diff --git a/merkledag/coding.go b/merkledag/coding.go
index 884b0277c..3d7b8381c 100644
--- a/merkledag/coding.go
+++ b/merkledag/coding.go
@@ -68,9 +68,9 @@ func (n *Node) getPBNode() *pb.PBNode {
 	return pbn
 }
 
-// Encoded returns the encoded raw data version of a Node instance.
+// EncodeProtobuf returns the encoded raw data version of a Node instance.
 // It may use a cached encoded version, unless the force flag is given.
-func (n *Node) Encoded(force bool) ([]byte, error) {
+func (n *Node) EncodeProtobuf(force bool) ([]byte, error) {
 	sort.Stable(LinkSlice(n.Links)) // keep links sorted
 	if n.encoded == nil || force {
 		var err error
diff --git a/merkledag/merkledag.go b/merkledag/merkledag.go
index 83d363677..792194002 100644
--- a/merkledag/merkledag.go
+++ b/merkledag/merkledag.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func (n *dagService) Add(nd *Node) (key.Key, error) {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("dagService is nil")
 	}
 
-	d, err := nd.Encoded(false)
+	d, err := nd.EncodeProtobuf(false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ type Batch struct {
 }
 
 func (t *Batch) Add(nd *Node) (key.Key, error) {
-	d, err := nd.Encoded(false)
+	d, err := nd.EncodeProtobuf(false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
diff --git a/merkledag/merkledag_test.go b/merkledag/merkledag_test.go
index 91bc2c0f7..6816aad52 100644
--- a/merkledag/merkledag_test.go
+++ b/merkledag/merkledag_test.go
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ func TestNode(t *testing.T) {
 			fmt.Println("-", l.Name, l.Size, l.Hash)
 		}
 
-		e, err := n.Encoded(false)
+		e, err := n.EncodeProtobuf(false)
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Error(err)
 		} else {
@@ -96,9 +96,9 @@ func TestNode(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func SubtestNodeStat(t *testing.T, n *Node) {
-	enc, err := n.Encoded(true)
+	enc, err := n.EncodeProtobuf(true)
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Error("n.Encoded(true) failed")
+		t.Error("n.EncodeProtobuf(true) failed")
 		return
 	}
 
diff --git a/merkledag/node.go b/merkledag/node.go
index 0a17ccca5..5fa05b41a 100644
--- a/merkledag/node.go
+++ b/merkledag/node.go
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ func (n *Node) UpdateNodeLink(name string, that *Node) (*Node, error) {
 // Size returns the total size of the data addressed by node,
 // including the total sizes of references.
 func (n *Node) Size() (uint64, error) {
-	b, err := n.Encoded(false)
+	b, err := n.EncodeProtobuf(false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err
 	}
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ func (n *Node) Size() (uint64, error) {
 
 // Stat returns statistics on the node.
 func (n *Node) Stat() (*NodeStat, error) {
-	enc, err := n.Encoded(false)
+	enc, err := n.EncodeProtobuf(false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -244,8 +244,8 @@ func (n *Node) Stat() (*NodeStat, error) {
 
 // Multihash hashes the encoded data of this node.
 func (n *Node) Multihash() (mh.Multihash, error) {
-	// Note: Encoded generates the hash and puts it in n.cached.
-	_, err := n.Encoded(false)
+	// Note: EncodeProtobuf generates the hash and puts it in n.cached.
+	_, err := n.EncodeProtobuf(false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/unixfs/mod/dagmodifier.go b/unixfs/mod/dagmodifier.go
index 33f082417..0f5866716 100644
--- a/unixfs/mod/dagmodifier.go
+++ b/unixfs/mod/dagmodifier.go
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ func (dm *DagModifier) modifyDag(node *mdag.Node, offset uint64, data io.Reader)
 			node.Links[i].Hash = mh.Multihash(k)
 
 			// Recache serialized node
-			_, err = node.Encoded(true)
+			_, err = node.EncodeProtobuf(true)
 			if err != nil {
 				return "", false, err
 			}
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ func dagTruncate(ctx context.Context, nd *mdag.Node, size uint64, ds mdag.DAGSer
 	nd.Data = d
 
 	// invalidate cache and recompute serialized data
-	_, err = nd.Encoded(true)
+	_, err = nd.EncodeProtobuf(true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}