diff --git a/lib/src/bindings/reference.dart b/lib/src/bindings/reference.dart
index 5a3734d..42434e1 100644
--- a/lib/src/bindings/reference.dart
+++ b/lib/src/bindings/reference.dart
@@ -65,6 +65,25 @@ Pointer<git_reference> lookup(Pointer<git_repository> repo, String name) {
   }
 }
 
+/// Lookup a reference by DWIMing its short name.
+///
+/// Apply the git precendence rules to the given shorthand to determine which reference
+/// the user is referring to.
+///
+/// Throws a [LibGit2Error] if error occured.
+Pointer<git_reference> lookupDWIM(Pointer<git_repository> repo, String name) {
+  final out = calloc<Pointer<git_reference>>();
+  final nameC = name.toNativeUtf8().cast<Int8>();
+  final error = libgit2.git_reference_dwim(out, repo, nameC);
+  calloc.free(nameC);
+
+  if (error < 0) {
+    throw LibGit2Error(libgit2.git_error_last());
+  } else {
+    return out.value;
+  }
+}
+
 /// Get the full name of a reference.
 String name(Pointer<git_reference> ref) {
   var result = calloc<Int8>();
diff --git a/lib/src/reference.dart b/lib/src/reference.dart
index 5363be9..338c172 100644
--- a/lib/src/reference.dart
+++ b/lib/src/reference.dart
@@ -90,6 +90,19 @@ class Reference {
     _refPointer = bindings.lookup(repo, name);
   }
 
+  /// Initializes a new instance of the [Reference] class by
+  /// lookingup a reference by DWIMing it's short [name] in a repository.
+  ///
+  /// Should be freed with `free()` to release allocated memory.
+  ///
+  /// The name will be checked for validity.
+  ///
+  /// Throws a [LibGit2Error] if error occured.
+  Reference.lookupDWIM(Pointer<git_repository> repo, String name) {
+    libgit2.git_libgit2_init();
+    _refPointer = bindings.lookupDWIM(repo, name);
+  }
+
   /// Pointer to memory address for allocated reference object.
   late Pointer<git_reference> _refPointer;
 
diff --git a/lib/src/repository.dart b/lib/src/repository.dart
index 573b549..cf557b1 100644
--- a/lib/src/repository.dart
+++ b/lib/src/repository.dart
@@ -227,6 +227,12 @@ class Repository {
   /// Throws a [LibGit2Error] if error occured.
   Reference getReference(String name) => Reference.lookup(_repoPointer, name);
 
+  /// Returns [Reference] object by lookingup a short [name] in repository.
+  ///
+  /// Throws a [LibGit2Error] if error occured.
+  Reference getReferenceDWIM(String name) =>
+      Reference.lookupDWIM(_repoPointer, name);
+
   /// Checks if a reflog exists for the specified reference [name].
   ///
   /// Throws a [LibGit2Error] if error occured.
diff --git a/test/reference_test.dart b/test/reference_test.dart
index 65a12cc..51e58f7 100644
--- a/test/reference_test.dart
+++ b/test/reference_test.dart
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ void main() {
     late final Repository repo;
     final tmpDir = '${Directory.systemTemp.path}/ref_testrepo/';
 
+    // pros of using setUpAll:
+    //   - reduced amount of writes that leads to lesser burden on SSD drive
+    //   - better speed of test suite than with setUp
+    // cons of using setUpAll:
+    //   - fail in test might lead to failing tests below it in file
+    //   - necessity to do clean up at the end of test if it creates references
     setUpAll(() async {
       if (await Directory(tmpDir).exists()) {
         await Directory(tmpDir).delete(recursive: true);
@@ -352,6 +358,45 @@ void main() {
       });
     });
 
+    group('.lookupDWIM()', () {
+      test('finds a reference with provided name', () {
+        final remoteRef = repo.createReference(
+          name: 'refs/remotes/origin/master',
+          target: lastCommit,
+        );
+        expect(remoteRef.shorthand, 'origin/master');
+
+        final tagRef = repo.createReference(
+          name: 'refs/tags/v1',
+          target: lastCommit,
+        );
+        expect(tagRef.shorthand, 'v1');
+
+        var ref = repo.getReferenceDWIM('refs/heads/master');
+        expect(ref.name, 'refs/heads/master');
+
+        ref = repo.getReferenceDWIM('master');
+        expect(ref.name, 'refs/heads/master');
+
+        ref = repo.getReferenceDWIM('origin/master');
+        expect(ref.name, 'refs/remotes/origin/master');
+
+        ref = repo.getReferenceDWIM('v1');
+        expect(ref.name, 'refs/tags/v1');
+
+        remoteRef.delete();
+        tagRef.delete();
+        ref.free();
+      });
+
+      test('throws when error occured', () {
+        expect(
+          () => repo.getReferenceDWIM('refs/heads/not/there'),
+          throwsA(isA<LibGit2Error>()),
+        );
+      });
+    });
+
     test('returns log for reference', () {
       final ref = repo.getReference('refs/heads/master');
       expect(ref.log.last.message, 'commit (initial): init');