diff --git a/config/alfresco/model/systemModel.xml b/config/alfresco/model/systemModel.xml
index 1408b50f04..4a50d06709 100644
--- a/config/alfresco/model/systemModel.xml
+++ b/config/alfresco/model/systemModel.xml
@@ -115,6 +115,10 @@
 					<type>d:text</type>
 					<mandatory enforced="true">true</mandatory>
 				</property>
+				<property name="sys:node-dbid">
+					<type>d:long</type>
+					<mandatory enforced="true">true</mandatory>
+				</property>
 			</properties>
 		</aspect>
 
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/model/ContentModel.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/model/ContentModel.java
index 56cdd9afdb..c40491691e 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/model/ContentModel.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/model/ContentModel.java
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ public interface ContentModel
     static final QName PROP_STORE_PROTOCOL = QName.createQName(NamespaceService.SYSTEM_MODEL_1_0_URI, "store-protocol");
     static final QName PROP_STORE_IDENTIFIER = QName.createQName(NamespaceService.SYSTEM_MODEL_1_0_URI, "store-identifier");
     static final QName PROP_NODE_UUID = QName.createQName(NamespaceService.SYSTEM_MODEL_1_0_URI, "node-uuid");
+    static final QName PROP_NODE_DBID = QName.createQName(NamespaceService.SYSTEM_MODEL_1_0_URI, "node-dbid");
     
     // tag for incomplete nodes
     static final QName ASPECT_INCOMPLETE = QName.createQName(NamespaceService.SYSTEM_MODEL_1_0_URI, "incomplete");
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/node/AbstractNodeServiceImpl.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/node/AbstractNodeServiceImpl.java
index 492f76b400..6836a13867 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/node/AbstractNodeServiceImpl.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/node/AbstractNodeServiceImpl.java
@@ -530,13 +530,15 @@ public abstract class AbstractNodeServiceImpl implements NodeService
      * is always present as a property on a node.
      * 
      * @param nodeRef the node reference containing the values required
+     * @param nodeDbId the database-assigned ID
      * @param properties the node properties
      */
-    protected void addReferencableProperties(NodeRef nodeRef, Map<QName, Serializable> properties)
+    protected void addReferencableProperties(NodeRef nodeRef, Long nodeDbId, Map<QName, Serializable> properties)
     {
         properties.put(ContentModel.PROP_STORE_PROTOCOL, nodeRef.getStoreRef().getProtocol());
         properties.put(ContentModel.PROP_STORE_IDENTIFIER, nodeRef.getStoreRef().getIdentifier());
         properties.put(ContentModel.PROP_NODE_UUID, nodeRef.getId());
+        properties.put(ContentModel.PROP_NODE_DBID, nodeDbId);
         // add the ID as the name, if required
         if (properties.get(ContentModel.PROP_NAME) == null)
         {
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/node/BaseNodeServiceTest.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/node/BaseNodeServiceTest.java
index 9d73ddce3b..7e5be748d2 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/node/BaseNodeServiceTest.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/node/BaseNodeServiceTest.java
@@ -1028,10 +1028,12 @@ public abstract class BaseNodeServiceTest extends BaseSpringTest
         Serializable wsProtocol = nodeService.getProperty(rootNodeRef, ContentModel.PROP_STORE_PROTOCOL);
         Serializable wsIdentifier = nodeService.getProperty(rootNodeRef, ContentModel.PROP_STORE_IDENTIFIER);
         Serializable nodeUuid = nodeService.getProperty(rootNodeRef, ContentModel.PROP_NODE_UUID);
+        Serializable nodeDbId = nodeService.getProperty(rootNodeRef, ContentModel.PROP_NODE_DBID);
         
         assertNotNull("Workspace Protocol property not present", wsProtocol);
         assertNotNull("Workspace Identifier property not present", wsIdentifier);
         assertNotNull("Node UUID property not present", nodeUuid);
+        assertNotNull("Node DB ID property not present", nodeDbId);
         
         assertEquals("Workspace Protocol property incorrect", rootNodeRef.getStoreRef().getProtocol(), wsProtocol);
         assertEquals("Workspace Identifier property incorrect", rootNodeRef.getStoreRef().getIdentifier(), wsIdentifier);
@@ -1042,6 +1044,7 @@ public abstract class BaseNodeServiceTest extends BaseSpringTest
         assertTrue("Workspace Protocol property not present in map", properties.containsKey(ContentModel.PROP_STORE_PROTOCOL));
         assertTrue("Workspace Identifier property not present in map", properties.containsKey(ContentModel.PROP_STORE_IDENTIFIER));
         assertTrue("Node UUID property not present in map", properties.containsKey(ContentModel.PROP_NODE_UUID));
+        assertTrue("Node DB ID property not present in map", properties.containsKey(ContentModel.PROP_NODE_DBID));
     }
     
     public void testGetParentAssocs() throws Exception
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/node/db/DbNodeServiceImpl.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/node/db/DbNodeServiceImpl.java
index 8db2bf6f92..23224667dc 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/node/db/DbNodeServiceImpl.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/node/db/DbNodeServiceImpl.java
@@ -770,7 +770,7 @@ public class DbNodeServiceImpl extends AbstractNodeServiceImpl
             ret.put(propertyQName, value);
         }
         // spoof referencable properties
-        addReferencableProperties(nodeRef, ret);
+        addReferencableProperties(nodeRef, node.getId(), ret);
         // done
         return ret;
     }
@@ -793,6 +793,12 @@ public class DbNodeServiceImpl extends AbstractNodeServiceImpl
 
         // get the property from the node
         Node node = getNodeNotNull(nodeRef);
+        
+        if (qname.equals(ContentModel.PROP_NODE_DBID))
+        {
+            return node.getId();
+        }
+        
         Map<QName, PropertyValue> properties = node.getProperties();
         PropertyValue propertyValue = properties.get(qname);