diff --git a/ccnx/ccnx-name.cpp b/ccnx/ccnx-name.cpp
index cc34c23..718d5c7 100644
--- a/ccnx/ccnx-name.cpp
+++ b/ccnx/ccnx-name.cpp
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@
   return ret;
 }
 
-Bytes
+const Bytes &
 Name::getComp(int index) const
 {
   if (index >= m_comps.size())
diff --git a/ccnx/ccnx-name.h b/ccnx/ccnx-name.h
index b32c419..2dbd9b5 100644
--- a/ccnx/ccnx-name.h
+++ b/ccnx/ccnx-name.h
@@ -116,8 +116,11 @@
   int
   size() const {return m_comps.size();}
 
-  Bytes
-  getComp(int index) const;
+  const Bytes &
+  getComp (int index) const;
+
+  inline const Bytes &
+  getCompFromBack (int index) const;
 
   // return std::string format of the comp
   // if all characters are printable, simply returns the string
@@ -190,6 +193,12 @@
   return getPartialName (m_comps.size () - 1 - start, n);
 }
 
+const Bytes &
+Name::getCompFromBack (int index) const
+{
+  return getComp (m_comps.size () - 1 - index);
+}
+
 
 } // Ccnx
 #endif