diff --git a/notes.c b/notes.c
index 3f4ae35340..2c0d14ed8f 100644
--- a/notes.c
+++ b/notes.c
@@ -368,6 +368,17 @@ void init_notes(const char *notes_ref, int flags)
 	load_subtree(&root_tree, &root_node, 0);
 }
 
+void add_note(const unsigned char *object_sha1, const unsigned char *note_sha1)
+{
+	struct leaf_node *l;
+
+	assert(initialized);
+	l = (struct leaf_node *) xmalloc(sizeof(struct leaf_node));
+	hashcpy(l->key_sha1, object_sha1);
+	hashcpy(l->val_sha1, note_sha1);
+	note_tree_insert(&root_node, 0, l, PTR_TYPE_NOTE);
+}
+
 static unsigned char *lookup_notes(const unsigned char *object_sha1)
 {
 	struct leaf_node *found = note_tree_find(&root_node, 0, object_sha1);
diff --git a/notes.h b/notes.h
index 6b527991b0..5f2285217e 100644
--- a/notes.h
+++ b/notes.h
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@
  */
 void init_notes(const char *notes_ref, int flags);
 
+/* Add the given note object to the internal notes tree structure */
+void add_note(const unsigned char *object_sha1,
+		const unsigned char *note_sha1);
+
 /* Free (and de-initialize) the internal notes tree structure */
 void free_notes(void);