diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/LeafBucketTest.java b/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/LeafBucketTest.java
index 7c4069553..881cf9e8f 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/LeafBucketTest.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/LeafBucketTest.java
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ public class LeafBucketTest {
 	@Test
 	public void testEmpty() {
 		LeafBucket b = new LeafBucket(0);
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x00), null));
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x01), null));
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0xfe), null));
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x00), null));
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x01), null));
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0xfe), null));
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -72,13 +72,13 @@ public void testParseFive() {
 		b.parseOneEntry(id(0x44), id(0x84));
 		b.parseOneEntry(id(0x55), id(0x85));
 
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x01), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x81), b.get(id(0x11), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x82), b.get(id(0x22), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x83), b.get(id(0x33), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x84), b.get(id(0x44), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x85), b.get(id(0x55), null));
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x66), null));
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x01), null));
+		assertEquals(id(0x81), b.getNote(id(0x11), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x82), b.getNote(id(0x22), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x83), b.getNote(id(0x33), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x84), b.getNote(id(0x44), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x85), b.getNote(id(0x55), null).getData());
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x66), null));
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -91,13 +91,13 @@ public void testSetFive_InOrder() throws IOException {
 		assertSame(b, b.set(id(0x44), id(0x84), null));
 		assertSame(b, b.set(id(0x55), id(0x85), null));
 
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x01), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x81), b.get(id(0x11), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x82), b.get(id(0x22), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x83), b.get(id(0x33), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x84), b.get(id(0x44), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x85), b.get(id(0x55), null));
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x66), null));
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x01), null));
+		assertEquals(id(0x81), b.getNote(id(0x11), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x82), b.getNote(id(0x22), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x83), b.getNote(id(0x33), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x84), b.getNote(id(0x44), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x85), b.getNote(id(0x55), null).getData());
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x66), null));
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -110,13 +110,13 @@ public void testSetFive_ReverseOrder() throws IOException {
 		assertSame(b, b.set(id(0x22), id(0x82), null));
 		assertSame(b, b.set(id(0x11), id(0x81), null));
 
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x01), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x81), b.get(id(0x11), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x82), b.get(id(0x22), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x83), b.get(id(0x33), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x84), b.get(id(0x44), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x85), b.get(id(0x55), null));
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x66), null));
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x01), null));
+		assertEquals(id(0x81), b.getNote(id(0x11), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x82), b.getNote(id(0x22), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x83), b.getNote(id(0x33), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x84), b.getNote(id(0x44), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x85), b.getNote(id(0x55), null).getData());
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x66), null));
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -130,13 +130,13 @@ public void testSetFive_MixedOrder() throws IOException {
 		assertSame(b, b.set(id(0x22), id(0x82), null));
 		assertSame(b, b.set(id(0x44), id(0x84), null));
 
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x01), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x81), b.get(id(0x11), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x82), b.get(id(0x22), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x83), b.get(id(0x33), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x84), b.get(id(0x44), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x85), b.get(id(0x55), null));
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x66), null));
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x01), null));
+		assertEquals(id(0x81), b.getNote(id(0x11), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x82), b.getNote(id(0x22), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x83), b.getNote(id(0x33), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x84), b.getNote(id(0x44), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x85), b.getNote(id(0x55), null).getData());
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x66), null));
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -144,18 +144,18 @@ public void testSet_Replace() throws IOException {
 		LeafBucket b = new LeafBucket(0);
 
 		assertSame(b, b.set(id(0x11), id(0x81), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x81), b.get(id(0x11), null));
+		assertEquals(id(0x81), b.getNote(id(0x11), null).getData());
 
 		assertSame(b, b.set(id(0x11), id(0x01), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x01), b.get(id(0x11), null));
+		assertEquals(id(0x01), b.getNote(id(0x11), null).getData());
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testRemoveMissingNote() throws IOException {
 		LeafBucket b = new LeafBucket(0);
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x11), null));
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x11), null));
 		assertSame(b, b.set(id(0x11), null, null));
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x11), null));
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x11), null));
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -170,13 +170,13 @@ public void testRemoveFirst() throws IOException {
 
 		assertSame(b, b.set(id(0x11), null, null));
 
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x01), null));
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x11), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x82), b.get(id(0x22), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x83), b.get(id(0x33), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x84), b.get(id(0x44), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x85), b.get(id(0x55), null));
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x66), null));
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x01), null));
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x11), null));
+		assertEquals(id(0x82), b.getNote(id(0x22), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x83), b.getNote(id(0x33), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x84), b.getNote(id(0x44), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x85), b.getNote(id(0x55), null).getData());
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x66), null));
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -191,13 +191,13 @@ public void testRemoveMiddle() throws IOException {
 
 		assertSame(b, b.set(id(0x33), null, null));
 
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x01), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x81), b.get(id(0x11), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x82), b.get(id(0x22), null));
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x33), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x84), b.get(id(0x44), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x85), b.get(id(0x55), null));
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x66), null));
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x01), null));
+		assertEquals(id(0x81), b.getNote(id(0x11), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x82), b.getNote(id(0x22), null).getData());
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x33), null));
+		assertEquals(id(0x84), b.getNote(id(0x44), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x85), b.getNote(id(0x55), null).getData());
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x66), null));
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -212,13 +212,13 @@ public void testRemoveLast() throws IOException {
 
 		assertSame(b, b.set(id(0x55), null, null));
 
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x01), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x81), b.get(id(0x11), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x82), b.get(id(0x22), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x83), b.get(id(0x33), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x84), b.get(id(0x44), null));
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x55), null));
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x66), null));
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x01), null));
+		assertEquals(id(0x81), b.getNote(id(0x11), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x82), b.getNote(id(0x22), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x83), b.getNote(id(0x33), null).getData());
+		assertEquals(id(0x84), b.getNote(id(0x44), null).getData());
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x55), null));
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x66), null));
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -226,10 +226,10 @@ public void testRemoveMakesEmpty() throws IOException {
 		LeafBucket b = new LeafBucket(0);
 
 		assertSame(b, b.set(id(0x11), id(0x81), null));
-		assertEquals(id(0x81), b.get(id(0x11), null));
+		assertEquals(id(0x81), b.getNote(id(0x11), null).getData());
 
 		assertNull(b.set(id(0x11), null, null));
-		assertNull(b.get(id(0x11), null));
+		assertNull(b.getNote(id(0x11), null));
 	}
 
 	private static AnyObjectId id(int first) {
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/FanoutBucket.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/FanoutBucket.java
index 953929464..ea904cd1d 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/FanoutBucket.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/FanoutBucket.java
@@ -110,9 +110,10 @@ void setBucket(int cell, InMemoryNoteBucket bucket) {
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	ObjectId get(AnyObjectId objId, ObjectReader or) throws IOException {
+	Note getNote(AnyObjectId objId, ObjectReader or) throws IOException {
 		NoteBucket b = table[cell(objId)];
-		return b != null ? b.get(objId, or) : null;
+		return b != null ? b.getNote(objId, or) : null;
+
 	}
 
 	NoteBucket getBucket(int cell) {
@@ -337,8 +338,8 @@ private class LazyNoteBucket extends NoteBucket {
 		}
 
 		@Override
-		ObjectId get(AnyObjectId objId, ObjectReader or) throws IOException {
-			return load(objId, or).get(objId, or);
+		Note getNote(AnyObjectId objId, ObjectReader or) throws IOException {
+			return load(objId, or).getNote(objId, or);
 		}
 
 		@Override
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/LeafBucket.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/LeafBucket.java
index 886684983..ea4d7bc86 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/LeafBucket.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/LeafBucket.java
@@ -102,9 +102,10 @@ else if (cmp == 0)
 		return -(low + 1);
 	}
 
-	ObjectId get(AnyObjectId objId, ObjectReader or) {
+	@Override
+	Note getNote(AnyObjectId objId, ObjectReader or) {
 		int idx = search(objId);
-		return 0 <= idx ? notes[idx].getData() : null;
+		return 0 <= idx ? notes[idx] : null;
 	}
 
 	Note get(int index) {
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/Note.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/Note.java
index 00b32132e..ddff52e74 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/Note.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/Note.java
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ public class Note extends ObjectId {
 	 * @param noteData
 	 *            the actual note data contained in this note
 	 */
-	Note(AnyObjectId noteOn, ObjectId noteData) {
+	public Note(AnyObjectId noteOn, ObjectId noteData) {
 		super(noteOn);
 		data = noteData;
 	}
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/NoteBucket.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/NoteBucket.java
index 5c7b325f0..dd17ad532 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/NoteBucket.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/NoteBucket.java
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
  * @see LeafBucket
  */
 abstract class NoteBucket {
-	abstract ObjectId get(AnyObjectId objId, ObjectReader reader)
+	abstract Note getNote(AnyObjectId objId, ObjectReader reader)
 			throws IOException;
 
 	abstract Iterator<Note> iterator(AnyObjectId objId, ObjectReader reader)
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/NoteMap.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/NoteMap.java
index 591b1aeb1..0d4d6b914 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/NoteMap.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/notes/NoteMap.java
@@ -206,7 +206,21 @@ public Iterator<Note> iterator() {
 	 *             a portion of the note space is not accessible.
 	 */
 	public ObjectId get(AnyObjectId id) throws IOException {
-		return root.get(id, reader);
+		Note n = root.getNote(id, reader);
+		return n == null ? null : n.getData();
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Lookup a note for a specific ObjectId.
+	 *
+	 * @param id
+	 *            the object to look for.
+	 * @return the note for the given object id, or null if no note exists.
+	 * @throws IOException
+	 *             a portion of the note space is not accessible.
+	 */
+	public Note getNote(AnyObjectId id) throws IOException {
+		return root.getNote(id, reader);
 	}
 
 	/**