctl/node/root.go
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/node/root.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hpcng/warewulf/internal/app/wwctl/node/console"
 	"github.com/hpcng/warewulf/internal/app/wwctl/node/delete"
 	"github.com/hpcng/warewulf/internal/app/wwctl/node/edit"
+	"github.com/hpcng/warewulf/internal/app/wwctl/node/export"
 	"github.com/hpcng/warewulf/internal/app/wwctl/node/imprt"
 	"github.com/hpcng/warewulf/internal/app/wwctl/node/list"
 	"github.com/hpcng/warewulf/internal/app/wwctl/node/sensors"
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ func init() {
 	baseCmd.AddCommand(nodestatus.GetCommand())
 	baseCmd.AddCommand(edit.GetCommand())
 	baseCmd.AddCommand(imprt.GetCommand())
+	baseCmd.AddCommand(export.GetCommand())
 }
 
 // GetRootCommand returns the root cobra.Command for the application.