diff --git a/sleekxmpp/roster.py b/sleekxmpp/roster.py
index 35e739f8..0f55527f 100644
--- a/sleekxmpp/roster.py
+++ b/sleekxmpp/roster.py
@@ -84,6 +84,17 @@ class Roster(object):
         if node not in self._rosters:
             self._rosters[node] = RosterNode(self.xmpp, node, self.db)
 
+    def set_backend(self, db=None):
+        """
+        Set the datastore interface object for the roster.
+
+        Arguments:
+            db -- The new datastore interface.
+        """
+        self.db = db
+        for node in self._rosters:
+            self._rosters[node].set_backend(db)
+
 
 class RosterNode(object):
 
@@ -148,6 +159,17 @@ class RosterNode(object):
         """Iterate over the roster items."""
         return self._jids.__iter__()
 
+    def set_backend(self, db=None):
+        """
+        Set the datastore interface object for the roster node.
+
+        Arguments:
+            db -- The new datastore interface.
+        """
+        self.db = db
+        for jid in self._jids:
+            self._jids[jid].set_backend(db)
+
     def add(self, jid, name='', groups=None, afrom=False, ato=False,
             pending_in=False, pending_out=False, whitelisted=False,
             save=False):
@@ -393,6 +415,16 @@ class RosterItem(object):
         self._db_state = {}
         self.load()
 
+    def set_backend(self, db=None):
+        """
+        Set the datastore interface object for the roster item.
+
+        Arguments:
+            db -- The new datastore interface.
+        """
+        self.db = db
+        self.load()
+
     def load(self):
         """
         Load the item's state information from an external datastore,