diff --git a/doc_src/cmds/read.rst b/doc_src/cmds/read.rst
index 82c3f94a9..08093b431 100644
--- a/doc_src/cmds/read.rst
+++ b/doc_src/cmds/read.rst
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ The following options are available:
 
 - ``-s`` or ``--silent`` masks characters written to the terminal, replacing them with asterisks. This is useful for reading things like passwords or other sensitive information.
 
-- ``-l`` or ``--local`` makes the variables local.
+- ``-f`` or ``--function`` scopes the variable to the currently executing function. It is erased when the function ends.
+
+- ``-l`` or ``--local`` scopes the variable to the currently executing block. It is erased when the block ends. Outside of a block, this is the same as ``--function``.
 
 - ``-n NCHARS`` or ``--nchars=NCHARS`` makes ``read`` return after reading NCHARS characters or the end of
   the line, whichever comes first.
diff --git a/src/builtin_read.cpp b/src/builtin_read.cpp
index 5c2d34dea..c51f50d30 100644
--- a/src/builtin_read.cpp
+++ b/src/builtin_read.cpp
@@ -57,11 +57,12 @@ struct read_cmd_opts_t {
     bool one_line = false;
 };
 
-static const wchar_t *const short_options = L":ac:d:ghiLln:p:sStuxzP:UR:L";
+static const wchar_t *const short_options = L":ac:d:fghiLln:p:sStuxzP:UR:L";
 static const struct woption long_options[] = {{L"array", no_argument, nullptr, 'a'},
                                               {L"command", required_argument, nullptr, 'c'},
                                               {L"delimiter", required_argument, nullptr, 'd'},
                                               {L"export", no_argument, nullptr, 'x'},
+                                              {L"function", no_argument, nullptr, 'f'},
                                               {L"global", no_argument, nullptr, 'g'},
                                               {L"help", no_argument, nullptr, 'h'},
                                               {L"line", no_argument, nullptr, 'L'},
@@ -105,6 +106,10 @@ static int parse_cmd_opts(read_cmd_opts_t &opts, int *optind,  //!OCLINT(high nc
                                           cmd);
                 return STATUS_INVALID_ARGS;
             }
+            case L'f': {
+                opts.place |= ENV_FUNCTION;
+                break;
+            }
             case L'g': {
                 opts.place |= ENV_GLOBAL;
                 break;
@@ -385,7 +390,7 @@ static int validate_read_args(const wchar_t *cmd, read_cmd_opts_t &opts, int arg
         return STATUS_INVALID_ARGS;
     }
 
-    if ((opts.place & ENV_LOCAL ? 1 : 0) + (opts.place & ENV_GLOBAL ? 1 : 0) +
+    if ((opts.place & ENV_LOCAL ? 1 : 0) + (opts.place & ENV_FUNCTION ? 1 : 0) + (opts.place & ENV_GLOBAL ? 1 : 0) +
             (opts.place & ENV_UNIVERSAL ? 1 : 0) >
         1) {
         streams.err.append_format(BUILTIN_ERR_GLOCAL, cmd);
diff --git a/tests/checks/read.fish b/tests/checks/read.fish
index c3245d931..390b155e3 100644
--- a/tests/checks/read.fish
+++ b/tests/checks/read.fish
@@ -345,3 +345,22 @@ echo c $c
 # CHECK: a 'afoo barb'
 # CHECK: b
 # CHECK: c
+
+function function-scoped-read
+    echo foo | read --function skamtebord
+    set -S skamtebord
+    begin
+        echo bar | read skamtebord
+        echo baz | read -f craaab
+    end
+    set -S skamtebord
+    set -S craaab
+end
+
+function-scoped-read
+# CHECK: $skamtebord: set in local scope, unexported, with 1 elements
+# CHECK: $skamtebord[1]: |foo|
+# CHECK: $skamtebord: set in local scope, unexported, with 1 elements
+# CHECK: $skamtebord[1]: |bar|
+# CHECK: $craaab: set in local scope, unexported, with 1 elements
+# CHECK: $craaab[1]: |baz|