diff --git a/lib/src/repository.dart b/lib/src/repository.dart
index 29a78ab..0cd9b62 100644
--- a/lib/src/repository.dart
+++ b/lib/src/repository.dart
@@ -1233,20 +1233,34 @@ class Repository {
     );
   }
 
-  /// Checkouts the provided reference [refName] using the given strategy, and
-  /// updates the HEAD.
+  /// Checkouts the provided [target] using the given strategy, and updates the
+  /// HEAD.
   ///
-  /// If no reference [refName] is given, checkouts from the index.
+  /// [target] can be null, 'HEAD', reference name or commit [Oid].
+  ///
+  /// If no [target] is given, updates files in the working tree to match the
+  /// content of the index.
+  ///
+  /// If [target] is 'HEAD' string, updates files in the index and the working
+  /// tree to match the content of the commit pointed at by HEAD.
+  ///
+  /// If [target] is reference name, updates files in the index and working
+  /// tree to match the content of the tree pointed at by the reference.
+  ///
+  /// If [target] is commit oid, updates files in the index and working
+  /// tree to match the content of the tree pointed at by the commit.
   ///
   /// Default checkout strategy is combination of [GitCheckout.safe] and
   /// [GitCheckout.recreateMissing].
   ///
   /// [directory] is alternative checkout path to workdir.
   ///
-  /// [paths] is list of files to checkout from provided reference [refName].
-  /// If paths are provided HEAD will not be set to the reference [refName].
+  /// [paths] is list of files to checkout from provided [target].
+  /// If paths are provided, HEAD will not be set to the [target].
+  ///
+  /// Throws [ArgumentError] if provided [target] is not String or [Oid].
   void checkout({
-    String? refName,
+    Object? target,
     Set<GitCheckout> strategy = const {
       GitCheckout.safe,
       GitCheckout.recreateMissing
@@ -1256,22 +1270,22 @@ class Repository {
   }) {
     final strat = strategy.fold(0, (int acc, e) => acc | e.value);
 
-    if (refName == null) {
+    if (target == null) {
       checkout_bindings.index(
         repoPointer: _repoPointer,
         strategy: strat,
         directory: directory,
         paths: paths,
       );
-    } else if (refName == 'HEAD') {
+    } else if (target == 'HEAD') {
       checkout_bindings.head(
         repoPointer: _repoPointer,
         strategy: strat,
         directory: directory,
         paths: paths,
       );
-    } else {
-      final ref = lookupReference(refName);
+    } else if (target is String) {
+      final ref = lookupReference(target);
       final treeish = object_bindings.lookup(
         repoPointer: _repoPointer,
         oidPointer: ref.target.pointer,
@@ -1285,11 +1299,27 @@ class Repository {
         paths: paths,
       );
       if (paths == null) {
-        setHead(refName);
+        setHead(target);
       }
-
-      object_bindings.free(treeish);
       ref.free();
+    } else if (target is Oid) {
+      final treeish = object_bindings.lookup(
+        repoPointer: _repoPointer,
+        oidPointer: target.pointer,
+        type: GitObject.any.value,
+      );
+      checkout_bindings.tree(
+        repoPointer: _repoPointer,
+        treeishPointer: treeish,
+        strategy: strat,
+        directory: directory,
+        paths: paths,
+      );
+      if (paths == null) {
+        setHead(target);
+      }
+    } else {
+      throw ArgumentError.value('$target must be either String or Oid');
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/test/blob_test.dart b/test/blob_test.dart
index 3817dbd..cb6b420 100644
--- a/test/blob_test.dart
+++ b/test/blob_test.dart
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ void main() {
     });
 
     test('filters content of a blob with provided commit for attributes', () {
-      repo.checkout(refName: 'refs/tags/v0.2');
+      repo.checkout(target: 'refs/tags/v0.2');
 
       final blobOid = repo.createBlob('clrf\nclrf\n');
       final blob = repo.lookupBlob(blobOid);
diff --git a/test/checkout_test.dart b/test/checkout_test.dart
index ae1bf80..1dee711 100644
--- a/test/checkout_test.dart
+++ b/test/checkout_test.dart
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ void main() {
       expect(repo.status, contains('feature_file'));
 
       repo.checkout(
-        refName: 'HEAD',
+        target: 'HEAD',
         strategy: {GitCheckout.force},
         paths: ['feature_file'],
       );
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ void main() {
         'directory', () {
       expect(
         () => repo.checkout(
-          refName: 'HEAD',
+          target: 'HEAD',
           directory: 'not/there',
         ),
         throwsA(isA<LibGit2Error>()),
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ void main() {
       );
     });
 
-    test('checkouts tree', () {
+    test('checkouts reference', () {
       final masterHead = repo.lookupCommit(
         repo['821ed6e80627b8769d170a293862f9fc60825226'],
       );
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ void main() {
         false,
       );
 
-      repo.checkout(refName: 'refs/heads/feature');
+      repo.checkout(target: 'refs/heads/feature');
       final featureHead = repo.lookupCommit(
         repo['5aecfa0fb97eadaac050ccb99f03c3fb65460ad4'],
       );
@@ -101,17 +101,56 @@ void main() {
     });
 
     test(
-        'throws when trying to checkout tree with invalid alternative '
+        'throws when trying to checkout reference with invalid alternative '
         'directory', () {
       expect(
         () => repo.checkout(
-          refName: 'refs/heads/feature',
+          target: 'refs/heads/feature',
           directory: 'not/there',
         ),
         throwsA(isA<LibGit2Error>()),
       );
     });
 
+    test('checkouts commit', () {
+      final index = repo.index;
+      expect(index.find('another_feature_file'), equals(false));
+
+      final featureHead = repo.lookupCommit(
+        repo['5aecfa0fb97eadaac050ccb99f03c3fb65460ad4'],
+      );
+      repo.checkout(target: featureHead.oid);
+
+      final repoHead = repo.head;
+      expect(repoHead.target, featureHead.oid);
+      expect(repo.status, isEmpty);
+      expect(index.find('another_feature_file'), equals(true));
+
+      repoHead.free();
+      featureHead.free();
+      index.free();
+    });
+
+    test('checkouts commit with provided path', () {
+      final featureHead = repo.lookupCommit(
+        repo['5aecfa0fb97eadaac050ccb99f03c3fb65460ad4'],
+      );
+      repo.checkout(target: featureHead.oid, paths: ['another_feature_file']);
+
+      final repoHead = repo.head;
+      // When path is provided HEAD will not be set to target;
+      expect(repoHead.target, isNot(featureHead.oid));
+      expect(
+        repo.status,
+        {
+          'another_feature_file': {GitStatus.indexNew}
+        },
+      );
+
+      repoHead.free();
+      featureHead.free();
+    });
+
     test('checkouts with alrenative directory', () {
       final altDir = Directory(p.join(Directory.systemTemp.path, 'alt_dir'));
       // making sure there is no directory
@@ -121,16 +160,18 @@ void main() {
       altDir.createSync();
       expect(altDir.listSync().length, 0);
 
-      repo.checkout(refName: 'refs/heads/feature', directory: altDir.path);
+      repo.checkout(target: 'refs/heads/feature', directory: altDir.path);
       expect(altDir.listSync().length, isNot(0));
 
       altDir.deleteSync(recursive: true);
     });
 
     test('checkouts file with provided path', () {
+      final featureTip = repo.lookupReference('refs/heads/feature').target;
+
       expect(repo.status, isEmpty);
       repo.checkout(
-        refName: 'refs/heads/feature',
+        target: 'refs/heads/feature',
         paths: ['another_feature_file'],
       );
       expect(
@@ -139,6 +180,8 @@ void main() {
           'another_feature_file': {GitStatus.indexNew}
         },
       );
+      // When path is provided HEAD will not be set to target;
+      expect(repo.head.target, isNot(featureTip));
     });
 
     test('performs dry run checkout', () {
@@ -148,7 +191,7 @@ void main() {
       expect(file.existsSync(), false);
 
       repo.checkout(
-        refName: 'refs/heads/feature',
+        target: 'refs/heads/feature',
         strategy: {GitCheckout.dryRun},
       );
       expect(index.length, 4);
@@ -156,5 +199,9 @@ void main() {
 
       index.free();
     });
+
+    test('throws when provided target is not String or Oid', () {
+      expect(() => repo.checkout(target: 1), throwsA(isA<ArgumentError>()));
+    });
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/diff_test.dart b/test/diff_test.dart
index 78632a9..230b583 100644
--- a/test/diff_test.dart
+++ b/test/diff_test.dart
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ index e69de29..c217c63 100644
         );
 
         final diff2 = Diff.parse(patchText);
-        repo.checkout(refName: 'HEAD', strategy: {GitCheckout.force});
+        repo.checkout(target: 'HEAD', strategy: {GitCheckout.force});
         expect(
           repo.applies(diff: diff2, location: GitApplyLocation.both),
           true,
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ index e69de29..c217c63 100644
 
         final diff2 = Diff.parse(patchText);
         final hunk = diff2.patches.first.hunks.first;
-        repo.checkout(refName: 'HEAD', strategy: {GitCheckout.force});
+        repo.checkout(target: 'HEAD', strategy: {GitCheckout.force});
         expect(
           repo.applies(
             diff: diff2,
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ index e69de29..c217c63 100644
         final diff = Diff.parse(patchText);
         final file = File(p.join(tmpDir.path, 'subdir', 'modified_file'));
 
-        repo.checkout(refName: 'HEAD', strategy: {GitCheckout.force});
+        repo.checkout(target: 'HEAD', strategy: {GitCheckout.force});
         expect(file.readAsStringSync(), '');
 
         repo.apply(diff: diff);
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ index e69de29..c217c63 100644
         final hunk = diff.patches.first.hunks.first;
         final file = File(p.join(tmpDir.path, 'subdir', 'modified_file'));
 
-        repo.checkout(refName: 'HEAD', strategy: {GitCheckout.force});
+        repo.checkout(target: 'HEAD', strategy: {GitCheckout.force});
         expect(file.readAsStringSync(), '');
 
         repo.apply(diff: diff, hunkIndex: hunk.index);
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ index e69de29..c217c63 100644
       test('applies diff to tree', () {
         final diff = Diff.parse(patchText);
 
-        repo.checkout(refName: 'HEAD', strategy: {GitCheckout.force});
+        repo.checkout(target: 'HEAD', strategy: {GitCheckout.force});
         final head = repo.head;
         final commit = repo.lookupCommit(head.target);
         final tree = commit.tree;
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ index e69de29..c217c63 100644
         final diff = Diff.parse(patchText);
         final hunk = diff.patches.first.hunks.first;
 
-        repo.checkout(refName: 'HEAD', strategy: {GitCheckout.force});
+        repo.checkout(target: 'HEAD', strategy: {GitCheckout.force});
         final head = repo.head;
         final commit = repo.lookupCommit(head.target);
         final tree = commit.tree;
diff --git a/test/index_test.dart b/test/index_test.dart
index 1b47d27..00c76b4 100644
--- a/test/index_test.dart
+++ b/test/index_test.dart
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ void main() {
         oid: conflictBranch.target,
       );
 
-      conflictRepo.checkout(refName: 'refs/heads/feature');
+      conflictRepo.checkout(target: 'refs/heads/feature');
 
       conflictRepo.merge(commit: commit);
 
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ void main() {
         oid: conflictBranch.target,
       );
 
-      conflictRepo.checkout(refName: 'refs/heads/our-conflict');
+      conflictRepo.checkout(target: 'refs/heads/our-conflict');
 
       conflictRepo.merge(commit: commit);
 
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ void main() {
         oid: conflictBranch.target,
       );
 
-      conflictRepo.checkout(refName: 'refs/heads/feature');
+      conflictRepo.checkout(target: 'refs/heads/feature');
 
       conflictRepo.merge(commit: commit);
 
diff --git a/test/merge_test.dart b/test/merge_test.dart
index ca32649..0870ba8 100644
--- a/test/merge_test.dart
+++ b/test/merge_test.dart
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ Another feature edit
           repo: repo,
           oid: conflictBranch.target,
         );
-        repo.checkout(refName: 'refs/heads/feature');
+        repo.checkout(target: 'refs/heads/feature');
         final index = repo.index;
 
         repo.merge(commit: commit);
diff --git a/test/rebase_test.dart b/test/rebase_test.dart
index ee52b9c..9a774ed 100644
--- a/test/rebase_test.dart
+++ b/test/rebase_test.dart
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ void main() {
         reference: feature,
       );
 
-      repo.checkout(refName: feature.name);
+      repo.checkout(target: feature.name);
       expect(() => repo.index['.gitignore'], throwsA(isA<ArgumentError>()));
 
       final rebase = Rebase.init(
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ void main() {
       final feature = repo.lookupReference('refs/heads/feature');
       final upstream = AnnotatedCommit.lookup(repo: repo, oid: repo[shas[1]]);
 
-      repo.checkout(refName: feature.name);
+      repo.checkout(target: feature.name);
       expect(() => repo.index['conflict_file'], throwsA(isA<ArgumentError>()));
 
       final rebase = Rebase.init(
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ void main() {
       final conflict = repo.lookupReference('refs/heads/conflict-branch');
       final ontoHead = AnnotatedCommit.lookup(repo: repo, oid: conflict.target);
 
-      repo.checkout(refName: conflict.name);
+      repo.checkout(target: conflict.name);
 
       final rebase = Rebase.init(
         repo: repo,
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ void main() {
       final conflict = repo.lookupReference('refs/heads/conflict-branch');
       final ontoHead = AnnotatedCommit.lookup(repo: repo, oid: conflict.target);
 
-      repo.checkout(refName: conflict.name);
+      repo.checkout(target: conflict.name);
 
       final rebase = Rebase.init(
         repo: repo,
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ void main() {
       final conflict = repo.lookupReference('refs/heads/conflict-branch');
       final ontoHead = AnnotatedCommit.lookup(repo: repo, oid: conflict.target);
 
-      repo.checkout(refName: conflict.name);
+      repo.checkout(target: conflict.name);
 
       final rebase = Rebase.init(
         repo: repo,