diff --git a/python/python/lancedb/namespace.py b/python/python/lancedb/namespace.py
index 14f6dd25a..bc69c087a 100644
--- a/python/python/lancedb/namespace.py
+++ b/python/python/lancedb/namespace.py
@@ -544,6 +544,7 @@ class LanceNamespaceDBConnection(DBConnection):
         namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None,
         storage_options: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
         index_cache_size: Optional[int] = None,
+        branch: Optional[str] = None,
     ) -> Table:
         if namespace_path is None:
             namespace_path = []
@@ -562,7 +563,7 @@ class LanceNamespaceDBConnection(DBConnection):
                 raise TableNotFoundError(f"Table not found: {'$'.join(table_id)}")
             raise
 
-        return LanceTable(
+        tbl = LanceTable(
             self,
             name,
             namespace_path=namespace_path,
@@ -570,6 +571,9 @@ class LanceNamespaceDBConnection(DBConnection):
             pushdown_operations=self._namespace_client_pushdown_operations,
             _async=async_table,
         )
+        if branch is not None:
+            return tbl.branches.checkout(branch)
+        return tbl
 
     @override
     def drop_table(self, name: str, namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None):
diff --git a/python/python/lancedb/remote/db.py b/python/python/lancedb/remote/db.py
index 4421b057c..02fb5942f 100644
--- a/python/python/lancedb/remote/db.py
+++ b/python/python/lancedb/remote/db.py
@@ -383,6 +383,7 @@ class RemoteDBConnection(DBConnection):
         namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None,
         storage_options: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
         index_cache_size: Optional[int] = None,
+        branch: Optional[str] = None,
     ) -> Table:
         """Open a Lance Table in the database.
 
@@ -400,6 +401,9 @@ class RemoteDBConnection(DBConnection):
         """
         from .table import RemoteTable
 
+        if branch is not None:
+            raise NotImplementedError("branching is not yet supported on remote tables")
+
         if namespace_path is None:
             namespace_path = []
         if index_cache_size is not None: