diff --git a/core/src/broadcast_stage.rs b/core/src/broadcast_stage.rs
index 071091b78c..73d75d15eb 100644
--- a/core/src/broadcast_stage.rs
+++ b/core/src/broadcast_stage.rs
@@ -642,8 +642,8 @@ pub mod test {
             );
 
             let blockstore = broadcast_service.blockstore;
-            let (entries, _, _) = blockstore
-                .get_slot_entries_with_shred_info(slot, 0)
+            let entries = blockstore
+                .get_slot_entries(slot, 0)
                 .expect("Expect entries to be present");
             assert_eq!(entries.len(), max_tick_height as usize);
 
diff --git a/ledger-tool/src/main.rs b/ledger-tool/src/main.rs
index c0705d16d5..711a4cedb6 100644
--- a/ledger-tool/src/main.rs
+++ b/ledger-tool/src/main.rs
@@ -67,13 +67,28 @@ fn output_slot_rewards(
 fn output_slot(
     blockstore: &Blockstore,
     slot: Slot,
+    allow_dead_slots: bool,
     method: &LedgerOutputMethod,
 ) -> Result<(), String> {
-    println!("Slot Meta {:?}", blockstore.meta(slot));
-    let entries = blockstore
-        .get_slot_entries(slot, 0)
+    if blockstore.is_dead(slot) {
+        if allow_dead_slots {
+            if *method == LedgerOutputMethod::Print {
+                println!("Slot is dead");
+            }
+        } else {
+            return Err("Dead slot".to_string());
+        }
+    }
+
+    let (entries, num_shreds, _is_full) = blockstore
+        .get_slot_entries_with_shred_info(slot, 0, allow_dead_slots)
         .map_err(|err| format!("Failed to load entries for slot {}: {}", slot, err))?;
 
+    if *method == LedgerOutputMethod::Print {
+        println!("Slot Meta {:?}", blockstore.meta(slot));
+        println!("Number of shreds: {}", num_shreds);
+    }
+
     for (entry_index, entry) in entries.iter().enumerate() {
         match method {
             LedgerOutputMethod::Print => {
@@ -204,7 +219,12 @@ fn output_slot(
     output_slot_rewards(blockstore, slot, method)
 }
 
-fn output_ledger(blockstore: Blockstore, starting_slot: Slot, method: LedgerOutputMethod) {
+fn output_ledger(
+    blockstore: Blockstore,
+    starting_slot: Slot,
+    allow_dead_slots: bool,
+    method: LedgerOutputMethod,
+) {
     let rooted_slot_iterator =
         RootedSlotIterator::new(starting_slot, &blockstore).unwrap_or_else(|err| {
             eprintln!(
@@ -227,7 +247,7 @@ fn output_ledger(blockstore: Blockstore, starting_slot: Slot, method: LedgerOutp
             }
         }
 
-        if let Err(err) = output_slot(&blockstore, slot, &method) {
+        if let Err(err) = output_slot(&blockstore, slot, allow_dead_slots, &method) {
             eprintln!("{}", err);
         }
     }
@@ -667,6 +687,10 @@ fn main() {
         .multiple(true)
         .takes_value(true)
         .help("Add a hard fork at this slot");
+    let allow_dead_slots_arg = Arg::with_name("allow_dead_slots")
+        .long("allow-dead-slots")
+        .takes_value(false)
+        .help("Output dead slots as well");
 
     let matches = App::new(crate_name!())
         .about(crate_description!())
@@ -684,6 +708,7 @@ fn main() {
             SubCommand::with_name("print")
             .about("Print the ledger")
             .arg(&starting_slot_arg)
+            .arg(&allow_dead_slots_arg)
         )
         .subcommand(
             SubCommand::with_name("slot")
@@ -698,6 +723,7 @@ fn main() {
                     .required(true)
                     .help("Slots to print"),
             )
+            .arg(&allow_dead_slots_arg)
         )
         .subcommand(
             SubCommand::with_name("set-dead-slot")
@@ -740,6 +766,7 @@ fn main() {
             SubCommand::with_name("json")
             .about("Print the ledger in JSON format")
             .arg(&starting_slot_arg)
+            .arg(&allow_dead_slots_arg)
         )
         .subcommand(
             SubCommand::with_name("verify")
@@ -891,9 +918,11 @@ fn main() {
     match matches.subcommand() {
         ("print", Some(arg_matches)) => {
             let starting_slot = value_t_or_exit!(arg_matches, "starting_slot", Slot);
+            let allow_dead_slots = arg_matches.is_present("allow_dead_slots");
             output_ledger(
                 open_blockstore(&ledger_path),
                 starting_slot,
+                allow_dead_slots,
                 LedgerOutputMethod::Print,
             );
         }
@@ -932,19 +961,27 @@ fn main() {
         }
         ("slot", Some(arg_matches)) => {
             let slots = values_t_or_exit!(arg_matches, "slots", Slot);
+            let allow_dead_slots = arg_matches.is_present("allow_dead_slots");
             let blockstore = open_blockstore(&ledger_path);
             for slot in slots {
                 println!("Slot {}", slot);
-                if let Err(err) = output_slot(&blockstore, slot, &LedgerOutputMethod::Print) {
+                if let Err(err) = output_slot(
+                    &blockstore,
+                    slot,
+                    allow_dead_slots,
+                    &LedgerOutputMethod::Print,
+                ) {
                     eprintln!("{}", err);
                 }
             }
         }
         ("json", Some(arg_matches)) => {
             let starting_slot = value_t_or_exit!(arg_matches, "starting_slot", Slot);
+            let allow_dead_slots = arg_matches.is_present("allow_dead_slots");
             output_ledger(
                 open_blockstore(&ledger_path),
                 starting_slot,
+                allow_dead_slots,
                 LedgerOutputMethod::Json,
             );
         }
diff --git a/ledger-tool/tests/basic.rs b/ledger-tool/tests/basic.rs
index b2e8c09040..709b9e586d 100644
--- a/ledger-tool/tests/basic.rs
+++ b/ledger-tool/tests/basic.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ fn bad_arguments() {
 fn nominal() {
     let genesis_config = create_genesis_config(100).genesis_config;
     let ticks_per_slot = genesis_config.ticks_per_slot;
-    let meta_lines = 1;
+    let meta_lines = 2;
 
     let (ledger_path, _blockhash) = create_new_tmp_ledger!(&genesis_config);
     let ticks = ticks_per_slot as usize;
diff --git a/ledger/src/blockstore.rs b/ledger/src/blockstore.rs
index da6ecdbf1d..3c9ae76ba4 100644
--- a/ledger/src/blockstore.rs
+++ b/ledger/src/blockstore.rs
@@ -1797,7 +1797,7 @@ impl Blockstore {
 
     /// Returns the entry vector for the slot starting with `shred_start_index`
     pub fn get_slot_entries(&self, slot: Slot, shred_start_index: u64) -> Result<Vec<Entry>> {
-        self.get_slot_entries_with_shred_info(slot, shred_start_index)
+        self.get_slot_entries_with_shred_info(slot, shred_start_index, false)
             .map(|x| x.0)
     }
 
@@ -1807,8 +1807,9 @@ impl Blockstore {
         &self,
         slot: Slot,
         start_index: u64,
+        allow_dead_slots: bool,
     ) -> Result<(Vec<Entry>, u64, bool)> {
-        if self.is_dead(slot) {
+        if self.is_dead(slot) && !allow_dead_slots {
             return Err(BlockstoreError::DeadSlot);
         }
 
diff --git a/ledger/src/blockstore_processor.rs b/ledger/src/blockstore_processor.rs
index 403d5c69cc..ec4a7a0d12 100644
--- a/ledger/src/blockstore_processor.rs
+++ b/ledger/src/blockstore_processor.rs
@@ -538,7 +538,7 @@ pub fn confirm_slot(
     let (entries, num_shreds, slot_full) = {
         let mut load_elapsed = Measure::start("load_elapsed");
         let load_result = blockstore
-            .get_slot_entries_with_shred_info(slot, progress.num_shreds)
+            .get_slot_entries_with_shred_info(slot, progress.num_shreds, false)
             .map_err(BlockstoreProcessorError::FailedToLoadEntries);
         load_elapsed.stop();
         if load_result.is_err() {