diff --git a/dist/api_data.py b/dist/api_data.py
index 7e964252c83..0141526285c 100644
--- a/dist/api_data.py
+++ b/dist/api_data.py
@@ -559,6 +559,20 @@ common_wiredtiger_open = [
         ]),
 ]
 
+cursor_runtime_config = [
+    Config('append', 'false', r'''
+        append the value as a new record, creating a new record
+        number key; valid only for cursors with record number keys''',
+        type='boolean'),
+    Config('overwrite', 'true', r'''
+        configures whether the cursor's insert, update and remove
+        methods check the existing state of the record.  If \c overwrite
+        is \c false, WT_CURSOR::insert fails with ::WT_DUPLICATE_KEY
+        if the record exists, WT_CURSOR::update and WT_CURSOR::remove
+        fail with ::WT_NOTFOUND if the record does not exist''',
+        type='boolean'),
+]
+
 methods = {
 'file.meta' : Method(file_meta),
 
@@ -570,6 +584,8 @@ methods = {
 
 'cursor.close' : Method([]),
 
+'cursor.reconfigure' : Method(cursor_runtime_config),
+
 'session.close' : Method([]),
 
 'session.compact' : Method([
@@ -600,11 +616,7 @@ methods = {
 
 'session.log_printf' : Method([]),
 
-'session.open_cursor' : Method([
-    Config('append', 'false', r'''
-        append the value as a new record, creating a new record
-        number key; valid only for cursors with record number keys''',
-        type='boolean'),
+'session.open_cursor' : Method(cursor_runtime_config + [
     Config('bulk', 'false', r'''
         configure the cursor for bulk-loading, a fast, initial load
         path (see @ref tune_bulk_load for more information).  Bulk-load
@@ -641,13 +653,6 @@ methods = {
         WT_CURSOR::next and WT_CURSOR::close methods.  See @ref
         cursor_random for details''',
         type='boolean'),
-    Config('overwrite', 'true', r'''
-        configures whether the cursor's insert, update and remove
-        methods check the existing state of the record.  If \c overwrite
-        is \c false, WT_CURSOR::insert fails with ::WT_DUPLICATE_KEY
-        if the record exists, WT_CURSOR::update and WT_CURSOR::remove
-        fail with ::WT_NOTFOUND if the record does not exist''',
-        type='boolean'),
     Config('raw', 'false', r'''
         ignore the encodings for the key and value, manage data as if
         the formats were \c "u".  See @ref cursor_raw for details''',
diff --git a/examples/c/ex_all.c b/examples/c/ex_all.c
index 108cca583a8..51b4bb42040 100644
--- a/examples/c/ex_all.c
+++ b/examples/c/ex_all.c
@@ -95,20 +95,16 @@ cursor_ops(WT_SESSION *session)
 	}
 
 	{
-	WT_CURSOR *overwrite_cursor;
 	const char *key = "some key", *value = "some value";
 	/*! [Reconfigure a cursor] */
 	ret = session->open_cursor(
-	    session, "table:mytable", NULL, NULL, &cursor);
+	    session, "table:mytable", NULL, "overwrite=false", &cursor);
 	cursor->set_key(cursor, key);
+	cursor->set_value(cursor, value);
 
 	/* Reconfigure the cursor to overwrite the record. */
-	ret = session->open_cursor(
-	    session, NULL, cursor, "overwrite", &overwrite_cursor);
-	ret = cursor->close(cursor);
-
-	overwrite_cursor->set_value(overwrite_cursor, value);
-	ret = overwrite_cursor->insert(cursor);
+	ret = cursor->reconfigure(cursor, "overwrite=true");
+	ret = cursor->insert(cursor);
 	/*! [Reconfigure a cursor] */
 	}
 
diff --git a/lang/java/java_doc.i b/lang/java/java_doc.i
index 0890b14fa65..53785a3bab4 100644
--- a/lang/java/java_doc.i
+++ b/lang/java/java_doc.i
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ COPYDOC(__wt_cursor, WT_CURSOR, insert)
 COPYDOC(__wt_cursor, WT_CURSOR, update)
 COPYDOC(__wt_cursor, WT_CURSOR, remove)
 COPYDOC(__wt_cursor, WT_CURSOR, close)
+COPYDOC(__wt_cursor, WT_CURSOR, reconfigure)
 COPYDOC(__wt_async_op, WT_ASYNC_OP, get_key)
 COPYDOC(__wt_async_op, WT_ASYNC_OP, get_value)
 COPYDOC(__wt_async_op, WT_ASYNC_OP, set_key)
diff --git a/src/config/config_def.c b/src/config/config_def.c
index 9d2e5ba9c86..ec44e8839b0 100644
--- a/src/config/config_def.c
+++ b/src/config/config_def.c
@@ -110,6 +110,12 @@ static const WT_CONFIG_CHECK confchk_connection_reconfigure[] = {
 	{ NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL }
 };
 
+static const WT_CONFIG_CHECK confchk_cursor_reconfigure[] = {
+	{ "append", "boolean", NULL, NULL },
+	{ "overwrite", "boolean", NULL, NULL },
+	{ NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL }
+};
+
 static const WT_CONFIG_CHECK confchk_file_meta[] = {
 	{ "allocation_size", "int", "min=512B,max=128MB", NULL },
 	{ "app_metadata", "string", NULL, NULL },
@@ -561,6 +567,10 @@ static const WT_CONFIG_ENTRY config_entries[] = {
 	  "",
 	  NULL
 	},
+	{ "cursor.reconfigure",
+	  "append=0,overwrite=",
+	  confchk_cursor_reconfigure
+	},
 	{ "file.meta",
 	  "allocation_size=4KB,app_metadata=,block_allocation=best,"
 	  "block_compressor=,cache_resident=0,checkpoint=,checkpoint_lsn=,"
diff --git a/src/cursor/cur_backup.c b/src/cursor/cur_backup.c
index c7f5a370641..c85e9e24fb2 100644
--- a/src/cursor/cur_backup.c
+++ b/src/cursor/cur_backup.c
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ __wt_curbackup_open(WT_SESSION_IMPL *session,
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* insert */
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* update */
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* remove */
+	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* reconfigure */
 	    __curbackup_close);		/* close */
 	WT_CURSOR *cursor;
 	WT_CURSOR_BACKUP *cb;
diff --git a/src/cursor/cur_config.c b/src/cursor/cur_config.c
index 77cc3eb0b2e..348cfbab1dd 100644
--- a/src/cursor/cur_config.c
+++ b/src/cursor/cur_config.c
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ __wt_curconfig_open(WT_SESSION_IMPL *session,
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* insert */
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* update */
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* remove */
+	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* reconfigure */
 	    __curconfig_close);
 	WT_CURSOR_CONFIG *cconfig;
 	WT_CURSOR *cursor;
diff --git a/src/cursor/cur_ds.c b/src/cursor/cur_ds.c
index 4cf5dadf705..c58d6899150 100644
--- a/src/cursor/cur_ds.c
+++ b/src/cursor/cur_ds.c
@@ -463,6 +463,7 @@ __wt_curds_open(
 	    __curds_insert,		/* insert */
 	    __curds_update,		/* update */
 	    __curds_remove,		/* remove */
+	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* reconfigure */
 	    __curds_close);		/* close */
 	WT_CONFIG_ITEM cval, metadata;
 	WT_CURSOR *cursor, *source;
diff --git a/src/cursor/cur_dump.c b/src/cursor/cur_dump.c
index cd9fbf0801b..00281054d22 100644
--- a/src/cursor/cur_dump.c
+++ b/src/cursor/cur_dump.c
@@ -361,6 +361,7 @@ __wt_curdump_create(WT_CURSOR *child, WT_CURSOR *owner, WT_CURSOR **cursorp)
 	    __curdump_insert,		/* insert */
 	    __curdump_update,		/* update */
 	    __curdump_remove,		/* remove */
+	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* reconfigure */
 	    __curdump_close);		/* close */
 	WT_CURSOR *cursor;
 	WT_CURSOR_DUMP *cdump;
diff --git a/src/cursor/cur_file.c b/src/cursor/cur_file.c
index fd044ff87b6..2f24d8ed59a 100644
--- a/src/cursor/cur_file.c
+++ b/src/cursor/cur_file.c
@@ -398,6 +398,7 @@ __wt_curfile_create(WT_SESSION_IMPL *session,
 	    __curfile_insert,		/* insert */
 	    __curfile_update,		/* update */
 	    __curfile_remove,		/* remove */
+	    __wt_cursor_reconfigure,	/* reconfigure */
 	    __curfile_close);		/* close */
 	WT_BTREE *btree;
 	WT_CONFIG_ITEM cval;
diff --git a/src/cursor/cur_index.c b/src/cursor/cur_index.c
index 3c626b15cb2..abc6a106cc9 100644
--- a/src/cursor/cur_index.c
+++ b/src/cursor/cur_index.c
@@ -352,6 +352,7 @@ __wt_curindex_open(WT_SESSION_IMPL *session,
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* insert */
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* update */
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* remove */
+	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* reconfigure */
 	    __curindex_close);		/* close */
 	WT_CURSOR_INDEX *cindex;
 	WT_CURSOR *cursor;
diff --git a/src/cursor/cur_log.c b/src/cursor/cur_log.c
index 96fc6623496..5de3762217f 100644
--- a/src/cursor/cur_log.c
+++ b/src/cursor/cur_log.c
@@ -353,6 +353,7 @@ __wt_curlog_open(WT_SESSION_IMPL *session,
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* insert */
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* update */
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* remove */
+	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* reconfigure */
 	    __curlog_close);		/* close */
 	WT_CURSOR *cursor;
 	WT_CURSOR_LOG *cl;
diff --git a/src/cursor/cur_metadata.c b/src/cursor/cur_metadata.c
index a2cb1301c77..9860eb65a55 100644
--- a/src/cursor/cur_metadata.c
+++ b/src/cursor/cur_metadata.c
@@ -418,10 +418,12 @@ __wt_curmetadata_open(WT_SESSION_IMPL *session,
 	    __curmetadata_insert,	/* insert */
 	    __curmetadata_update,	/* update */
 	    __curmetadata_remove,	/* remove */
+	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* reconfigure */
 	    __curmetadata_close);	/* close */
 	WT_CURSOR *cursor;
 	WT_CURSOR_METADATA *mdc;
 	WT_DECL_RET;
+	WT_CONFIG_ITEM cval;
 
 	WT_RET(__wt_calloc_one(session, &mdc));
 
@@ -436,8 +438,16 @@ __wt_curmetadata_open(WT_SESSION_IMPL *session,
 
 	WT_ERR(__wt_cursor_init(cursor, uri, owner, cfg, cursorp));
 
-	/* Metadata cursors default to read only. */
-	WT_ERR(__wt_cursor_config_readonly(cursor, cfg, 1));
+	/*
+	 * Metadata cursors default to readonly; if not set to not-readonly,
+	 * they are permanently readonly and cannot be reconfigured.
+	 */
+	WT_ERR(__wt_config_gets_def(session, cfg, "readonly", 1, &cval));
+	if (cval.val != 0) {
+		cursor->insert = __wt_cursor_notsup;
+		cursor->update = __wt_cursor_notsup;
+		cursor->remove = __wt_cursor_notsup;
+	}
 
 	if (0) {
 err:		if (mdc->file_cursor != NULL)
diff --git a/src/cursor/cur_stat.c b/src/cursor/cur_stat.c
index 20f669b4776..5086160b233 100644
--- a/src/cursor/cur_stat.c
+++ b/src/cursor/cur_stat.c
@@ -494,6 +494,7 @@ __wt_curstat_open(WT_SESSION_IMPL *session,
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* insert */
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* update */
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* remove */
+	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* reconfigure */
 	    __curstat_close);		/* close */
 	WT_CONFIG_ITEM cval, sval;
 	WT_CURSOR *cursor;
diff --git a/src/cursor/cur_std.c b/src/cursor/cur_std.c
index 494b54890e5..858c6af6853 100644
--- a/src/cursor/cur_std.c
+++ b/src/cursor/cur_std.c
@@ -58,28 +58,6 @@ __wt_cursor_set_notsup(WT_CURSOR *cursor)
 	cursor->remove = __wt_cursor_notsup;
 }
 
-/*
- * __wt_cursor_config_readonly --
- *	Parse read only configuration and setup cursor appropriately.
- */
-int
-__wt_cursor_config_readonly(WT_CURSOR *cursor, const char *cfg[], int def)
-{
-	WT_CONFIG_ITEM cval;
-	WT_SESSION_IMPL *session;
-
-	session = (WT_SESSION_IMPL *)cursor->session;
-
-	WT_RET(__wt_config_gets_def(session, cfg, "readonly", def, &cval));
-	if (cval.val != 0) {
-		/* Reset all cursor methods that could modify data. */
-		cursor->insert = __wt_cursor_notsup;
-		cursor->update = __wt_cursor_notsup;
-		cursor->remove = __wt_cursor_notsup;
-	}
-	return (0);
-}
-
 /*
  * __wt_cursor_kv_not_set --
  *	Standard error message for key/values not set.
@@ -523,29 +501,47 @@ err:	API_END(session, ret);
 }
 
 /*
- * __cursor_runtime_config --
+ * __wt_cursor_reconfigure --
  *	Set runtime-configurable settings.
  */
-static int
-__cursor_runtime_config(WT_CURSOR *cursor, const char *cfg[])
+int
+__wt_cursor_reconfigure(WT_CURSOR *cursor, const char *config)
 {
 	WT_CONFIG_ITEM cval;
+	WT_DECL_RET;
 	WT_SESSION_IMPL *session;
 
 	session = (WT_SESSION_IMPL *)cursor->session;
 
-	/* 
-	 * !!!
-	 * There's no way yet to reconfigure cursor flags at runtime; if, in
-	 * the future there is a way to do that, similar support needs to be
-	 * added for data-source cursors, or, this call needs to return an
-	 * error in the case of a data-source cursor.
+	/* Reconfiguration resets the cursor. */
+	WT_RET(cursor->reset(cursor));
+
+	/*
+	 * append
+	 * Only relevant to column stores.
 	 */
-	WT_RET(__wt_config_gets_def(session, cfg, "overwrite", 1, &cval));
-	if (cval.val)
-		F_SET(cursor, WT_CURSTD_OVERWRITE);
-	else
-		F_CLR(cursor, WT_CURSTD_OVERWRITE);
+	if (WT_CURSOR_RECNO(cursor)) {
+		if ((ret = __wt_config_getones(
+		    session, config, "append", &cval)) == 0) {
+			if (cval.val)
+				F_SET(cursor, WT_CURSTD_APPEND);
+			else
+				F_CLR(cursor, WT_CURSTD_APPEND);
+		} else
+			WT_RET_NOTFOUND_OK(ret);
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * overwrite
+	 */
+	if ((ret = __wt_config_getones(
+	    session, config, "overwrite", &cval)) == 0) {
+		if (cval.val)
+			F_SET(cursor, WT_CURSTD_OVERWRITE);
+		else
+			F_CLR(cursor, WT_CURSTD_OVERWRITE);
+	} else
+		WT_RET_NOTFOUND_OK(ret);
 
 	return (0);
 }
@@ -608,9 +604,6 @@ __wt_cursor_init(WT_CURSOR *cursor,
 	if (cursor->internal_uri == NULL)
 		WT_RET(__wt_strdup(session, uri, &cursor->internal_uri));
 
-	/* Set runtime-configurable settings. */
-	WT_RET(__cursor_runtime_config(cursor, cfg));
-
 	/*
 	 * append
 	 * The append flag is only relevant to column stores.
@@ -622,14 +615,23 @@ __wt_cursor_init(WT_CURSOR *cursor,
 	}
 
 	/*
-	 * checkpoint
-	 * Checkpoint cursors are read-only.
+	 * checkpoint, readonly
+	 * Checkpoint cursors are permanently read-only, avoid the extra work
+	 * of two configuration string checks.
 	 */
 	WT_RET(__wt_config_gets_def(session, cfg, "checkpoint", 0, &cval));
 	if (cval.len != 0) {
 		cursor->insert = __wt_cursor_notsup;
 		cursor->update = __wt_cursor_notsup;
 		cursor->remove = __wt_cursor_notsup;
+	} else {
+		WT_RET(
+		    __wt_config_gets_def(session, cfg, "readonly", 0, &cval));
+		if (cval.val != 0) {
+			cursor->insert = __wt_cursor_notsup;
+			cursor->update = __wt_cursor_notsup;
+			cursor->remove = __wt_cursor_notsup;
+		}
 	}
 
 	/*
@@ -656,14 +658,18 @@ __wt_cursor_init(WT_CURSOR *cursor,
 	} else
 		cdump = NULL;
 
+	/* overwrite */
+	WT_RET(__wt_config_gets_def(session, cfg, "overwrite", 1, &cval));
+	if (cval.val)
+		F_SET(cursor, WT_CURSTD_OVERWRITE);
+	else
+		F_CLR(cursor, WT_CURSTD_OVERWRITE);
+
 	/* raw */
 	WT_RET(__wt_config_gets_def(session, cfg, "raw", 0, &cval));
 	if (cval.val != 0)
 		F_SET(cursor, WT_CURSTD_RAW);
 
-	/* readonly */
-	WT_RET(__wt_cursor_config_readonly(cursor, cfg, 0));
-
 	/*
 	 * Cursors that are internal to some other cursor (such as file cursors
 	 * inside a table cursor) should be closed after the containing cursor.
diff --git a/src/cursor/cur_table.c b/src/cursor/cur_table.c
index 1adef6342bb..494277bb2f1 100644
--- a/src/cursor/cur_table.c
+++ b/src/cursor/cur_table.c
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ __apply_idx(WT_CURSOR_TABLE *ctable, size_t func_off, int skip_immutable) {
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* search-near */
 	    __curextract_insert,	/* insert */
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* update */
+	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* reconfigure */
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup,		/* remove */
 	    __wt_cursor_notsup);	/* close */
 	WT_CURSOR **cp;
@@ -756,11 +757,11 @@ __curtable_open_colgroups(WT_CURSOR_TABLE *ctable, const char *cfg_arg[])
 	WT_TABLE *table;
 	WT_CURSOR **cp;
 	/*
-	 * Underlying column groups are always opened without dump, and only
-	 * the primary is opened with next_random.
+	 * Underlying column groups are always opened without dump or readonly,
+	 * and only the primary is opened with next_random.
 	 */
 	const char *cfg[] = {
-		cfg_arg[0], cfg_arg[1], "dump=\"\"", NULL, NULL
+		cfg_arg[0], cfg_arg[1], "dump=\"\",readonly=0", NULL, NULL
 	};
 	u_int i;
 	int complete;
@@ -847,6 +848,7 @@ __wt_curtable_open(WT_SESSION_IMPL *session,
 	    __curtable_insert,		/* insert */
 	    __curtable_update,		/* update */
 	    __curtable_remove,		/* remove */
+	    __wt_cursor_reconfigure,	/* reconfigure */
 	    __curtable_close);		/* close */
 	WT_CONFIG_ITEM cval;
 	WT_CURSOR *cursor;
@@ -894,8 +896,8 @@ __wt_curtable_open(WT_SESSION_IMPL *session,
 	ctable->plan = table->plan;
 
 	/* Handle projections. */
+	WT_RET(__wt_scr_alloc(session, 0, &tmp));
 	if (columns != NULL) {
-		WT_ERR(__wt_scr_alloc(session, 0, &tmp));
 		WT_ERR(__wt_struct_reformat(session, table,
 		    columns, strlen(columns), NULL, 1, tmp));
 		WT_ERR(__wt_strndup(
@@ -937,22 +939,28 @@ __wt_curtable_open(WT_SESSION_IMPL *session,
 	WT_ERR(__curtable_open_colgroups(ctable, cfg));
 
 	/*
-	 * We'll need to squirrel away a copy of the cursor configuration
-	 * for if/when we open indices.
+	 * We'll need to squirrel away a copy of the cursor configuration for
+	 * if/when we open indices.
 	 *
 	 * cfg[0] is the baseline configuration for the cursor open and we can
 	 * acquire another copy from the configuration structures, so it would
 	 * be reasonable not to copy it here: but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
 	 *
-	 * Underlying indices are always opened without dump.
+	 * cfg[1] is the application configuration.
+	 *
+	 * Underlying indices are always opened without dump or readonly; that
+	 * information is appended to cfg[1] so later "fast" configuration calls
+	 * (checking only cfg[0] and cfg[1]) work. I don't expect to see more
+	 * than two configuration strings here, but it's written to compact into
+	 * two configuration strings, a copy of cfg[0] and the rest in cfg[1].
 	 */
-	for (cfg_cnt = 0; cfg[cfg_cnt] != NULL; ++cfg_cnt)
-		;
-	WT_ERR(__wt_calloc_def(session, cfg_cnt + 2, &ctable->cfg));
-	for (cfg_cnt = 0; cfg[cfg_cnt] != NULL; ++cfg_cnt)
-		WT_ERR(
-		    __wt_strdup(session, cfg[cfg_cnt], &ctable->cfg[cfg_cnt]));
-	WT_ERR(__wt_strdup(session, "dump=\"\"", &ctable->cfg[cfg_cnt]));
+	WT_ERR(__wt_calloc_def(session, 3, &ctable->cfg));
+	WT_ERR(__wt_strdup(session, cfg[0], &ctable->cfg[0]));
+	WT_ERR(__wt_buf_set(session, tmp, "", 0));
+	for (cfg_cnt = 1; cfg[cfg_cnt] != NULL; ++cfg_cnt)
+		WT_ERR(__wt_buf_catfmt(session, tmp, "%s,", cfg[cfg_cnt]));
+	WT_ERR(__wt_buf_catfmt(session, tmp, "dump=\"\",readonly=0"));
+	WT_ERR(__wt_strdup(session, tmp->data, &ctable->cfg[1]));
 
 	if (0) {
 err:		WT_TRET(__curtable_close(cursor));
diff --git a/src/include/config.h b/src/include/config.h
index 277a22063d1..65757c2ef6d 100644
--- a/src/include/config.h
+++ b/src/include/config.h
@@ -57,29 +57,30 @@ struct __wt_config_parser_impl {
 #define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_connection_open_session		 8
 #define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_connection_reconfigure		 9
 #define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_cursor_close			10
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_file_meta			11
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_index_meta			12
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_begin_transaction	13
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_checkpoint		14
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_close			15
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_commit_transaction	16
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_compact			17
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_create			18
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_drop			19
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_log_printf		20
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_open_cursor		21
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_reconfigure		22
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_rename			23
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_rollback_transaction	24
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_salvage			25
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_truncate		26
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_upgrade			27
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_verify			28
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_table_meta			29
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_wiredtiger_open			30
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_wiredtiger_open_all		31
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_wiredtiger_open_basecfg		32
-#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_wiredtiger_open_usercfg		33
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_cursor_reconfigure		11
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_file_meta			12
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_index_meta			13
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_begin_transaction	14
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_checkpoint		15
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_close			16
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_commit_transaction	17
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_compact			18
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_create			19
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_drop			20
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_log_printf		21
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_open_cursor		22
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_reconfigure		23
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_rename			24
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_rollback_transaction	25
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_salvage			26
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_truncate		27
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_upgrade			28
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_session_verify			29
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_table_meta			30
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_wiredtiger_open			31
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_wiredtiger_open_all		32
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_wiredtiger_open_basecfg		33
+#define	WT_CONFIG_ENTRY_wiredtiger_open_usercfg		34
 /*
  * configuration section: END
  * DO NOT EDIT: automatically built by dist/flags.py.
diff --git a/src/include/cursor.h b/src/include/cursor.h
index 249702c26ad..ba53bd23c78 100644
--- a/src/include/cursor.h
+++ b/src/include/cursor.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 	insert,								\
 	update,								\
 	remove,								\
+	reconfigure,							\
 	close)								\
 	static const WT_CURSOR n = {					\
 	NULL,				/* session */			\
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@
 	update,								\
 	remove,								\
 	close,								\
+	(int (*)(WT_CURSOR *, const char *))(reconfigure),		\
 	{ NULL, NULL },			/* TAILQ_ENTRY q */		\
 	0,				/* recno key */			\
 	{ 0 },				/* recno raw buffer */		\
diff --git a/src/include/extern.h b/src/include/extern.h
index 5555fe832ff..4872e48eeed 100644
--- a/src/include/extern.h
+++ b/src/include/extern.h
@@ -266,7 +266,6 @@ extern int __wt_curstat_open(WT_SESSION_IMPL *session, const char *uri, const ch
 extern int __wt_cursor_notsup(WT_CURSOR *cursor);
 extern int __wt_cursor_noop(WT_CURSOR *cursor);
 extern void __wt_cursor_set_notsup(WT_CURSOR *cursor);
-extern int __wt_cursor_config_readonly(WT_CURSOR *cursor, const char *cfg[], int def);
 extern int __wt_cursor_kv_not_set(WT_CURSOR *cursor, int key);
 extern int __wt_cursor_get_key(WT_CURSOR *cursor, ...);
 extern void __wt_cursor_set_key(WT_CURSOR *cursor, ...);
@@ -282,6 +281,7 @@ extern void __wt_cursor_set_value(WT_CURSOR *cursor, ...);
 extern void __wt_cursor_set_valuev(WT_CURSOR *cursor, va_list ap);
 extern int __wt_cursor_close(WT_CURSOR *cursor);
 extern int __wt_cursor_equals(WT_CURSOR *cursor, WT_CURSOR *other, int *equalp);
+extern int __wt_cursor_reconfigure(WT_CURSOR *cursor, const char *config);
 extern int __wt_cursor_dup_position(WT_CURSOR *to_dup, WT_CURSOR *cursor);
 extern int __wt_cursor_init(WT_CURSOR *cursor, const char *uri, WT_CURSOR *owner, const char *cfg[], WT_CURSOR **cursorp);
 extern int __wt_curtable_get_key(WT_CURSOR *cursor, ...);
diff --git a/src/include/wiredtiger.in b/src/include/wiredtiger.in
index 2c2ee187fe3..982e850241b 100644
--- a/src/include/wiredtiger.in
+++ b/src/include/wiredtiger.in
@@ -511,6 +511,29 @@ struct __wt_cursor {
 	 */
 	int __F(close)(WT_HANDLE_CLOSED(WT_CURSOR) *cursor);
 
+	/*!
+	 * Reconfigure the cursor.
+	 *
+	 * The cursor is reset.
+	 *
+	 * @snippet ex_all.c Reconfigure a cursor
+	 *
+	 * @param cursor the cursor handle
+	 * @configstart{cursor.reconfigure, see dist/api_data.py}
+	 * @config{append, append the value as a new record\, creating a new
+	 * record number key; valid only for cursors with record number keys., a
+	 * boolean flag; default \c false.}
+	 * @config{overwrite, configures whether the cursor's insert\, update
+	 * and remove methods check the existing state of the record.  If \c
+	 * overwrite is \c false\, WT_CURSOR::insert fails with
+	 * ::WT_DUPLICATE_KEY if the record exists\, WT_CURSOR::update and
+	 * WT_CURSOR::remove fail with ::WT_NOTFOUND if the record does not
+	 * exist., a boolean flag; default \c true.}
+	 * @configend
+	 * @errors
+	 */
+	int __F(reconfigure)(WT_CURSOR *cursor, const char *config);
+
 	/*
 	 * Protected fields, only to be used by cursor implementations.
 	 */
@@ -538,6 +561,7 @@ struct __wt_cursor {
 	 * user on open.
 	 */
 	const char *internal_uri;
+					/* Saved modification methods. */
 
 #define	WT_CURSTD_APPEND	0x0001
 #define	WT_CURSTD_BULK		0x0002
@@ -829,10 +853,6 @@ struct __wt_session {
 	 * duplicated cursors are positioned at the same place in the data
 	 * source as the original.
 	 *
-	 * To reconfigure a cursor, duplicate it with a new configuration value:
-	 *
-	 * @snippet ex_all.c Reconfigure a cursor
-	 *
 	 * Cursor handles should be discarded by calling WT_CURSOR::close.
 	 *
 	 * Cursors capable of supporting transactional operations operate in the
diff --git a/src/log/log.c b/src/log/log.c
index c48fc7536b2..b2631a73946 100644
--- a/src/log/log.c
+++ b/src/log/log.c
@@ -859,7 +859,7 @@ __log_release(WT_SESSION_IMPL *session, WT_LOGSLOT *slot)
 	WT_CONNECTION_IMPL *conn;
 	WT_DECL_RET;
 	WT_LOG *log;
-	WT_LSN close_end_lsn, close_lsn, sync_lsn;
+	WT_LSN close_lsn, sync_lsn;
 	size_t write_size;
 	int locked;
 	WT_DECL_SPINLOCK_ID(id);			/* Must appear last */
@@ -873,7 +873,6 @@ __log_release(WT_SESSION_IMPL *session, WT_LOGSLOT *slot)
 	 * of the file handle structure.
 	 */
 	WT_INIT_LSN(&close_lsn);
-	WT_INIT_LSN(&close_end_lsn);
 
 	/* Write the buffered records */
 	if (F_ISSET(slot, SLOT_BUFFERED)) {
diff --git a/src/lsm/lsm_cursor.c b/src/lsm/lsm_cursor.c
index c7d0d1ded9f..bf5ae465664 100644
--- a/src/lsm/lsm_cursor.c
+++ b/src/lsm/lsm_cursor.c
@@ -1438,6 +1438,7 @@ __wt_clsm_open(WT_SESSION_IMPL *session,
 	    __clsm_insert,		/* insert */
 	    __clsm_update,		/* update */
 	    __clsm_remove,		/* remove */
+	    __wt_cursor_reconfigure,	/* reconfigure */
 	    __clsm_close);		/* close */
 	WT_CURSOR *cursor;
 	WT_CURSOR_LSM *clsm;
@@ -1469,8 +1470,6 @@ __wt_clsm_open(WT_SESSION_IMPL *session,
 	cursor->key_format = lsm_tree->key_format;
 	cursor->value_format = lsm_tree->value_format;
 
-	WT_ERR(__wt_cursor_config_readonly(cursor, cfg, 0));
-
 	clsm->lsm_tree = lsm_tree;
 
 	/*
diff --git a/test/suite/helper.py b/test/suite/helper.py
index f0c149aeee3..21eac2359b6 100644
--- a/test/suite/helper.py
+++ b/test/suite/helper.py
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ def simple_populate_check(self, uri, rows):
     cursor.close()
 
 # Return the value stored in a complex object.
-def value_populate_complex(i):
+def complex_value_populate(cursor, i):
     return [str(i) + ': abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz'[0:i%26],
         i,
         str(i) + ': abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz'[0:i%23],
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ def complex_populate_type(self, uri, config, rows, type):
     cursor = self.session.open_cursor(uri, None)
     for i in range(1, rows + 1):
         cursor.set_key(key_populate(cursor, i))
-        v = value_populate_complex(i)
+        v = complex_value_populate(cursor, i)
         cursor.set_value(v[0], v[1], v[2], v[3])
         cursor.insert()
     cursor.close()
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ def complex_populate_check_cursor(self, cursor, rows):
     for key, s1, i2, s3, s4 in cursor:
         i += 1
         self.assertEqual(key, key_populate(cursor, i))
-        v = value_populate_complex(i)
+        v = complex_value_populate(cursor, i)
         self.assertEqual(s1, v[0])
         self.assertEqual(i2, v[1])
         self.assertEqual(s3, v[2])
diff --git a/test/suite/test_cursor06.py b/test/suite/test_cursor06.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..589bcd215ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/suite/test_cursor06.py
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+#
+# Public Domain 2014-2015 MongoDB, Inc.
+# Public Domain 2008-2014 WiredTiger, Inc.
+#
+# This is free and unencumbered software released into the public domain.
+#
+# Anyone is free to copy, modify, publish, use, compile, sell, or
+# distribute this software, either in source code form or as a compiled
+# binary, for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, and by any
+# means.
+#
+# In jurisdictions that recognize copyright laws, the author or authors
+# of this software dedicate any and all copyright interest in the
+# software to the public domain. We make this dedication for the benefit
+# of the public at large and to the detriment of our heirs and
+# successors. We intend this dedication to be an overt act of
+# relinquishment in perpetuity of all present and future rights to this
+# software under copyright law.
+#
+# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
+# EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF
+# MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.
+# IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR
+# OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE,
+# ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR
+# OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+
+import wiredtiger, wttest
+from helper import key_populate, value_populate, simple_populate
+from helper import complex_value_populate, complex_populate
+from wtscenario import multiply_scenarios, number_scenarios
+
+# test_cursor06.py
+#    Test cursor reconfiguration.
+class test_cursor06(wttest.WiredTigerTestCase):
+    name = 'reconfigure'
+    scenarios = [
+        ('file-r', dict(type='file:',keyfmt='r',complex=0)),
+        ('file-S', dict(type='file:',keyfmt='S',complex=0)),
+        ('lsm-S', dict(type='lsm:',keyfmt='S',complex=0)),
+        ('table-r', dict(type='table:',keyfmt='r',complex=0)),
+        ('table-S', dict(type='table:',keyfmt='S',complex=0)),
+        ('table-r', dict(type='table:',keyfmt='r',complex=1)),
+        ('table-S', dict(type='table:',keyfmt='S',complex=1)),
+    ]
+
+    def pop(self, uri):
+        if self.complex == 1:
+            complex_populate(self, uri, 'key_format=' + self.keyfmt, 100)
+        else:
+            simple_populate(self, uri, 'key_format=' + self.keyfmt, 100)
+
+    def set_kv(self, cursor):
+        cursor.set_key(key_populate(cursor, 10))
+        if self.complex == 1:
+            v = complex_value_populate(cursor, 10)
+            cursor.set_value(v[0], v[1], v[2], v[3])
+        else:
+            cursor.set_value(value_populate(cursor, 10))
+            
+    def test_reconfigure_overwrite(self):
+        uri = self.type + self.name
+        for open_config in (None, "overwrite=0", "overwrite=1"):
+            self.session.drop(uri, "force")
+            self.pop(uri)
+            cursor = self.session.open_cursor(uri, None, open_config)
+            if open_config != "overwrite=0":
+                self.set_kv(cursor)
+                cursor.insert()
+            for i in range(0, 10):
+                cursor.reconfigure("overwrite=0")
+                self.set_kv(cursor)
+                self.assertRaises(wiredtiger.WiredTigerError,
+                                  lambda: cursor.insert())
+                cursor.reconfigure("overwrite=1")
+                self.set_kv(cursor)
+                cursor.insert()
+            cursor.close()
+            
+    def test_reconfigure_readonly(self):
+        uri = self.type + self.name
+        for open_config in (None, "readonly=0", "readonly=1"):
+            self.session.drop(uri, "force")
+            self.pop(uri)
+            cursor = self.session.open_cursor(uri, None, open_config)
+            if open_config == "readonly=1":
+                self.set_kv(cursor)
+                self.assertRaises(wiredtiger.WiredTigerError,
+                                  lambda: cursor.update())
+            else:
+                self.set_kv(cursor)
+                cursor.update()
+            cursor.close()
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    wttest.run()
diff --git a/test/suite/test_truncate01.py b/test/suite/test_truncate01.py
index 80590e876a6..c74c9bdfe91 100644
--- a/test/suite/test_truncate01.py
+++ b/test/suite/test_truncate01.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 import wiredtiger, wttest
 from helper import confirm_empty,\
     key_populate, value_populate, simple_populate,\
-    value_populate_complex, complex_populate
+    complex_populate, complex_value_populate
 from wtscenario import multiply_scenarios, number_scenarios
 
 # Test truncation arguments.
@@ -442,7 +442,8 @@ class test_truncate_cursor(wttest.WiredTigerTestCase):
             cursor = self.session.open_cursor(uri, None)
             expected = {}
             for i in range(1, self.nentries + 1):
-                expected[key_populate(cursor, i)] = value_populate_complex(i)
+                expected[key_populate(cursor, i)] = \
+                    complex_value_populate(cursor, i)
             cursor.close()
 
             # Optionally close and re-open the object to get a disk image
diff --git a/tools/test/test_wtstats.py b/tools/test/test_wtstats.py
index 2a79d776528..80078d97667 100644
--- a/tools/test/test_wtstats.py
+++ b/tools/test/test_wtstats.py
@@ -1,3 +1,32 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+#
+# Public Domain 2014-2015 MongoDB, Inc.
+# Public Domain 2008-2014 WiredTiger, Inc.
+#
+# This is free and unencumbered software released into the public domain.
+#
+# Anyone is free to copy, modify, publish, use, compile, sell, or
+# distribute this software, either in source code form or as a compiled
+# binary, for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, and by any
+# means.
+#
+# In jurisdictions that recognize copyright laws, the author or authors
+# of this software dedicate any and all copyright interest in the
+# software to the public domain. We make this dedication for the benefit
+# of the public at large and to the detriment of our heirs and
+# successors. We intend this dedication to be an overt act of
+# relinquishment in perpetuity of all present and future rights to this
+# software under copyright law.
+#
+# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
+# EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF
+# MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.
+# IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR
+# OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE,
+# ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR
+# OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+#
+
 """ 
 To run this test suite, install nose with `pip install nose` and then
 run `nosetests -v` from the `./tools` directory.
@@ -268,4 +297,3 @@ def test_all_option():
     series_keys = map(lambda x: x['key'], data['series'])
     for key in series_keys:
         assert key.startswith('transaction:')
-
diff --git a/tools/wtstats.py b/tools/wtstats.py
index 95f23b444bd..031b7cb546f 100755
--- a/tools/wtstats.py
+++ b/tools/wtstats.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 #
-# Public Domain 2008-2015 WiredTiger, Inc.
+# Public Domain 2014-2015 MongoDB, Inc.
+# Public Domain 2008-2014 WiredTiger, Inc.
 #
 # This is free and unencumbered software released into the public domain.
 #