diff --git a/localization/strings/en-US/Resources.resw b/localization/strings/en-US/Resources.resw
index 3607f1f0c..ceea86e2b 100644
--- a/localization/strings/en-US/Resources.resw
+++ b/localization/strings/en-US/Resources.resw
@@ -2554,4 +2554,7 @@ On first run, creates the file with all settings commented out at their defaults
   <data name="WSLCCLI_ImageLoadNoInputError" xml:space="preserve">
     <value>Requested load but no input provided.</value>
   </data>
+  <data name="WSLCCLI_ImageSaveStdoutIsTerminalError" xml:space="preserve">
+    <value>Cannot write image to terminal. Use the -o flag or redirect stdout.</value>
+  </data>
 </root>
diff --git a/src/windows/wslc/commands/ImageSaveCommand.cpp b/src/windows/wslc/commands/ImageSaveCommand.cpp
index f4056c894..5159bab6d 100644
--- a/src/windows/wslc/commands/ImageSaveCommand.cpp
+++ b/src/windows/wslc/commands/ImageSaveCommand.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ std::vector<Argument> ImageSaveCommand::GetArguments() const
 {
     return {
         Argument::Create(ArgType::ImageId, true),
-        Argument::Create(ArgType::Output, true),
+        Argument::Create(ArgType::Output),
         Argument::Create(ArgType::Session),
     };
 }
diff --git a/src/windows/wslc/services/ImageService.cpp b/src/windows/wslc/services/ImageService.cpp
index 34d4aadd6..0baf96dd8 100644
--- a/src/windows/wslc/services/ImageService.cpp
+++ b/src/windows/wslc/services/ImageService.cpp
@@ -233,9 +233,14 @@ void ImageService::Save(wsl::windows::wslc::models::Session& session, const std:
         CreateFileW(output.c_str(), GENERIC_WRITE, FILE_SHARE_READ, nullptr, CREATE_ALWAYS, FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL, nullptr)};
     THROW_LAST_ERROR_IF(!outputFile);
 
+    Save(session, image, outputFile.get(), cancelEvent);
+}
+
+void ImageService::Save(wsl::windows::wslc::models::Session& session, const std::string& image, HANDLE outputHandle, HANDLE cancelEvent)
+{
     wsl::windows::common::HandleConsoleProgressBar progressBar(
-        outputFile.get(), L"Save in progress.", wsl::windows::common::HandleConsoleProgressBar::Format::FileSize);
-    THROW_IF_FAILED(session.Get()->SaveImage(ToCOMInputHandle(outputFile.get()), image.c_str(), nullptr, cancelEvent));
+        outputHandle, L"Save in progress.", wsl::windows::common::HandleConsoleProgressBar::Format::FileSize);
+    THROW_IF_FAILED(session.Get()->SaveImage(ToCOMInputHandle(outputHandle), image.c_str(), nullptr, cancelEvent));
 }
 
 void ImageService::Prune()
diff --git a/src/windows/wslc/services/ImageService.h b/src/windows/wslc/services/ImageService.h
index 4d97b55e2..1d1e9e0e8 100644
--- a/src/windows/wslc/services/ImageService.h
+++ b/src/windows/wslc/services/ImageService.h
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ class ImageService
     static wsl::windows::common::wslc_schema::InspectImage Inspect(wsl::windows::wslc::models::Session& session, const std::string& image);
     static void Pull(wsl::windows::wslc::models::Session& session, const std::string& image, IProgressCallback* callback);
     static void Save(wsl::windows::wslc::models::Session& session, const std::string& image, const std::wstring& output, HANDLE cancelEvent = nullptr);
+    static void Save(wsl::windows::wslc::models::Session& session, const std::string& image, HANDLE outputHandle, HANDLE cancelEvent = nullptr);
     static void Tag(wsl::windows::wslc::models::Session& session, const std::string& sourceImage, const std::string& targetImage);
     void Push();
     void Prune();
diff --git a/src/windows/wslc/tasks/ImageTasks.cpp b/src/windows/wslc/tasks/ImageTasks.cpp
index 461e00589..33d662b00 100644
--- a/src/windows/wslc/tasks/ImageTasks.cpp
+++ b/src/windows/wslc/tasks/ImageTasks.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ Module Name:
 #include "TableOutput.h"
 #include "Task.h"
 #include <format>
+#include <wslutil.h>
 
 using namespace wsl::shared;
 using namespace wsl::windows::common::string;
@@ -190,11 +191,24 @@ void SaveImage(CLIExecutionContext& context)
 {
     WI_ASSERT(context.Data.Contains(Data::Session));
     WI_ASSERT(context.Args.Contains(ArgType::ImageId));
-    WI_ASSERT(context.Args.Contains(ArgType::Output));
     auto& session = context.Data.Get<Data::Session>();
     auto& imageId = context.Args.Get<ArgType::ImageId>();
-    auto& output = context.Args.Get<ArgType::Output>();
-    services::ImageService::Save(session, WideToMultiByte(imageId), output, context.CreateCancelEvent());
+
+    if (context.Args.Contains(ArgType::Output))
+    {
+        auto& output = context.Args.Get<ArgType::Output>();
+        services::ImageService::Save(session, WideToMultiByte(imageId), output, context.CreateCancelEvent());
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        auto stdoutHandle = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE);
+        if (wsl::windows::common::wslutil::IsConsoleHandle(stdoutHandle))
+        {
+            THROW_HR_WITH_USER_ERROR(E_INVALIDARG, Localization::WSLCCLI_ImageSaveStdoutIsTerminalError());
+        }
+
+        services::ImageService::Save(session, WideToMultiByte(imageId), stdoutHandle, context.CreateCancelEvent());
+    }
 }
 
 void TagImage(CLIExecutionContext& context)
diff --git a/test/windows/wslc/e2e/WSLCE2EImageSaveTests.cpp b/test/windows/wslc/e2e/WSLCE2EImageSaveTests.cpp
index 99d6d1c9c..361f493a6 100644
--- a/test/windows/wslc/e2e/WSLCE2EImageSaveTests.cpp
+++ b/test/windows/wslc/e2e/WSLCE2EImageSaveTests.cpp
@@ -54,12 +54,6 @@ class WSLCE2EImageSaveTests
         result.Verify({.Stdout = GetHelpMessage(), .Stderr = L"Required argument not provided: 'image'\r\n", .ExitCode = 1});
     }
 
-    WSLC_TEST_METHOD(WSLCE2E_Image_Save_MissingOutputPath)
-    {
-        const auto result = RunWslc(std::format(L"image save {}", DebianImage.NameAndTag()));
-        result.Verify({.Stderr = L"Required argument not provided: 'output'\r\n", .ExitCode = 1});
-    }
-
     WSLC_TEST_METHOD(WSLCE2E_Image_Save_ImageNotFound)
     {
         const auto result = RunWslc(std::format(L"image save --output \"{}\" {}", SavedArchivePath.wstring(), InvalidImage.NameAndTag()));
@@ -95,6 +89,42 @@ class WSLCE2EImageSaveTests
         runResult.Verify({.Stdout = L"Hello from saved image!\n", .Stderr = L"", .ExitCode = 0});
     }
 
+    WSLC_TEST_METHOD(WSLCE2E_Image_Save_ToStdout_Success)
+    {
+        const auto result = RunWslcAndRedirectToFile(std::format(L"image save {}", DebianImage.NameAndTag()), SavedArchivePath);
+        result.Verify({.Stdout = L"", .Stderr = L"", .ExitCode = 0});
+
+        VERIFY_IS_TRUE(std::filesystem::exists(SavedArchivePath));
+        auto sourceFileSize = std::filesystem::file_size(DebianImage.Path);
+        auto archiveFileSize = std::filesystem::file_size(SavedArchivePath);
+        VERIFY_ARE_EQUAL(sourceFileSize, archiveFileSize);
+    }
+
+    WSLC_TEST_METHOD(WSLCE2E_Image_Save_ToTerminal_Fail)
+    {
+        const auto result = RunWslcAndRedirectToFile(std::format(L"image save {}", DebianImage.NameAndTag()));
+        result.Verify(
+            {.Stderr = L"Cannot write image to terminal. Use the -o flag or redirect stdout.\r\nError code: E_INVALIDARG\r\n", .ExitCode = 1});
+    }
+
+    WSLC_TEST_METHOD(WSLCE2E_Image_Save_ToStdout_Load)
+    {
+        // Save source image
+        auto saveResult = RunWslcAndRedirectToFile(std::format(L"image save {}", DebianImage.NameAndTag()), SavedArchivePath);
+        saveResult.Verify({.Stdout = L"", .Stderr = L"", .ExitCode = 0});
+
+        // Delete source image
+        EnsureImageIsDeleted(DebianImage);
+
+        // Load from saved archive
+        auto loadResult = RunWslc(std::format(L"image load --input \"{}\"", SavedArchivePath.wstring()));
+        loadResult.Verify({.Stderr = L"", .ExitCode = 0});
+
+        // Run a container from the loaded image to verify it works
+        auto runResult = RunWslc(std::format(L"container run --rm {} echo Hello from saved image!", DebianImage.NameAndTag()));
+        runResult.Verify({.Stdout = L"Hello from saved image!\n", .Stderr = L"", .ExitCode = 0});
+    }
+
 private:
     const TestImage DebianImage = DebianTestImage();
     const TestImage& InvalidImage = InvalidTestImage();
diff --git a/test/windows/wslc/e2e/WSLCExecutor.cpp b/test/windows/wslc/e2e/WSLCExecutor.cpp
index 3472d4eba..5711713ae 100644
--- a/test/windows/wslc/e2e/WSLCExecutor.cpp
+++ b/test/windows/wslc/e2e/WSLCExecutor.cpp
@@ -163,6 +163,63 @@ void RunWslcAndVerify(const std::wstring& cmd, const WSLCExecutionResult& expect
     RunWslc(cmd, elevationType).Verify(expected);
 }
 
+WSLCExecutionResult RunWslcAndRedirectToFile(const std::wstring& commandLine, std::optional<std::filesystem::path> outputPath, ElevationType elevationType)
+{
+    auto cmd = L"\"" + GetWslcPath() + L"\" " + commandLine;
+    wsl::windows::common::SubProcess process(nullptr, cmd.c_str());
+
+    // If running non-elevated we need to keep the token alive until it completes.
+    wil::unique_handle nonElevatedToken;
+    if (elevationType == ElevationType::NonElevated)
+    {
+        nonElevatedToken = GetNonElevatedPrimaryToken();
+        process.SetToken(nonElevatedToken.get());
+    }
+
+    auto [parentStderrRead, childStderrWrite] = wsl::windows::common::wslutil::OpenAnonymousPipe(0, true, false);
+    THROW_IF_WIN32_BOOL_FALSE(SetHandleInformation(childStderrWrite.get(), HANDLE_FLAG_INHERIT, HANDLE_FLAG_INHERIT));
+
+    wil::unique_hfile redirectedStdout;
+    HANDLE stdoutHandle = nullptr;
+
+    std::wstring effectiveCommandLine = commandLine;
+    if (outputPath.has_value())
+    {
+        SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES securityAttributes{};
+        securityAttributes.nLength = sizeof(securityAttributes);
+        securityAttributes.bInheritHandle = TRUE;
+        redirectedStdout.reset(CreateFileW(
+            outputPath->c_str(), GENERIC_WRITE, FILE_SHARE_READ, &securityAttributes, CREATE_ALWAYS, FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL, nullptr));
+        THROW_LAST_ERROR_IF(!redirectedStdout);
+        stdoutHandle = redirectedStdout.get();
+        effectiveCommandLine = std::format(L"{} > \"{}\"", commandLine, outputPath->wstring());
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        // Open CONOUT$ so the child process receives a real console handle regardless of
+        // how the test runner has configured its own stdout (e.g. piped in CI).  This
+        // makes IsConsoleHandle() return true inside wslc, which is the condition under
+        // test in WSLCE2E_Image_Save_ToTerminal_Fail.
+        SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES securityAttributes{};
+        securityAttributes.nLength = sizeof(securityAttributes);
+        securityAttributes.bInheritHandle = TRUE;
+        redirectedStdout.reset(
+            CreateFileW(L"CONOUT$", GENERIC_WRITE, FILE_SHARE_READ | FILE_SHARE_WRITE, &securityAttributes, OPEN_EXISTING, 0, nullptr));
+        THROW_LAST_ERROR_IF(!redirectedStdout);
+        stdoutHandle = redirectedStdout.get();
+    }
+
+    process.SetStdHandles(nullptr, stdoutHandle, childStderrWrite.get());
+
+    const auto processHandle = process.Start();
+    childStderrWrite.reset();
+
+    const auto exitCode = wsl::windows::common::SubProcess::GetExitCode(processHandle.get());
+    const auto stdErrOutput = wsl::shared::string::MultiByteToWide(ReadToString(parentStderrRead.get()));
+
+    return {.CommandLine = std::move(effectiveCommandLine), .Stdout = L"", .Stderr = stdErrOutput, .ExitCode = exitCode};
+}
+
 std::wstring GetWslcHeader()
 {
     std::wstringstream header;
diff --git a/test/windows/wslc/e2e/WSLCExecutor.h b/test/windows/wslc/e2e/WSLCExecutor.h
index 5f1612f71..c7a4fccba 100644
--- a/test/windows/wslc/e2e/WSLCExecutor.h
+++ b/test/windows/wslc/e2e/WSLCExecutor.h
@@ -94,6 +94,10 @@ struct WSLCInteractiveSession
 };
 
 WSLCExecutionResult RunWslc(const std::wstring& commandLine, ElevationType elevationType = ElevationType::Elevated);
+WSLCExecutionResult RunWslcAndRedirectToFile(
+    const std::wstring& commandLine,
+    std::optional<std::filesystem::path> outputPath = std::nullopt,
+    ElevationType elevationType = ElevationType::Elevated);
 void RunWslcAndVerify(const std::wstring& cmd, const WSLCExecutionResult& expected, ElevationType elevationType = ElevationType::Elevated);
 
 std::wstring GetWslcHeader();