diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/file.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/file.go
index 2bd57f1460fe..37e02874b4ff 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/file.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/file.go
@@ -43,6 +43,11 @@ func GetRawFile(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 	//   description: filepath of the file to get
 	//   type: string
 	//   required: true
+	// - name: ref
+	//   in: query
+	//   description: "The name of the commit/branch/tag. Default the repository’s default branch (usually master)"
+	//   type: string
+	//   required: false
 	// responses:
 	//   200:
 	//     description: success
@@ -54,7 +59,22 @@ func GetRawFile(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	blob, err := ctx.Repo.Commit.GetBlobByPath(ctx.Repo.TreePath)
+	commit := ctx.Repo.Commit
+
+	if ref := ctx.QueryTrim("ref"); len(ref) > 0 {
+		var err error
+		commit, err = ctx.Repo.GitRepo.GetCommit(ref)
+		if err != nil {
+			if git.IsErrNotExist(err) {
+				ctx.NotFound()
+			} else {
+				ctx.Error(http.StatusInternalServerError, "GetBlobByPath", err)
+			}
+			return
+		}
+	}
+
+	blob, err := commit.GetBlobByPath(ctx.Repo.TreePath)
 	if err != nil {
 		if git.IsErrNotExist(err) {
 			ctx.NotFound()
diff --git a/templates/swagger/v1_json.tmpl b/templates/swagger/v1_json.tmpl
index 45f396f2830f..28aa617799d2 100644
--- a/templates/swagger/v1_json.tmpl
+++ b/templates/swagger/v1_json.tmpl
@@ -7845,6 +7845,12 @@
             "name": "filepath",
             "in": "path",
             "required": true
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "string",
+            "description": "The name of the commit/branch/tag. Default the repository’s default branch (usually master)",
+            "name": "ref",
+            "in": "query"
           }
         ],
         "responses": {