diff --git a/artiq/frontend/artiq_client.py b/artiq/frontend/artiq_client.py
index 8dddaef7d..d4ce1926c 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/artiq_client.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/artiq_client.py
@@ -96,6 +96,10 @@ def get_argparser():
                                    help="use a specific repository revision "
                                         "(defaults to head)")
 
+    parser_ls = subparsers.add_parser(
+        "ls", help="list a directory on the master")
+    parser_ls.add_argument("directory")
+
     return parser
 
 
@@ -154,6 +158,15 @@ def _action_scan_repository(remote, args):
     remote.scan_repository(args.revision)
 
 
+def _action_ls(remote, args):
+    contents = remote.list_directory(args.directory)
+    for name, is_dir in sorted(contents, key=lambda x: (-x[1], x[0])):
+        if is_dir:
+            print("<DIR> " + name)
+        else:
+            print("      " + name)
+
+
 def _show_schedule(schedule):
     clear_screen()
     if schedule:
@@ -285,7 +298,8 @@ def main():
             "set_dataset": "master_dataset_db",
             "del_dataset": "master_dataset_db",
             "scan_devices": "master_device_db",
-            "scan_repository": "master_experiment_db"
+            "scan_repository": "master_experiment_db",
+            "ls": "master_experiment_db"
         }[action]
         remote = Client(args.server, port, target_name)
         try:
diff --git a/artiq/master/experiments.py b/artiq/master/experiments.py
index 0dc96d7ab..b6ea84fca 100644
--- a/artiq/master/experiments.py
+++ b/artiq/master/experiments.py
@@ -109,7 +109,8 @@ class ExperimentDB:
             self._scanning = False
 
     def scan_repository_async(self, new_cur_rev=None):
-        asyncio.ensure_future(exc_to_warning(self.scan_repository(new_cur_rev)))
+        asyncio.ensure_future(
+            exc_to_warning(self.scan_repository(new_cur_rev)))
 
     async def examine(self, filename, use_repository=True):
         if use_repository:
@@ -128,6 +129,9 @@ class ExperimentDB:
             self.repo_backend.release_rev(revision)
         return description
 
+    def list_directory(self, directory):
+        return [(de.name, de.is_dir()) for de in os.scandir(directory)]
+
 
 class FilesystemBackend:
     def __init__(self, root):