diff --git a/command/agent/http.go b/command/agent/http.go
index b217c52637..350862cae4 100644
--- a/command/agent/http.go
+++ b/command/agent/http.go
@@ -491,7 +491,11 @@ func (s *HTTPServer) parseToken(req *http.Request, token *string) {
 func (s *HTTPServer) parseSource(req *http.Request, source *structs.QuerySource) {
 	s.parseDC(req, &source.Datacenter)
 	if node := req.URL.Query().Get("near"); node != "" {
-		source.Node = node
+		if node == "self" {
+			source.Node = s.agent.config.NodeName
+		} else {
+			source.Node = node
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/command/agent/http_test.go b/command/agent/http_test.go
index ff10a1fff5..1b39e68116 100644
--- a/command/agent/http_test.go
+++ b/command/agent/http_test.go
@@ -380,6 +380,18 @@ func TestParseSource(t *testing.T) {
 	if source.Datacenter != "foo" || source.Node != "bob" {
 		t.Fatalf("bad: %v", source)
 	}
+
+	// The magic "self" node name will use the agent's local node name.
+	req, err = http.NewRequest("GET",
+		"/v1/catalog/nodes?near=self", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+	source = structs.QuerySource{}
+	srv.parseSource(req, &source)
+	if source.Datacenter != "dc1" || source.Node != srv.agent.config.NodeName {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %v", source)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestParseWait(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/website/source/docs/agent/http/catalog.html.markdown b/website/source/docs/agent/http/catalog.html.markdown
index ccf67311b0..300e8b008a 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/agent/http/catalog.html.markdown
+++ b/website/source/docs/agent/http/catalog.html.markdown
@@ -181,7 +181,8 @@ however, the dc can be provided using the "?dc=" query parameter.
 
 Adding the optional "?near=" parameter with a node name will sort
 the node list in ascending order based on the estimated round trip
-time from that node.
+time from that node. Passing "?near=self" will use the agent's local
+node for the sort.
 
 It returns a JSON body like this:
 
@@ -236,7 +237,8 @@ by tag using the "?tag=" query parameter.
 
 Adding the optional "?near=" parameter with a node name will sort
 the node list in ascending order based on the estimated round trip
-time from that node.
+time from that node. Passing "?near=self" will use the agent's local
+node for the sort.
 
 It returns a JSON body like this: