diff --git a/doc/man1/flux-kvs.adoc b/doc/man1/flux-kvs.adoc
index e2345af78d29..db0716f5d73a 100644
--- a/doc/man1/flux-kvs.adoc
+++ b/doc/man1/flux-kvs.adoc
@@ -132,11 +132,13 @@ an RFC 11 snapshot reference.
 Create an empty directory and commit the change.  If 'key' exists,
 it is overwritten.
 
-*copy* 'source' 'destination'::
-Copy 'source' key to 'destination' key.  If a directory is copied, a new
-reference is created; it is unnecessary for *copy* to recurse into 'source'.
+*copy* [-S src-ns] [-D dst-ns] 'source' 'destination'::
+Copy 'source' key to 'destination' key.  Optionally, specify a source
+and/or destination namespace to override the one specified via 'N'.
+If a directory is copied, a new reference is created; it is
+unnecessary for *copy* to recurse into 'source'.
 
-*move* 'source' 'destination'::
+*move* [-S src-ns] [-D dst-ns] 'source' 'destination'::
 Like *copy*, but 'source' is unlinked after the copy.
 
 *dropcache* [--all]::
diff --git a/src/cmd/flux-kvs.c b/src/cmd/flux-kvs.c
index 9973dc945ed6..990ed4d73144 100644
--- a/src/cmd/flux-kvs.c
+++ b/src/cmd/flux-kvs.c
@@ -205,6 +205,16 @@ static struct optparse_option getroot_opts[] =  {
     OPTPARSE_TABLE_END
 };
 
+static struct optparse_option copy_opts[] =  {
+    { .name = "src-namespace", .key = 'S', .has_arg = 1,
+      .usage = "Specify source key's namespace",
+    },
+    { .name = "dst-namespace", .key = 'D', .has_arg = 1,
+      .usage = "Specify destination key's namespace",
+    },
+    OPTPARSE_TABLE_END
+};
+
 static struct optparse_subcommand subcommands[] = {
     { "namespace-create",
       "name [name...]",
@@ -288,14 +298,14 @@ static struct optparse_subcommand subcommands[] = {
       "Copy source key to destination key",
       cmd_copy,
       0,
-      NULL
+      copy_opts
     },
     { "move",
       "source destination",
       "Move source key to destination key",
       cmd_move,
       0,
-      NULL
+      copy_opts
     },
     { "dropcache",
       "[--all]",
@@ -1619,14 +1629,19 @@ int cmd_copy (optparse_t *p, int argc, char **argv)
     int optindex;
     flux_future_t *f;
     const char *srckey, *dstkey;
+    const char *srcns, *dstns;
 
     optindex = optparse_option_index (p);
     if (optindex != (argc - 2))
         log_msg_exit ("copy: specify srckey dstkey");
+
+    srcns = optparse_get_str (p, "src-namespace", NULL);
+    dstns = optparse_get_str (p, "dst-namespace", NULL);
+
     srckey = argv[optindex];
     dstkey = argv[optindex + 1];
 
-    if (!(f = flux_kvs_copy (h, srckey, dstkey, 0))
+    if (!(f = flux_kvs_copy (h, srcns, srckey, dstns, dstkey, 0))
             || flux_future_get (f, NULL) < 0)
         log_err_exit ("flux_kvs_copy");
     flux_future_destroy (f);
@@ -1640,16 +1655,21 @@ int cmd_move (optparse_t *p, int argc, char **argv)
     int optindex;
     flux_future_t *f;
     const char *srckey, *dstkey;
+    const char *srcns, *dstns;
 
     h = (flux_t *)optparse_get_data (p, "flux_handle");
 
     optindex = optparse_option_index (p);
     if (optindex != (argc - 2))
         log_msg_exit ("move: specify srckey dstkey");
+
+    srcns = optparse_get_str (p, "src-namespace", NULL);
+    dstns = optparse_get_str (p, "dst-namespace", NULL);
+
     srckey = argv[optindex];
     dstkey = argv[optindex + 1];
 
-    if (!(f = flux_kvs_move (h, srckey, dstkey, 0))
+    if (!(f = flux_kvs_move (h, srcns, srckey, dstns, dstkey, 0))
             || flux_future_get (f, NULL) < 0)
         log_err_exit ("flux_kvs_move");
     flux_future_destroy (f);
diff --git a/src/common/libkvs/Makefile.am b/src/common/libkvs/Makefile.am
index 1caa22e44e06..918b1d0c48f6 100644
--- a/src/common/libkvs/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/common/libkvs/Makefile.am
@@ -16,12 +16,14 @@ noinst_LTLIBRARIES = libkvs.la
 libkvs_la_SOURCES = \
 	kvs.c \
 	kvs_lookup.c \
+	kvs_lookup_private.h \
 	kvs_getroot.c \
 	kvs_dir.c \
 	kvs_dir_private.h \
 	kvs_classic.c \
 	kvs_watch.c \
 	kvs_commit.c \
+	kvs_commit_private.h \
 	kvs_txn.c \
 	kvs_txn_private.h \
 	treeobj.h \
diff --git a/src/common/libkvs/kvs_commit.c b/src/common/libkvs/kvs_commit.c
index 3076173e51ca..49729095bd61 100644
--- a/src/common/libkvs/kvs_commit.c
+++ b/src/common/libkvs/kvs_commit.c
@@ -46,19 +46,18 @@ flux_future_t *flux_kvs_fence (flux_t *h, int flags, const char *name,
                           "ops", ops);
 }
 
-flux_future_t *flux_kvs_commit (flux_t *h, int flags, flux_kvs_txn_t *txn)
+flux_future_t *flux_kvs_commit_ns (flux_t *h,
+                                   const char *namespace,
+                                   int flags,
+                                   flux_kvs_txn_t *txn)
 {
-    const char *namespace;
     json_t *ops;
 
-    if (!txn) {
+    if (!txn || !namespace) {
         errno = EINVAL;
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    if (!(namespace = flux_kvs_get_namespace (h)))
-        return NULL;
-
     if (!(ops = txn_get_ops (txn))) {
         errno = EINVAL;
         return NULL;
@@ -71,6 +70,16 @@ flux_future_t *flux_kvs_commit (flux_t *h, int flags, flux_kvs_txn_t *txn)
                           "ops", ops);
 }
 
+flux_future_t *flux_kvs_commit (flux_t *h, int flags, flux_kvs_txn_t *txn)
+{
+    const char *namespace;
+
+    if (!(namespace = flux_kvs_get_namespace (h)))
+        return NULL;
+
+    return flux_kvs_commit_ns (h, namespace, flags, txn);
+}
+
 /*
  * vi:tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 expandtab
  */
diff --git a/src/common/libkvs/kvs_commit_private.h b/src/common/libkvs/kvs_commit_private.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..0a468b2dbf1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/common/libkvs/kvs_commit_private.h
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/************************************************************\
+ * Copyright 2019 Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
+ * (c.f. AUTHORS, NOTICE.LLNS, COPYING)
+ *
+ * This file is part of the Flux resource manager framework.
+ * For details, see https://github.com/flux-framework.
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0
+\************************************************************/
+
+#ifndef _KVS_COMMIT_PRIVATE_H
+#define _KVS_COMMIT_PRIVATE_H
+
+flux_future_t *flux_kvs_commit_ns (flux_t *h,
+                                   const char *namespace,
+                                   int flags,
+                                   flux_kvs_txn_t *txn);
+
+#endif /* !_KVS_COMMIT_PRIVATE_H */
+
+/*
+ * vi:tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 expandtab
+ */
diff --git a/src/common/libkvs/kvs_copy.c b/src/common/libkvs/kvs_copy.c
index b70c00c278e5..43239fa3aaaa 100644
--- a/src/common/libkvs/kvs_copy.c
+++ b/src/common/libkvs/kvs_copy.c
@@ -21,10 +21,14 @@
 #include <flux/core.h>
 
 #include "kvs_copy.h"
+#include "kvs_commit_private.h"
+#include "kvs_lookup_private.h"
 
 struct copy_context {
     int commit_flags;
+    char *srcns;
     char *srckey;
+    char *dstns;
     char *dstkey;
 };
 
@@ -32,14 +36,18 @@ static void copy_context_destroy (struct copy_context *ctx)
 {
     if (ctx) {
         int saved_errno = errno;
+        free (ctx->srcns);
         free (ctx->srckey);
+        free (ctx->dstns);
         free (ctx->dstkey);
         free (ctx);
         errno = saved_errno;
     }
 }
 
-static struct copy_context *copy_context_create (const char *srckey,
+static struct copy_context *copy_context_create (const char *srcns,
+                                                 const char *srckey,
+                                                 const char *dstns,
                                                  const char *dstkey,
                                                  int commit_flags)
 {
@@ -47,7 +55,10 @@ static struct copy_context *copy_context_create (const char *srckey,
 
     if (!(ctx = calloc (1, sizeof (*ctx))))
         return NULL;
-    if (!(ctx->srckey = strdup (srckey)) || !(ctx->dstkey = strdup (dstkey))) {
+    if ((srcns && !(ctx->srcns = strdup (srcns)))
+        || !(ctx->srckey = strdup (srckey))
+        || (dstns && !(ctx->dstns = strdup (dstns)))
+        || !(ctx->dstkey = strdup (dstkey))) {
         copy_context_destroy (ctx);
         return NULL;
     }
@@ -76,8 +87,14 @@ static void copy_continuation (flux_future_t *f, void *arg)
         goto error;
     if (flux_kvs_txn_unlink (txn, 0, ctx->srckey) < 0)
         goto error;
-    if (!(f2 = flux_kvs_commit (h, ctx->commit_flags, txn)))
-        goto error;
+    if (ctx->srcns) {
+        if (!(f2 = flux_kvs_commit_ns (h, ctx->srcns, ctx->commit_flags, txn)))
+            goto error;
+    }
+    else {
+        if (!(f2 = flux_kvs_commit (h, ctx->commit_flags, txn)))
+            goto error;
+    }
     if (flux_future_continue (f, f2) < 0) {
         flux_future_destroy (f2);
         goto error;
@@ -110,8 +127,14 @@ static void lookup_continuation (flux_future_t *f, void *arg)
         goto error;
     if (flux_kvs_txn_put_treeobj (txn, 0, ctx->dstkey, val) < 0)
         goto error;
-    if (!(f2 = flux_kvs_commit (h, ctx->commit_flags, txn)))
-        goto error;
+    if (ctx->dstns) {
+        if (!(f2 = flux_kvs_commit_ns (h, ctx->dstns, ctx->commit_flags, txn)))
+            goto error;
+    }
+    else {
+        if (!(f2 = flux_kvs_commit (h, ctx->commit_flags, txn)))
+            goto error;
+    }
     if (flux_future_continue (f, f2) < 0) {
         flux_future_destroy (f2);
         goto error;
@@ -124,9 +147,12 @@ static void lookup_continuation (flux_future_t *f, void *arg)
     flux_kvs_txn_destroy (txn);
 }
 
-flux_future_t *flux_kvs_copy (flux_t *h, const char *srckey,
-                                         const char *dstkey,
-                                         int commit_flags)
+flux_future_t *flux_kvs_copy (flux_t *h,
+                              const char *srcns,
+                              const char *srckey,
+                              const char *dstns,
+                              const char *dstkey,
+                              int commit_flags)
 {
     struct copy_context *ctx;
     flux_future_t *f1;
@@ -136,9 +162,19 @@ flux_future_t *flux_kvs_copy (flux_t *h, const char *srckey,
         errno = EINVAL;
         return NULL;
     }
-    if (!(f1 = flux_kvs_lookup (h, FLUX_KVS_TREEOBJ, srckey)))
-        return NULL;
-    if (!(ctx = copy_context_create (srckey, dstkey, commit_flags)))
+    if (srcns) {
+        if (!(f1 = flux_kvs_lookup_ns (h, srcns, FLUX_KVS_TREEOBJ, srckey)))
+            return NULL;
+    }
+    else {
+        if (!(f1 = flux_kvs_lookup (h, FLUX_KVS_TREEOBJ, srckey)))
+            return NULL;
+    }
+    if (!(ctx = copy_context_create (srcns,
+                                     srckey,
+                                     dstns,
+                                     dstkey,
+                                     commit_flags)))
         goto error;
     if (flux_aux_set (h, NULL, ctx, (flux_free_f)copy_context_destroy) < 0) {
         copy_context_destroy (ctx);
@@ -152,9 +188,12 @@ flux_future_t *flux_kvs_copy (flux_t *h, const char *srckey,
     return NULL;
 }
 
-flux_future_t *flux_kvs_move (flux_t *h, const char *srckey,
-                                         const char *dstkey,
-                                         int commit_flags)
+flux_future_t *flux_kvs_move (flux_t *h,
+                              const char *srcns,
+                              const char *srckey,
+                              const char *dstns,
+                              const char *dstkey,
+                              int commit_flags)
 {
     struct copy_context *ctx;
     flux_future_t *f1;
@@ -164,9 +203,13 @@ flux_future_t *flux_kvs_move (flux_t *h, const char *srckey,
         errno = EINVAL;
         return NULL;
     }
-    if (!(f1 = flux_kvs_copy (h, srckey, dstkey, commit_flags)))
+    if (!(f1 = flux_kvs_copy (h, srcns, srckey, dstns, dstkey, commit_flags)))
         return NULL;
-    if (!(ctx = copy_context_create (srckey, dstkey, commit_flags)))
+    if (!(ctx = copy_context_create (srcns,
+                                     srckey,
+                                     dstns,
+                                     dstkey,
+                                     commit_flags)))
         goto error;
     if (flux_aux_set (h, NULL, ctx, (flux_free_f)copy_context_destroy) < 0) {
         copy_context_destroy (ctx);
diff --git a/src/common/libkvs/kvs_copy.h b/src/common/libkvs/kvs_copy.h
index 862f598c5523..dd5263efc731 100644
--- a/src/common/libkvs/kvs_copy.h
+++ b/src/common/libkvs/kvs_copy.h
@@ -15,26 +15,39 @@
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
-/* Create a copy of 'srckey' at 'dstkey'.
+/* Create a copy of 'srckey' at 'dstkey'.  Read from / write to the
+ * specified namespaces.  If a namespace is not specified (i.e. NULL),
+ * the namespace from flux_kvs_get_namespace() will be used.
+ *
  * Due to the hash-tree design of the KVS, dstkey is by definition a
  * "deep copy" (or writable snapshot) of all content below srckey.
  * The copy operation has a low overhead since it only copies a single
- * directory entry.  'srckey' and 'dstkey' may be in different namespaces.
+ * directory entry.
+ *
  * Returns future on success, NULL on failure with errno set.
  */
-flux_future_t *flux_kvs_copy (flux_t *h, const char *srckey,
-                                         const char *dstkey,
-                                         int commit_flags);
+flux_future_t *flux_kvs_copy (flux_t *h,
+                              const char *srcns,
+                              const char *srckey,
+                              const char *dstns,
+                              const char *dstkey,
+                              int commit_flags);
 
-/* Move 'srckey' to 'dstkey'.
- * This is a copy followed by an unlink on 'srckey'.
- * 'srckey' and 'dstkey' may be in different namespaces.
- * The copy and unlink are not atomic.
+/* Move 'srckey' to 'dstkey'.  Read from / write to the
+ * specified namespaces.  If a namespace is not specified (i.e. NULL),
+ * the namespace from flux_kvs_get_namespace() will be used.
+ *
+ * This is a copy followed by an unlink on 'srckey'.  The copy and
+ * unlink are not atomic.
+ *
  * Returns future on success, NULL on failure with errno set.
  */
-flux_future_t *flux_kvs_move (flux_t *h, const char *srckey,
-                                         const char *dstkey,
-                                         int commit_flags);
+flux_future_t *flux_kvs_move (flux_t *h,
+                              const char *srcns,
+                              const char *srckey,
+                              const char *dstns,
+                              const char *dstkey,
+                              int commit_flags);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/src/common/libkvs/kvs_lookup.c b/src/common/libkvs/kvs_lookup.c
index 056c72763c35..77e6ded8e558 100644
--- a/src/common/libkvs/kvs_lookup.c
+++ b/src/common/libkvs/kvs_lookup.c
@@ -104,20 +104,20 @@ static int validate_lookup_flags (int flags, bool watch_ok)
     }
 }
 
-flux_future_t *flux_kvs_lookup (flux_t *h, int flags, const char *key)
+flux_future_t *flux_kvs_lookup_ns (flux_t *h,
+                                   const char *namespace,
+                                   int flags,
+                                   const char *key)
 {
     struct lookup_ctx *ctx;
     flux_future_t *f;
-    const char *namespace;
     const char *topic = "kvs.lookup";
 
-    if (!h || !key || strlen (key) == 0
+    if (!h || !namespace || !key || strlen (key) == 0
         || validate_lookup_flags (flags, true) < 0) {
         errno = EINVAL;
         return NULL;
     }
-    if (!(namespace = flux_kvs_get_namespace (h)))
-        return NULL;
     if (!(ctx = alloc_ctx (h, flags, key)))
         return NULL;
     if ((flags & FLUX_KVS_WATCH)
@@ -139,6 +139,15 @@ flux_future_t *flux_kvs_lookup (flux_t *h, int flags, const char *key)
     return f;
 }
 
+flux_future_t *flux_kvs_lookup (flux_t *h, int flags, const char *key)
+{
+    const char *namespace;
+
+    if (!(namespace = flux_kvs_get_namespace (h)))
+        return NULL;
+    return flux_kvs_lookup_ns (h, namespace, flags, key);
+}
+
 flux_future_t *flux_kvs_lookupat (flux_t *h, int flags, const char *key,
                                   const char *treeobj)
 {
diff --git a/src/common/libkvs/kvs_lookup_private.h b/src/common/libkvs/kvs_lookup_private.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a90d9e159bd4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/common/libkvs/kvs_lookup_private.h
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/************************************************************\
+ * Copyright 2019 Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
+ * (c.f. AUTHORS, NOTICE.LLNS, COPYING)
+ *
+ * This file is part of the Flux resource manager framework.
+ * For details, see https://github.com/flux-framework.
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0
+\************************************************************/
+
+#ifndef _KVS_LOOKUP_PRIVATE_H
+#define _KVS_LOOKUP_PRIVATE_H
+
+flux_future_t *flux_kvs_lookup_ns (flux_t *h,
+                                   const char *namespace,
+                                   int flags,
+                                   const char *key);
+
+#endif /* !_KVS_LOOKUP_PRIVATE_H */
+
+/*
+ * vi:tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 expandtab
+ */
diff --git a/src/common/libkvs/kvs_txn.c b/src/common/libkvs/kvs_txn.c
index 8195acdb57d0..f7438d82dbde 100644
--- a/src/common/libkvs/kvs_txn.c
+++ b/src/common/libkvs/kvs_txn.c
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ int flux_kvs_txn_vpack (flux_kvs_txn_t *txn, int flags,
     int saved_errno;
     char *s;
 
-    if (!txn || !key | !fmt) {
+    if (!txn || !key || !fmt) {
         errno = EINVAL;
         goto error;
     }
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ int flux_kvs_txn_symlink (flux_kvs_txn_t *txn, int flags,
     json_t *dirent = NULL;
     int saved_errno;
 
-    if (!txn || !key | !target) {
+    if (!txn || !key || !target) {
         errno = EINVAL;
         goto error;
     }
diff --git a/src/common/libkvs/test/kvs_copy.c b/src/common/libkvs/test/kvs_copy.c
index 632a90962d5f..9c16e5e2d2fb 100644
--- a/src/common/libkvs/test/kvs_copy.c
+++ b/src/common/libkvs/test/kvs_copy.c
@@ -25,23 +25,29 @@ int main (int argc, char *argv[])
     plan (NO_PLAN);
 
     errno = 0;
-    ok (flux_kvs_copy (NULL, "a", "b", 0) == NULL && errno == EINVAL,
+    ok (flux_kvs_copy (NULL, NULL, "a", NULL, "b", 0) == NULL
+        && errno == EINVAL,
         "flux_kvs_copy h=NULL fails with EINVAL");
     errno = 0;
-    ok (flux_kvs_copy (h, NULL, "b", 0) == NULL && errno == EINVAL,
+    ok (flux_kvs_copy (h, NULL, NULL, NULL, "b", 0) == NULL
+        && errno == EINVAL,
         "flux_kvs_copy srckey=NULL fails with EINVAL");
     errno = 0;
-    ok (flux_kvs_copy (h, "a", NULL, 0) == NULL && errno == EINVAL,
+    ok (flux_kvs_copy (h, NULL, "a", NULL, NULL, 0) == NULL
+        && errno == EINVAL,
         "flux_kvs_copy srckey=NULL fails with EINVAL");
 
     errno = 0;
-    ok (flux_kvs_move (NULL, "a", "b", 0) == NULL && errno == EINVAL,
+    ok (flux_kvs_move (NULL, NULL, "a", NULL, "b", 0) == NULL
+        && errno == EINVAL,
         "flux_kvs_move h=NULL fails with EINVAL");
     errno = 0;
-    ok (flux_kvs_move (h, NULL, "b", 0) == NULL && errno == EINVAL,
+    ok (flux_kvs_move (h, NULL, NULL, NULL, "b", 0) == NULL
+        && errno == EINVAL,
         "flux_kvs_move srckey=NULL fails with EINVAL");
     errno = 0;
-    ok (flux_kvs_move (h, "a", NULL, 0) == NULL && errno == EINVAL,
+    ok (flux_kvs_move (h, NULL, "a", NULL, NULL, 0) == NULL
+        && errno == EINVAL,
         "flux_kvs_move srckey=NULL fails with EINVAL");
 
     done_testing();
diff --git a/t/t1009-kvs-copy.t b/t/t1009-kvs-copy.t
index ba3421def9e1..8946dfd0107c 100755
--- a/t/t1009-kvs-copy.t
+++ b/t/t1009-kvs-copy.t
@@ -78,21 +78,21 @@ test_expect_success 'kvs-move dir dst contains expected value' '
 	test "$value" = "bar"
 '
 
-# from namespace
+# from namespace, via nsprefix
 #   copy a value, move a dir
 
 test_expect_success 'create test namespace' '
-	flux kvs namespace-create fromns
+	flux kvs namespace-create fromns-prefix
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'kvs-copy from namespace works' '
         flux kvs unlink -Rf test &&
-        flux kvs unlink -Rf ns:fromns/test &&
-	flux kvs put ns:fromns/test.src=foo &&
-        flux kvs copy ns:fromns/test.src test.dst
+        flux kvs unlink -Rf ns:fromns-prefix/test &&
+	flux kvs put ns:fromns-prefix/test.src=foo &&
+        flux kvs copy ns:fromns-prefix/test.src test.dst
 '
 test_expect_success 'kvs-copy from namespace does not unlink src' '
-	value=$(flux kvs get ns:fromns/test.src) &&
+	value=$(flux kvs get ns:fromns-prefix/test.src) &&
 	test "$value" = "foo"
 '
 test_expect_success 'kvs-copy from namespace dst contains expected value' '
@@ -102,12 +102,12 @@ test_expect_success 'kvs-copy from namespace dst contains expected value' '
 
 test_expect_success 'kvs-move from namespace works' '
         flux kvs unlink -Rf test &&
-        flux kvs unlink -Rf ns:fromns/test &&
-	flux kvs put ns:fromns/test.src.a.b.c=foo &&
-        flux kvs move ns:fromns/test.src test.dst
+        flux kvs unlink -Rf ns:fromns-prefix/test &&
+	flux kvs put ns:fromns-prefix/test.src.a.b.c=foo &&
+        flux kvs move ns:fromns-prefix/test.src test.dst
 '
 test_expect_success 'kvs-move from namespace unlinks src' '
-	test_must_fail flux kvs get --treeobj ns:fromns/test.src
+	test_must_fail flux kvs get --treeobj ns:fromns-prefix/test.src
 '
 test_expect_success 'kvs-move from namespace dst contains expected value' '
 	value=$(flux kvs get test.dst.a.b.c) &&
@@ -115,49 +115,128 @@ test_expect_success 'kvs-move from namespace dst contains expected value' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'remove test namespace' '
-	flux kvs namespace-remove fromns
+	flux kvs namespace-remove fromns-prefix
 '
 
-# to namespace
+# to namespace, via nsprefix
 #   copy a value, move a dir
 
 test_expect_success 'create test namespace' '
-	flux kvs namespace-create tons
+	flux kvs namespace-create tons-prefix
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'kvs-copy to namespace works' '
-        flux kvs unlink -Rf ns:tons/test &&
+        flux kvs unlink -Rf ns:tons-prefix/test &&
         flux kvs unlink -Rf test &&
 	flux kvs put test.src=foo &&
-        flux kvs copy test.src ns:tons/test.dst
+        flux kvs copy test.src ns:tons-prefix/test.dst
 '
 test_expect_success 'kvs-copy to namespace does not unlink src' '
 	value=$(flux kvs get test.src) &&
 	test "$value" = "foo"
 '
 test_expect_success 'kvs-copy to namespace dst contains expected value' '
-	value=$(flux kvs get ns:tons/test.dst) &&
+	value=$(flux kvs get ns:tons-prefix/test.dst) &&
 	test "$value" = "foo"
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'kvs-move to namespace works' '
-        flux kvs unlink -Rf ns:tons/test &&
+        flux kvs unlink -Rf ns:tons-prefix/test &&
         flux kvs unlink -Rf test &&
 	flux kvs put test.src.a.b.c=foo &&
-        flux kvs move test.src ns:tons/test.dst
+        flux kvs move test.src ns:tons-prefix/test.dst
 '
 test_expect_success 'kvs-move to namespace unlinks src' '
 	test_must_fail flux kvs get --treeobj test.src
 '
 test_expect_success 'kvs-move to namespace dst contains expected value' '
-	value=$(flux kvs get ns:tons/test.dst.a.b.c) &&
+	value=$(flux kvs get ns:tons-prefix/test.dst.a.b.c) &&
 	test "$value" = "foo"
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'remove test namespace' '
-	flux kvs namespace-remove tons
+	flux kvs namespace-remove tons-prefix
 '
 
+# from namespace, via option
+#   copy a value, move a dir
+
+test_expect_success 'create test namespace' '
+	flux kvs namespace-create fromns-option
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'kvs-copy from namespace works' '
+        flux kvs unlink -Rf test &&
+        flux kvs --namespace=fromns-option unlink -Rf test &&
+	flux kvs --namespace=fromns-option put test.src=foo &&
+        flux kvs copy --src-namespace=fromns-option test.src test.dst
+'
+test_expect_success 'kvs-copy from namespace does not unlink src' '
+	value=$(flux kvs --namespace=fromns-option get test.src) &&
+	test "$value" = "foo"
+'
+test_expect_success 'kvs-copy from namespace dst contains expected value' '
+	value=$(flux kvs get test.dst) &&
+	test "$value" = "foo"
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'kvs-move from namespace works' '
+        flux kvs unlink -Rf test &&
+        flux kvs --namespace=fromns-option unlink -Rf test &&
+	flux kvs --namespace=fromns-option put test.src.a.b.c=foo &&
+        flux kvs move --src-namespace=fromns-option test.src test.dst
+'
+test_expect_success 'kvs-move from namespace unlinks src' '
+	test_must_fail flux kvs --namespace=fromns-option get --treeobj test.src
+'
+test_expect_success 'kvs-move from namespace dst contains expected value' '
+	value=$(flux kvs get test.dst.a.b.c) &&
+	test "$value" = "foo"
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'remove test namespace' '
+	flux kvs namespace-remove fromns-option
+'
+
+# to namespace, via option
+#   copy a value, move a dir
+
+test_expect_success 'create test namespace' '
+	flux kvs namespace-create tons-option
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'kvs-copy to namespace works' '
+        flux kvs --namespace=tons-option unlink -Rf test &&
+        flux kvs unlink -Rf test &&
+	flux kvs put test.src=foo &&
+        flux kvs copy --dst-namespace=tons-option test.src test.dst
+'
+test_expect_success 'kvs-copy to namespace does not unlink src' '
+	value=$(flux kvs get test.src) &&
+	test "$value" = "foo"
+'
+test_expect_success 'kvs-copy to namespace dst contains expected value' '
+	value=$(flux kvs --namespace=tons-option get test.dst) &&
+	test "$value" = "foo"
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'kvs-move to namespace works' '
+        flux kvs --namespace=tons-option unlink -Rf test &&
+        flux kvs unlink -Rf test &&
+	flux kvs put test.src.a.b.c=foo &&
+        flux kvs move --dst-namespace=tons-option test.src test.dst
+'
+test_expect_success 'kvs-move to namespace unlinks src' '
+	test_must_fail flux kvs get --treeobj test.src
+'
+test_expect_success 'kvs-move to namespace dst contains expected value' '
+	value=$(flux kvs --namespace=tons-option get test.dst.a.b.c) &&
+	test "$value" = "foo"
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'remove test namespace' '
+	flux kvs namespace-remove tons-option
+'
 
 # expected failures