diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl/pkg/cmd/taint/taint.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl/pkg/cmd/taint/taint.go
index d87be699eb9..498ff9ea312 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl/pkg/cmd/taint/taint.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl/pkg/cmd/taint/taint.go
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ func (o *TaintOptions) Complete(f cmdutil.Factory, cmd *cobra.Command, args []st
 	taintArgs := []string{}
 	metTaintArg := false
 	for _, s := range args {
-		isTaint := strings.Contains(s, "=") || strings.HasSuffix(s, "-")
+		isTaint := strings.Contains(s, "=") || strings.Contains(s, ":") || strings.HasSuffix(s, "-")
 		switch {
 		case !metTaintArg && isTaint:
 			metTaintArg = true
diff --git a/test/cmd/node-management.sh b/test/cmd/node-management.sh
index 8b9635c3cb7..df96306020b 100755
--- a/test/cmd/node-management.sh
+++ b/test/cmd/node-management.sh
@@ -74,11 +74,16 @@ __EOF__
   # taint/untaint
   # Pre-condition: node doesn't have dedicated=foo:PreferNoSchedule taint
   kube::test::get_object_assert "nodes 127.0.0.1" '{{range .spec.taints}}{{if eq .key \"dedicated\"}}{{.key}}={{.value}}:{{.effect}}{{end}}{{end}}' "" # expect no output
-  # taint can add a taint
+  # taint can add a taint (<key>=<value>:<effect>)
   kubectl taint node 127.0.0.1 dedicated=foo:PreferNoSchedule
   kube::test::get_object_assert "nodes 127.0.0.1" '{{range .spec.taints}}{{if eq .key \"dedicated\"}}{{.key}}={{.value}}:{{.effect}}{{end}}{{end}}' "dedicated=foo:PreferNoSchedule"
   # taint can remove a taint
   kubectl taint node 127.0.0.1 dedicated-
+  # taint can add a taint (<key>:<effect>)
+  kubectl taint node 127.0.0.1 dedicated:PreferNoSchedule
+  kube::test::get_object_assert "nodes 127.0.0.1" '{{range .spec.taints}}{{if eq .key \"dedicated\"}}{{.key}}={{.value}}:{{.effect}}{{end}}{{end}}' "dedicated=<no value>:PreferNoSchedule"
+  # taint can remove a taint
+  kubectl taint node 127.0.0.1 dedicated-
   # Post-condition: node doesn't have dedicated=foo:PreferNoSchedule taint
   kube::test::get_object_assert "nodes 127.0.0.1" '{{range .spec.taints}}{{if eq .key \"dedicated\"}}{{.key}}={{.value}}:{{.effect}}{{end}}{{end}}' "" # expect no output