diff --git a/src/helma/scripting/rhino/GlobalObject.java b/src/helma/scripting/rhino/GlobalObject.java
index f419c3d7..c83b5a92 100644
--- a/src/helma/scripting/rhino/GlobalObject.java
+++ b/src/helma/scripting/rhino/GlobalObject.java
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ public class GlobalObject extends ImporterTopLevel implements PropertyRecorder {
                                    "authenticate", "createSkin", "format", "encode",
                                    "encodeXml", "encodeForm", "stripTags", "formatParagraphs",
                                    "getXmlDocument", "getHtmlDocument", "seal",
-                                   "getDBConnection", "getURL", "write", "writeln", "getById"
+                                   "getDBConnection", "getURL", "write", "writeln"
                                };
 
         defineFunctionProperties(globalFuncs, GlobalObject.class, 0);
@@ -96,27 +96,6 @@ public class GlobalObject extends ImporterTopLevel implements PropertyRecorder {
         super.put(name, start, value);
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Retrieve any persistent HopObject by type name and id.
-     *
-     * @param type the prototype name
-     * @param id the id
-     * @return the HopObject or null if it doesn't exist
-     */
-    public Object getById(String type, String id) {
-        DbMapping dbmap = app.getDbMapping(type);
-        if (dbmap == null)
-            return null;
-        Object node = null;
-        try {
-            DbKey key = new DbKey(dbmap, id);
-            node = app.getNodeManager().getNode(key);
-        } catch (Exception x) {
-            return null;
-        }
-        return node == null ? null : Context.toObject(node, this);
-    }
-
     /**
      *
      *
diff --git a/src/helma/scripting/rhino/RhinoCore.java b/src/helma/scripting/rhino/RhinoCore.java
index bff53d3f..dfaa5a06 100644
--- a/src/helma/scripting/rhino/RhinoCore.java
+++ b/src/helma/scripting/rhino/RhinoCore.java
@@ -1088,7 +1088,13 @@ public final class RhinoCore {
          * @return the HopObject or null if it doesn't exist
          */
         public Object call(Context cx, Scriptable scope, Scriptable thisObj, Object[] args) {
-            DbMapping dbmap = app.getDbMapping(typeName);
+            if (args.length < 1 || args.length > 2)
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException("Wrong number of arguments in getById()");
+            // If second argument is provided, use it as type name.
+            // Otherwise, use our own type name.
+            String type = args.length == 1 ? typeName: Context.toString(args[1]); 
+
+            DbMapping dbmap = app.getDbMapping(type);
             if (dbmap == null)
                 return null;
             Object node = null;