diff --git a/include/sdf/Root.hh b/include/sdf/Root.hh
index 6ad91ba63..87a4b86b7 100644
--- a/include/sdf/Root.hh
+++ b/include/sdf/Root.hh
@@ -170,6 +170,11 @@ namespace sdf
     /// \return A pointer to the model, nullptr if it doesn't exist
     public: const sdf::Model *Model() const;
 
+    /// \brief Get a mutable pointer to the model object if it exists.
+    ///
+    /// \return A pointer to the model; nullptr if it doesn't exist.
+    public: sdf::Model *Model();
+
     /// \brief Set the model object. This will override any existing model,
     /// actor, and light object.
     /// \param[in] _model The model to use.
diff --git a/python/src/sdf/pyRoot.cc b/python/src/sdf/pyRoot.cc
index af94e78b5..d7ca58044 100644
--- a/python/src/sdf/pyRoot.cc
+++ b/python/src/sdf/pyRoot.cc
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ void defineRoot(pybind11::object module)
          "Get a world based on an index.")
      .def("world_name_exists", &sdf::Root::WorldNameExists,
           "Get whether a world name exists.")
-    .def("model", &sdf::Root::Model,
+    .def("model", pybind11::overload_cast<>(&sdf::Root::Model),
          pybind11::return_value_policy::reference_internal,
          "Get a model object if it exists.")
     .def("set_model", &sdf::Root::SetModel,
diff --git a/src/Root.cc b/src/Root.cc
index b6e412d2f..2ff9a88dd 100644
--- a/src/Root.cc
+++ b/src/Root.cc
@@ -475,6 +475,12 @@ const Model *Root::Model() const
   return std::get_if<sdf::Model>(&this->dataPtr->modelLightOrActor);
 }
 
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////
+Model *Root::Model()
+{
+  return std::get_if<sdf::Model>(&this->dataPtr->modelLightOrActor);
+}
+
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////
 void Root::SetModel(const sdf::Model &_model)
 {
diff --git a/src/Root_TEST.cc b/src/Root_TEST.cc
index 629d6b7e7..6af3cfde5 100644
--- a/src/Root_TEST.cc
+++ b/src/Root_TEST.cc
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ TEST(DOMRoot, Construction)
   EXPECT_EQ(nullptr, root.Model());
   EXPECT_EQ(nullptr, root.Light());
   EXPECT_EQ(nullptr, root.Actor());
+
+  const sdf::Root &const_root = root;
+  EXPECT_EQ(nullptr, const_root.Model());
 }
 
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -424,6 +427,7 @@ TEST(DOMRoot, ToElementEmpty)
 TEST(DOMRoot, ToElementModel)
 {
   sdf::Root root;
+  const sdf::Root &const_root = root;
 
   sdf::Actor actor1;
   actor1.SetName("actor1");
@@ -438,6 +442,7 @@ TEST(DOMRoot, ToElementModel)
   root.SetModel(model1);
 
   ASSERT_NE(nullptr, root.Model());
+  ASSERT_NE(nullptr, const_root.Model());
   ASSERT_EQ(nullptr, root.Light());
   ASSERT_EQ(nullptr, root.Actor());
   EXPECT_EQ(0u, root.WorldCount());
@@ -447,12 +452,15 @@ TEST(DOMRoot, ToElementModel)
   ASSERT_NE(nullptr, elem);
 
   sdf::Root root2;
+  const sdf::Root &const_root2 = root2;
   root2.LoadSdfString(elem->ToString(""));
 
   EXPECT_EQ(SDF_VERSION, root2.Version());
 
   ASSERT_NE(nullptr, root2.Model());
+  ASSERT_NE(nullptr, const_root2.Model());
   EXPECT_EQ("model1", root2.Model()->Name());
+  EXPECT_EQ("model1", const_root2.Model()->Name());
 
   ASSERT_EQ(nullptr, root2.Actor());
   ASSERT_EQ(nullptr, root2.Light());
@@ -651,24 +659,25 @@ TEST(DOMRoot, CopyConstructor)
 TEST(DOMRoot, WorldByName)
 {
   sdf::Root root;
-  EXPECT_EQ(0u, root.WorldCount());
+  const sdf::Root &const_root = root;
+  EXPECT_EQ(0u, const_root.WorldCount());
 
   sdf::World world;
   world.SetName("world1");
   EXPECT_TRUE(root.AddWorld(world).empty());
-  EXPECT_EQ(1u, root.WorldCount());
+  EXPECT_EQ(1u, const_root.WorldCount());
 
-  EXPECT_TRUE(root.WorldNameExists("world1"));
-  const sdf::World *wPtr = root.WorldByName("world1");
-  EXPECT_NE(nullptr, wPtr);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(const_root.WorldNameExists("world1"));
+  EXPECT_NE(nullptr, root.WorldByName("world1"));
+  EXPECT_NE(nullptr, const_root.WorldByName("world1"));
 
   // Modify the world
   sdf::World *w = root.WorldByName("world1");
   ASSERT_NE(nullptr, w);
   EXPECT_EQ("world1", w->Name());
   w->SetName("world2");
-  ASSERT_TRUE(root.WorldNameExists("world2"));
-  EXPECT_EQ("world2", root.WorldByName("world2")->Name());
+  ASSERT_TRUE(const_root.WorldNameExists("world2"));
+  EXPECT_EQ("world2", const_root.WorldByName("world2")->Name());
 }
 
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////