diff --git a/converse.js b/converse.js
index 8a5e75bff..c8118f342 100644
--- a/converse.js
+++ b/converse.js
@@ -4621,6 +4621,12 @@
         'initialize': function (settings, callback) {
             converse.initialize(settings, callback);
         },
+        'getBuddy': function (jid) {
+            var contact = converse.roster.get(Strophe.getBareJidFromJid(jid));
+            if (contact) {
+                return contact.attributes;
+            }
+        },
         'getRID': function () {
             if (converse.expose_rid_and_sid && typeof converse.connection !== "undefined") {
                 return converse.connection.rid || converse.connection._proto.rid;
diff --git a/spec/converse.js b/spec/converse.js
index cdbd1bbfe..4af750e1b 100644
--- a/spec/converse.js
+++ b/spec/converse.js
@@ -43,5 +43,15 @@
             // Restore the connection
             converse.connection = old_connection;
         }, converse));
+
+        it("has an API method for retrieving a buddy's attributes", $.proxy(function () {
+            var jid = mock.cur_names[0].replace(/ /g,'.').toLowerCase() + '@localhost';
+            expect(converse_api.getBuddy(jid)).toBeFalsy();
+            test_utils.createContacts('current');
+            var attrs = converse_api.getBuddy(jid);
+            expect(typeof attrs).toBe('object');
+            expect(attrs.fullname).toBe(mock.cur_names[0]);
+            expect(attrs.jid).toBe(jid);
+        }, converse));
     }, converse, mock, test_utils));
 }));