diff --git a/tensorflow/python/lib/io/file_io.py b/tensorflow/python/lib/io/file_io.py
index ace03e3d1b1..7a91bbd3e01 100644
--- a/tensorflow/python/lib/io/file_io.py
+++ b/tensorflow/python/lib/io/file_io.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import uuid
 from tensorflow.python import pywrap_tensorflow
 from tensorflow.python.framework import errors
 from tensorflow.python.util import compat
+from tensorflow.python.util import deprecation
 
 
 class FileIO(object):
@@ -121,11 +122,51 @@ class FileIO(object):
       return self._prepare_value(
           pywrap_tensorflow.ReadFromStream(self._read_buf, length, status))
 
-  def seek(self, position):
-    """Seeks to the position in the file."""
+  @deprecation.deprecated_args(
+      None,
+      "position is deprecated in favor of the offset argument.",
+      "position")
+  def seek(self, offset=None, whence=0, position=None):
+    # TODO(jhseu): Delete later. Used to omit `position` from docs.
+    # pylint: disable=g-doc-args
+    """Seeks to the offset in the file.
+
+    Args:
+      offset: The byte count relative to the whence argument.
+      whence: Valid values for whence are:
+        0: start of the file (default)
+        1: relative to the current position of the file
+        2: relative to the end of file. offset is usually negative.
+    """
+    # pylint: enable=g-doc-args
     self._preread_check()
+    # We needed to make offset a keyword argument for backwards-compatibility.
+    # This check exists so that we can convert back to having offset be a
+    # positional argument.
+    # TODO(jhseu): Make `offset` a positional argument after `position` is
+    # deprecated.
+    if offset is None and position is None:
+      raise TypeError("seek(): offset argument required")
+    if offset is not None and position is not None:
+      raise TypeError("seek(): offset and position may not be set "
+                      "simultaneously.")
+
+    if position is not None:
+      offset = position
+
     with errors.raise_exception_on_not_ok_status() as status:
-      ret_status = self._read_buf.Seek(position)
+      if whence == 0:
+        pass
+      elif whence == 1:
+        offset += self.tell()
+      elif whence == 2:
+        offset += self.size()
+      else:
+        raise errors.InvalidArgumentError(
+            None, None,
+            "Invalid whence argument: {}. Valid values are 0, 1, or 2."
+            .format(whence))
+      ret_status = self._read_buf.Seek(offset)
       pywrap_tensorflow.Set_TF_Status_from_Status(status, ret_status)
 
   def readline(self):
diff --git a/tensorflow/python/lib/io/file_io_test.py b/tensorflow/python/lib/io/file_io_test.py
index 72931217d9a..9ad04508555 100644
--- a/tensorflow/python/lib/io/file_io_test.py
+++ b/tensorflow/python/lib/io/file_io_test.py
@@ -392,6 +392,40 @@ class FileIoTest(test.TestCase):
     with self.assertRaises(errors.InvalidArgumentError):
       f.seek(-1)
 
+    with self.assertRaises(TypeError):
+      f.seek()
+
+    # TODO(jhseu): Delete after position deprecation.
+    with self.assertRaises(TypeError):
+      f.seek(offset=0, position=0)
+    f.seek(position=9)
+    self.assertEqual(9, f.tell())
+    self.assertEqual("testing2\n", f.readline())
+
+  def testSeekFromWhat(self):
+    file_path = os.path.join(self._base_dir, "temp_file")
+    with file_io.FileIO(file_path, mode="r+") as f:
+      f.write("testing1\ntesting2\ntesting3\n\ntesting5")
+    self.assertEqual("testing1\n", f.readline())
+    self.assertEqual(9, f.tell())
+
+    # Seek to 18
+    f.seek(9, 1)
+    self.assertEqual(18, f.tell())
+    self.assertEqual("testing3\n", f.readline())
+
+    # Seek back to 9
+    f.seek(9, 0)
+    self.assertEqual(9, f.tell())
+    self.assertEqual("testing2\n", f.readline())
+
+    f.seek(-f.size(), 2)
+    self.assertEqual(0, f.tell())
+    self.assertEqual("testing1\n", f.readline())
+
+    with self.assertRaises(errors.InvalidArgumentError):
+      f.seek(0, 3)
+
   def testReadingIterator(self):
     file_path = os.path.join(self._base_dir, "temp_file")
     data = ["testing1\n", "testing2\n", "testing3\n", "\n", "testing5"]
diff --git a/tensorflow/tools/api/golden/tensorflow.gfile.-fast-g-file.pbtxt b/tensorflow/tools/api/golden/tensorflow.gfile.-fast-g-file.pbtxt
index 41497dc8699..4c0a0b2ea0d 100644
--- a/tensorflow/tools/api/golden/tensorflow.gfile.-fast-g-file.pbtxt
+++ b/tensorflow/tools/api/golden/tensorflow.gfile.-fast-g-file.pbtxt
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ tf_class {
   }
   member_method {
     name: "seek"
-    argspec: "args=[\'self\', \'position\'], varargs=None, keywords=None, defaults=None"
+    argspec: "args=[], varargs=args, keywords=kwargs, defaults=None"
   }
   member_method {
     name: "size"
diff --git a/tensorflow/tools/api/golden/tensorflow.gfile.-g-file.pbtxt b/tensorflow/tools/api/golden/tensorflow.gfile.-g-file.pbtxt
index bab0f279b24..85d81c4fcbc 100644
--- a/tensorflow/tools/api/golden/tensorflow.gfile.-g-file.pbtxt
+++ b/tensorflow/tools/api/golden/tensorflow.gfile.-g-file.pbtxt
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ tf_class {
   }
   member_method {
     name: "seek"
-    argspec: "args=[\'self\', \'position\'], varargs=None, keywords=None, defaults=None"
+    argspec: "args=[], varargs=args, keywords=kwargs, defaults=None"
   }
   member_method {
     name: "size"
diff --git a/tensorflow/tools/api/golden/tensorflow.gfile.-open.pbtxt b/tensorflow/tools/api/golden/tensorflow.gfile.-open.pbtxt
index 86e577c19a8..13f9c203e85 100644
--- a/tensorflow/tools/api/golden/tensorflow.gfile.-open.pbtxt
+++ b/tensorflow/tools/api/golden/tensorflow.gfile.-open.pbtxt
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ tf_class {
   }
   member_method {
     name: "seek"
-    argspec: "args=[\'self\', \'position\'], varargs=None, keywords=None, defaults=None"
+    argspec: "args=[], varargs=args, keywords=kwargs, defaults=None"
   }
   member_method {
     name: "size"