diff --git a/src/doc/user-meta-set.txt b/src/doc/user-meta-set.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b40cc0cc4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/doc/user-meta-set.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+wp-user-meta-set(1) -- Update a meta field for a WordPress user.
+====
+
+## SYNOPSIS
+
+`wp user-meta set` <ID> <meta_key> <meta_value>
+
+## OPTIONS
+
+* `<ID>`:
+
+	The ID of the user to update.
+
+* meta_key:
+
+	The meta_key to be updated
+	
+* meta_value:
+	
+	The new desired value of the meta_key
+
+## EXAMPLES
+
+	wp user-meta set 123 description "Mary is a WordPress developer"
diff --git a/src/php/wp-cli/commands/internals/user-meta.php b/src/php/wp-cli/commands/internals/user-meta.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7636eff275
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/php/wp-cli/commands/internals/user-meta.php
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+<?php
+
+WP_CLI::add_command('user-meta', 'User_Meta_Command');
+
+/**
+ * Implement user command
+ *
+ * @package wp-cli
+ * @subpackage commands/internals
+ */
+class User_Meta_Command extends WP_CLI_Command {
+	/**
+	 * Update meta field for a user
+	 *
+	 * @param array $args
+	 * @param array $assoc_args
+	 **/
+	public function set( $args, $assoc_args ) {
+		$user_id = self::get_numeric_arg_or_error($args, 0, "User ID");
+		$meta_key = self::get_arg_or_error($args, 1, "meta_key");;
+		$meta_value = self::get_arg_or_error($args, 2, "meta_value");;
+
+		$success = update_user_meta( $user_id, $meta_key, $meta_value );
+
+		if ( $success ) {
+			WP_CLI::success( "Updated user $user_id." );
+		} else {
+			WP_CLI::error( "Failed to set meta field" );
+		}
+	}
+	
+	private function get_numeric_arg_or_error( $args, $index, $name ) {
+		$value = self::get_arg_or_error( $args, $index, $name );
+		if ( ! is_numeric( $value ) ) {
+			self::error_see_help( "$name must be numeric" );
+		}
+		return $value;
+	}
+	
+	private function get_arg_or_error( $args, $index, $name ) {
+		if ( ! isset( $args[$index] ) ) {
+			self::error_see_help( "$name required" );
+		}
+		return $args[$index];
+	}
+	
+	private function error_see_help( $message ) {
+		WP_CLI::error( "$message (see 'wp user-meta help').");
+	}
+}
+
diff --git a/src/php/wp-cli/commands/internals/user.php b/src/php/wp-cli/commands/internals/user.php
index 7515979d4e..2c9a6238b8 100644
--- a/src/php/wp-cli/commands/internals/user.php
+++ b/src/php/wp-cli/commands/internals/user.php
@@ -59,12 +59,8 @@ public function _list( $args, $assoc_args ) {
 	 **/
 	public function delete( $args, $assoc_args ) {
 		global $blog_id;
-
-		$user_id = $args[0];
-
-		if ( ! is_numeric($user_id) ) {
-			WP_CLI::error("User ID required (see 'wp user help')");
-		}
+		
+		$user_id = self::get_numeric_arg_or_error($args, 0, "User ID");
 
 		$defaults = array( 'reassign' => NULL );
 
@@ -90,7 +86,7 @@ public function create( $args, $assoc_args ) {
 		$user_email = $args[1];
 
 		if ( ! $user_login || ! $user_email ) {
-			WP_CLI::error("Login and email required (see 'wp user help').");
+			self::error_see_help( "Login and email required" );
 		}
 
 		$defaults = array(
@@ -136,11 +132,7 @@ public function create( $args, $assoc_args ) {
 	 * @param array $assoc_args
 	 **/
 	public function update( $args, $assoc_args ) {
-		$user_id = $args[0];
-
-		if ( ! is_numeric($user_id) ) {
-			WP_CLI::error( "User ID required (see 'wp user help')." );
-		}
+		$user_id = self::get_numeric_arg_or_error($args, 0, "User ID");
 
 		if ( empty( $assoc_args ) ) {
 			WP_CLI::error( "Need some fields to update." );
@@ -156,4 +148,23 @@ public function update( $args, $assoc_args ) {
 			WP_CLI::success( "Updated user $updated_id." );
 		}
 	}
+	
+	private function get_numeric_arg_or_error( $args, $index, $name ) {
+		$value = self::get_arg_or_error( $args, $index, $name );
+		if ( ! is_numeric( $value ) ) {
+			self::error_see_help( "$name must be numeric" );
+		}
+		return $value;
+	}
+	
+	private function get_arg_or_error( $args, $index, $name ) {
+		if ( ! isset( $args[$index] ) ) {
+			self::error_see_help( "$name required" );
+		}
+		return $args[$index];
+	}
+	
+	private function error_see_help( $message ) {
+		WP_CLI::error( "$message (see 'wp user help').");
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/php/wp-cli/wp-cli.php b/src/php/wp-cli/wp-cli.php
index ed2a2da563..a34d4a9d3b 100755
--- a/src/php/wp-cli/wp-cli.php
+++ b/src/php/wp-cli/wp-cli.php
@@ -52,9 +52,6 @@
 	define( 'WP_ROOT', $_SERVER['PWD'] . '/' );
 }
 
-// Handle --url and --blog parameters
-WP_CLI::_set_url( $assoc_args );
-
 if ( array( 'core', 'download' ) == $arguments ) {
 	WP_CLI::run_command( $arguments, $assoc_args );
 	exit;
@@ -88,6 +85,9 @@
     define( 'WP_INSTALLING', true );
 }
 
+// Handle --url and --blog parameters
+WP_CLI::_set_url( $assoc_args );
+
 // Load WordPress
 require WP_ROOT . 'wp-load.php';
 require ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/admin.php';