diff --git a/build/sage_bootstrap/app.py b/build/sage_bootstrap/app.py
index b99d6bb3cdb..1537352d3ad 100644
--- a/build/sage_bootstrap/app.py
+++ b/build/sage_bootstrap/app.py
@@ -108,6 +108,27 @@ def dependencies(self, *package_classes, types=None, format='plain'):
         else:
             raise ValueError('format must be one of "plain" and "shell"')
 
+    def properties(self, *package_classes, props=['version', 'type']):
+        """
+        Show the properties of given packages
+
+        $ sage --package properties maxima
+        version_maxima='5.46.0'
+        type_maxima='standard'
+        """
+        log.debug('Looking up properties')
+        pc = PackageClass(*package_classes)
+        for package_name in pc.names:
+            package = Package(package_name)
+            for p in props:
+                value = getattr(package, p)
+                if value is None:
+                    if p == 'version':
+                        value = 'none'
+                    else:
+                        value = ''
+                print("{0}_{1}='{2}'".format(p, package_name, value))
+
     def name(self, tarball_filename):
         """
         Find the package name given a tarball filename
diff --git a/build/sage_bootstrap/cmdline.py b/build/sage_bootstrap/cmdline.py
index b49e32a98a1..cd63375ed5c 100644
--- a/build/sage_bootstrap/cmdline.py
+++ b/build/sage_bootstrap/cmdline.py
@@ -97,6 +97,18 @@
 """
 
 
+epilog_properties = \
+"""
+Print properties of given package.
+
+EXAMPLE:
+
+    $ sage --package properties maxima
+    version_maxima='5.46.0'
+    type_maxima='standard'
+"""
+
+
 epilog_name = \
 """
 Find the package name given a tarball filename
@@ -278,6 +290,16 @@ def make_parser():
         '--format', type=str, default='plain',
         help='output format (one of plain and shell; default: plain)')
 
+    parser_properties = subparsers.add_parser(
+        'properties', epilog=epilog_properties,
+        formatter_class=argparse.RawDescriptionHelpFormatter,
+        help='Print properties of given packages')
+    parser_properties.add_argument(
+        'package_class', metavar='[package_name|:package_type:]',
+        type=str, nargs='+',
+        help=('package name or designator for all packages of a given type '
+              '(one of :all:, :standard:, :optional:, and :experimental:)'))
+
     parser_name = subparsers.add_parser(
         'name', epilog=epilog_name,
         formatter_class=argparse.RawDescriptionHelpFormatter,
@@ -427,6 +449,8 @@ def run():
         if not types:
             types = None
         app.dependencies(*args.package_class, types=types, format=args.format)
+    elif args.subcommand == 'properties':
+        app.properties(*args.package_class)
     elif args.subcommand == 'name':
         app.name(args.tarball_filename)
     elif args.subcommand == 'tarball':