diff --git a/augur/curate/__init__.py b/augur/curate/__init__.py
index fce520e6b..ea0196061 100644
--- a/augur/curate/__init__.py
+++ b/augur/curate/__init__.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 from augur.io.metadata import DEFAULT_DELIMITERS, InvalidDelimiter, read_table_to_dict, read_metadata_with_sequences, write_records_to_tsv
 from augur.io.sequences import write_records_to_fasta
 from augur.types import DataErrorMethod
-from . import format_dates, normalize_strings, passthru, titlecase, apply_geolocation_rules, apply_record_annotations, abbreviate_authors, parse_genbank_location
+from . import format_dates, normalize_strings, passthru, titlecase, apply_geolocation_rules, apply_record_annotations, abbreviate_authors, parse_genbank_location, transform_strain_name
 
 
 SUBCOMMAND_ATTRIBUTE = '_curate_subcommand'
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
     apply_record_annotations,
     abbreviate_authors,
     parse_genbank_location,
+    transform_strain_name,
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/augur/curate/transform_strain_name.py b/augur/curate/transform_strain_name.py
index d86c0e40d..ae128893d 100644
--- a/augur/curate/transform_strain_name.py
+++ b/augur/curate/transform_strain_name.py
@@ -1,50 +1,78 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python3
 """
-Verifies strain name pattern in the 'strain' field of the NDJSON record from
-stdin. Adds a 'strain' field to the record if it does not already exist.
-
-Outputs the modified records to stdout.
+Verifies strain name pattern in the 'strain' field of the NDJSON
+record. Adds a 'strain' field to the record if it does not already
+exist.
 """
+
 import argparse
-import json
 import re
-from sys import stderr, stdin, stdout
+from typing import Generator, List
+from augur.io.print import print_err
+from augur.utils import first_line
 
 
-if __name__ == '__main__':
-    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
-        description=__doc__,
-        formatter_class=argparse.ArgumentDefaultsHelpFormatter
-    )
-    parser.add_argument("--strain-regex", default="^.+$",
-        help="Regex pattern for strain names. " +
-             "Strain names that do not match the pattern will be dropped.")
-    parser.add_argument("--backup-fields", nargs="*",
-        help="List of backup fields to use as strain name if the value in 'strain' " +
-             "does not match the strain regex pattern. " +
-             "If multiple fields are provided, will use the first field that has a non-empty string.")
+def transform_name(
+    record: dict,
+    index: int,
+    strain_name_pattern: re.Pattern,
+    backup_fields: List[str],
+) -> dict:
+    # Verify strain name matches the strain regex pattern
+    if strain_name_pattern.match(record.get("strain", "")) is None:
+        # Default to empty string if not matching pattern
+        record["strain"] = ""
 
-    args = parser.parse_args()
+        # Use non-empty value of backup fields if provided
+        if backup_fields:
+            for field in backup_fields:
+                if record.get(field):
+                    record["strain"] = str(record[field])
+                    break
+
+    if record["strain"] == "":
+        print_err(
+            f"WARNING: Record number {index} has an empty string as the strain name.",
+        )
+
+    return record
 
-    strain_name_pattern = re.compile(args.strain_regex)
 
-    for index, record in enumerate(stdin):
-        record = json.loads(record)
+def register_parser(
+    parent_subparsers: argparse._SubParsersAction,
+) -> argparse._SubParsersAction:
+    parser = parent_subparsers.add_parser(
+        "transform-strain-name",
+        parents=[parent_subparsers.shared_parser],  # type: ignore
+        help=first_line(__doc__),
+    )
+
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--strain-regex",
+        default="^.+$",
+        help="Regex pattern for strain names. "
+        + "Strain names that do not match the pattern will be dropped.",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--backup-fields",
+        nargs="*",
+        default=[],
+        help="List of backup fields to use as strain name if the value in 'strain' "
+        + "does not match the strain regex pattern. "
+        + "If multiple fields are provided, will use the first field that has a non-empty string.",
+    )
+
+    return parser
 
-        # Verify strain name matches the strain regex pattern
-        if strain_name_pattern.match(record.get('strain', '')) is None:
-            # Default to empty string if not matching pattern
-            record['strain'] = ''
-            # Use non-empty value of backup fields if provided
-            if args.backup_fields:
-                for field in args.backup_fields:
-                    if record.get(field):
-                        record['strain'] = str(record[field])
-                        break
 
-        if record['strain'] == '':
-            print(f"WARNING: Record number {index} has an empty string as the strain name.", file=stderr)
+def run(args: argparse.Namespace, records: List[dict]) -> Generator[dict, None, None]:
+    strain_name_pattern = re.compile(args.strain_regex)
 
+    for index, record in enumerate(records):
+        transform_name(
+            record,
+            index,
+            strain_name_pattern,
+            args.backup_fields,
+        )
 
-        json.dump(record, stdout, allow_nan=False, indent=None, separators=',:')
-        print()
+        yield record
diff --git a/tests/functional/curate/cram/transform-strain-name/default-behavior.t b/tests/functional/curate/cram/transform-strain-name/default-behavior.t
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..96b85bd9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/curate/cram/transform-strain-name/default-behavior.t
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+Setup
+
+  $ export AUGUR="${AUGUR:-$TESTDIR/../../../../../bin/augur}"
+
+Running the command with no arguments produces the expected output
+
+  $ echo '{"strain":"OC43"}' \
+  >   | ${AUGUR} curate transform-strain-name
+  {"strain": "OC43"}
+
+Providing a strain regex to the command produces the expected output when the strain matches
+
+  $ echo '{"strain":"OC43"}' \
+  >   | ${AUGUR} curate transform-strain-name --strain-regex '^\w{2}\d{2}$'
+  {"strain": "OC43"}
+
+Providing a strain regex to the command produces an empty field and a warning when the strain doesn't match
+
+  $ echo '{"strain":"OC43"}' \
+  >   | ${AUGUR} curate transform-strain-name --strain-regex '^\d{2}\w{2}$'
+  WARNING: Record number 0 has an empty string as the strain name.
+  {"strain": ""}
+
+Providing a backup field produces the expected output
+
+  $ echo '{"potential-strain":"OC43"}' \
+  >   | ${AUGUR} curate transform-strain-name --backup-fields potential-strain
+  {"potential-strain": "OC43", "strain": "OC43"}
+
+
+Multiple backup fields produce the expected output
+
+  $ echo '{"potential-strain2":"OC43"}' \
+  >   | ${AUGUR} curate transform-strain-name --backup-fields potential-strain potential-strain2
+  {"potential-strain2": "OC43", "strain": "OC43"}