diff --git a/R-package/src/xgboost_R.cc b/R-package/src/xgboost_R.cc
index 066e4ae98..82ba36828 100644
--- a/R-package/src/xgboost_R.cc
+++ b/R-package/src/xgboost_R.cc
@@ -229,6 +229,27 @@ SEXP XGBoosterCreate_R(SEXP dmats) {
   return ret;
 }
 
+SEXP XGBoosterGetAttr_R(SEXP handle, SEXP name) {
+  const char* ret;
+  R_API_BEGIN();
+  int success;
+  CHECK_CALL(XGBoosterGetAttr(R_ExternalPtrAddr(handle),
+                             CHAR(asChar(name)),
+                             &ret,
+                             &success));
+  R_API_END();
+  return mkString(ret);
+}
+
+SEXP XGBoosterSetAttr_R(SEXP handle, SEXP name, SEXP val) {
+  R_API_BEGIN();
+  CHECK_CALL(XGBoosterSetAttr(R_ExternalPtrAddr(handle),
+                              CHAR(asChar(name)),
+                              CHAR(asChar(val))));
+  R_API_END();
+  return R_NilValue;
+}
+
 SEXP XGBoosterSetParam_R(SEXP handle, SEXP name, SEXP val) {
   R_API_BEGIN();
   CHECK_CALL(XGBoosterSetParam(R_ExternalPtrAddr(handle),
diff --git a/R-package/src/xgboost_R.h b/R-package/src/xgboost_R.h
index 517d7fd0d..1d8e2d567 100644
--- a/R-package/src/xgboost_R.h
+++ b/R-package/src/xgboost_R.h
@@ -101,6 +101,23 @@ XGB_DLL SEXP XGDMatrixNumCol_R(SEXP handle);
  */
 XGB_DLL SEXP XGBoosterCreate_R(SEXP dmats);
 
+/*!
+ * \brief get learner attribute value
+ * \param handle handle
+ * \param name  attribute name
+ * \return string containing attribute value
+ */
+XGB_DLL SEXP XGBoosterGetAttr_R(SEXP handle, SEXP name);
+
+/*!
+ * \brief set learner attribute value
+ * \param handle handle
+ * \param name  attribute name
+ * \param val attribute value
+ * \return R_NilValue
+ */
+XGB_DLL SEXP XGBoosterSetAttr_R(SEXP handle, SEXP name, SEXP val);
+
 /*!
  * \brief set parameters
  * \param handle handle