diff --git a/programs/cleos/main.cpp b/programs/cleos/main.cpp
index 3d0cf920e5..53b127eabb 100644
--- a/programs/cleos/main.cpp
+++ b/programs/cleos/main.cpp
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ const fc::microseconds abi_serializer_max_time = fc::seconds(10); // No risk to
 string tx_ref_block_num_or_id;
 bool   tx_force_unique = false;
 bool   tx_dont_broadcast = false;
+bool   tx_unpack_data = false;
 bool   tx_return_packed = false;
 bool   tx_skip_sign = false;
 bool   tx_print_json = false;
@@ -226,6 +227,7 @@ void add_standard_transaction_options(CLI::App* cmd, string default_permission =
    cmd->add_flag("-j,--json", tx_print_json, localized("Print result as JSON"));
    cmd->add_option("--json-file", tx_json_save_file, localized("Save result in JSON format into a file"));
    cmd->add_flag("-d,--dont-broadcast", tx_dont_broadcast, localized("Don't broadcast transaction to the network (just print to stdout)"));
+   cmd->add_flag("-u,--unpack-action-data", tx_unpack_data, localized("Unpack all action data within transaction, needs interaction with ${n} unless --abi-file. Used in conjunction with --dont-broadcast.", ("n", node_executable_name)));
    cmd->add_flag("--return-packed", tx_return_packed, localized("Used in conjunction with --dont-broadcast to get the packed transaction"));
    cmd->add_option("-r,--ref-block", tx_ref_block_num_or_id, (localized("Set the reference block num or block id used for TAPOS (Transaction as Proof-of-Stake)")));
    cmd->add_flag("--use-old-rpc", tx_use_old_rpc, localized("Use old RPC push_transaction, rather than new RPC send_transaction"));
@@ -499,14 +501,15 @@ fc::variant push_transaction( signed_transaction& trx, const std::vector<public_
       }
    } else {
       if (!tx_return_packed) {
-         try {
+         if( tx_unpack_data ) {
             fc::variant unpacked_data_trx;
             abi_serializer::to_variant(trx, unpacked_data_trx, abi_serializer_resolver, abi_serializer::create_yield_function(abi_serializer_max_time));
             return unpacked_data_trx;
-         } catch (...) {
+         } else {
             return fc::variant(trx);
          }
       } else {
+         EOSC_ASSERT( !tx_unpack_data, "ERROR: --unpack-action-data not supported with --return-packed" );
         return fc::variant(packed_transaction(trx, compression));
       }
    }
diff --git a/tests/nodeos_run_test.py b/tests/nodeos_run_test.py
index aa49eff704..e23fea2cd6 100755
--- a/tests/nodeos_run_test.py
+++ b/tests/nodeos_run_test.py
@@ -573,10 +573,11 @@
     if actual != expected:
         errorExit("FAILURE - Wrong currency1111 balance (expected=%s, actual=%s)" % (str(expected), str(actual)), raw=True)
 
-    Print("push transfer action to currency1111 contract with sign skipping option enabled")
+    # Test skip sign with unpacked action data
+    Print("push transfer action to currency1111 contract with sign skipping and unpack action data options enabled")
     data="{\"from\":\"currency1111\",\"to\":\"defproducera\",\"quantity\":"
     data +="\"00.0001 CUR\",\"memo\":\"test\"}"
-    opts="-s -d --permission currency1111@active"
+    opts="-s -d -u --permission currency1111@active"
     trans=node.pushMessage(contract, action, data, opts, expectTrxTrace=False)
 
     try:
@@ -603,6 +604,37 @@
     if actual != expected:
         errorExit("FAILURE - Wrong currency1111 balance (expectedgma=%s, actual=%s)" % (str(expected), str(actual)), raw=True)
 
+    # Test skip sign with packed action data
+    Print("push transfer action to currency1111 contract with sign skipping option enabled")
+    data="{\"from\":\"currency1111\",\"to\":\"defproducera\",\"quantity\":"
+    data +="\"00.0002 CUR\",\"memo\":\"test packed\"}"
+    opts="-s -d --permission currency1111@active"
+    trans=node.pushMessage(contract, action, data, opts, expectTrxTrace=False)
+
+    try:
+        assert(not trans[1]["signatures"])
+    except (AssertionError, KeyError) as _:
+        Print("ERROR: Expected signatures array to be empty due to skipping option enabled.")
+        raise
+
+    try:
+        data = trans[1]["actions"][0]["data"]
+        Print(f"Action data: {data}")
+        assert data == "1042081e4d75af4660ae423ad15b974a020000000000000004435552000000000b74657374207061636b6564"
+    except (AssertionError, KeyError) as _:
+        Print("ERROR: Expecting packed data on push transfer action json result.")
+        raise
+
+    result=node.pushTransaction(trans[1], None)
+
+    amountStr=node.getTableAccountBalance("currency1111", currencyAccount.name)
+
+    expected="99999.9997 CUR"
+    actual=amountStr
+    if actual != expected:
+        errorExit("FAILURE - Wrong currency1111 balance (expectedgma=%s, actual=%s)" % (str(expected), str(actual)), raw=True)
+
+
     Print("---- Test for signing transaction ----")
     testeraAccountAmountBeforeTrx=node.getAccountEosBalanceStr(testeraAccount.name)
     currencyAccountAmountBeforeTrx=node.getAccountEosBalanceStr(currencyAccount.name)