diff --git a/src/Ledger.h b/src/Ledger.h
index 96c9347e34..7c670c1c41 100644
--- a/src/Ledger.h
+++ b/src/Ledger.h
@@ -77,6 +77,9 @@ protected:
 	
 	static Ledger::pointer getSQL(const std::string& sqlStatement);
 
+	SerializedLedgerEntry::pointer getASNode(LedgerStateParms& parms, const uint256& nodeID,
+	 LedgerEntryType let);
+
 public:
 	Ledger(const NewcoinAddress& masterID, uint64 startAmount); // used for the starting bootstrap ledger
 	Ledger(const uint256 &parentHash, const uint256 &transHash, const uint256 &accountHash,
diff --git a/src/LedgerNode.cpp b/src/LedgerNode.cpp
index 21238792ea..0669ca8c7d 100644
--- a/src/LedgerNode.cpp
+++ b/src/LedgerNode.cpp
@@ -24,12 +24,9 @@ LedgerStateParms Ledger::writeBack(LedgerStateParms parms, SerializedLedgerEntry
 	return create ? lepCREATED : lepOKAY;
 }
 
-SerializedLedgerEntry::pointer Ledger::getAccountRoot(LedgerStateParms& parms, const uint160& accountID)
+SerializedLedgerEntry::pointer Ledger::getASNode(LedgerStateParms& parms, const uint256& nodeID,
+ LedgerEntryType let )
 {
-	uint256 nodeID=getAccountRootIndex(accountID);
-
-	ScopedLock l(mAccountStateMap->Lock());
-
 	SHAMapItem::pointer account = mAccountStateMap->peekItem(nodeID);
 	if (!account)
 	{
@@ -39,26 +36,57 @@ SerializedLedgerEntry::pointer Ledger::getAccountRoot(LedgerStateParms& parms, c
 			return SerializedLedgerEntry::pointer();
 		}
 
-		parms = lepCREATED;
-		SerializedLedgerEntry::pointer sle=boost::make_shared<SerializedLedgerEntry>(ltACCOUNT_ROOT);
+		parms = parms | lepCREATED | lepOKAY;
+		SerializedLedgerEntry::pointer sle=boost::make_shared<SerializedLedgerEntry>(let);
 		sle->setIndex(nodeID);
 		return sle;
 	}
 
+	SerializedLedgerEntry::pointer sle =
+		boost::make_shared<SerializedLedgerEntry>(account->peekSerializer(), nodeID);
+
+	if(sle->getType() != let)
+	{ // maybe it's a currency or something
+		parms = parms | lepWRONGTYPE;
+		return SerializedLedgerEntry::pointer();
+	}
+
+	parms = parms | lepOKAY;
+	return sle;
+
+}
+
+SerializedLedgerEntry::pointer Ledger::getAccountRoot(LedgerStateParms& parms, const uint160& accountID)
+{
+	uint256 nodeID=getAccountRootIndex(accountID);
+
+	ScopedLock l(mAccountStateMap->Lock());
+
 	try
 	{
-		SerializedLedgerEntry::pointer sle =
-			boost::make_shared<SerializedLedgerEntry>(account->peekSerializer(), nodeID);
-
-		if(sle->getType() != ltACCOUNT_ROOT)
-		{ // maybe it's a currency or something
-			parms = lepWRONGTYPE;
-			return SerializedLedgerEntry::pointer();
-		}
-		parms = lepOKAY;
-		return sle;
+		return getASNode(parms, nodeID, ltACCOUNT_ROOT);
 	}
-	catch(...)
+	catch (...)
+	{
+		parms = lepERROR;
+		return SerializedLedgerEntry::pointer();
+	}
+}
+
+SerializedLedgerEntry::pointer Ledger::getNickname(LedgerStateParms& parms, const std::string& nickname)
+{
+	return getNickname(parms, Serializer::getSHA512Half(nickname));
+}
+
+SerializedLedgerEntry::pointer Ledger::getNickname(LedgerStateParms& parms, const uint256& nickHash)
+{
+	ScopedLock l(mAccountStateMap->Lock());
+
+	try
+	{
+		return getASNode(parms, nickHash, ltNICKNAME);
+	}
+	catch (...)
 	{
 		parms = lepERROR;
 		return SerializedLedgerEntry::pointer();