diff --git a/tensorflow/python/training/tracking/util.py b/tensorflow/python/training/tracking/util.py
index e4138864bd3..eeaa2a541c5 100644
--- a/tensorflow/python/training/tracking/util.py
+++ b/tensorflow/python/training/tracking/util.py
@@ -1847,6 +1847,8 @@ class Checkpoint(tracking.AutoTrackable):
     use by higher level checkpoint management utilities. `save` provides a very
     basic implementation of these features.
 
+    Checkpoints written with `write` must be read with `read`.
+
     Args:
       file_prefix: A prefix to use for the checkpoint filenames
         (/path/to/directory/and_a_prefix).
@@ -1888,7 +1890,7 @@ class Checkpoint(tracking.AutoTrackable):
     sequentially numbering checkpoints using `save_counter` and updating the
     metadata used by `tf.train.latest_checkpoint`. More advanced checkpoint
     management, for example garbage collection and custom numbering, may be
-    provided by other utilities which also wrap `write`
+    provided by other utilities which also wrap `write` and `read`.
     (`tf.train.CheckpointManager` for example).
 
     Args:
@@ -1932,20 +1934,58 @@ class Checkpoint(tracking.AutoTrackable):
         save_relative_paths=True)
     return file_path
 
+  def read(self, save_path):
+    """Read a training checkpoint written with `write`.
+
+    Reads this `Checkpoint` and any objects it depends on.
+
+    This method is just like `restore()` but does not expect the `save_counter`
+    variable in the checkpoint. It only restores the objects that the checkpoint
+    already depends on.
+
+    The method is primarily intended for use by higher level checkpoint
+    management utilities that use `write()` instead of `save()` and have their
+    own mechanisms to number and track checkpoints.
+
+    Example usage:
+
+    ```python
+    # Create a checkpoint with write()
+    ckpt = tf.train.Checkpoint(v=tf.Variable(1.))
+    path = ckpt.write('/tmp/my_checkpoint')
+
+    # Later, load the checkpoint with read()
+    # With restore() assert_consumed() would have failed.
+    checkpoint.read(path).assert_consumed()
+    ```
+
+    Args:
+      save_path: The path to the checkpoint as returned by `write`.
+
+    Returns:
+      A load status object, which can be used to make assertions about the
+      status of a checkpoint restoration.  See `restore` for details.
+    """
+    return self._saver.restore(save_path=save_path)
+
   def restore(self, save_path):
     """Restore a training checkpoint.
 
     Restores this `Checkpoint` and any objects it depends on.
 
-    Either assigns values immediately if variables to restore have been created
-    already, or defers restoration until the variables are created. Dependencies
-    added after this call will be matched if they have a corresponding object in
-    the checkpoint (the restore request will queue in any trackable object
-    waiting for the expected dependency to be added).
+    This method is intended to be used to load checkpoints created by `save()`.
+    For checkpoints created by `write()` use the `read()` method which does not
+    expect the `save_counter` variable added by `save()`.
+
+    `restore()` either assigns values immediately if variables to restore have
+    been created already, or defers restoration until the variables are
+    created. Dependencies added after this call will be matched if they have a
+    corresponding object in the checkpoint (the restore request will queue in
+    any trackable object waiting for the expected dependency to be added).
 
     To ensure that loading is complete and no more assignments will take place,
     use the `assert_consumed()` method of the status object returned by
-    `restore`:
+    `restore()`:
 
     ```python
     checkpoint = tf.train.Checkpoint( ... )
@@ -2006,7 +2046,7 @@ class Checkpoint(tracking.AutoTrackable):
           checkpoint file or object when the `Checkpoint` object is deleted
           (often at program shutdown).
     """
-    status = self._saver.restore(save_path=save_path)
+    status = self.read(save_path)
     # Create the save counter now so it gets initialized with other variables
     # when graph building. Creating it earlier would lead to errors when using,
     # say, train.Saver() to save the model before initializing it.
diff --git a/tensorflow/python/training/tracking/util_test.py b/tensorflow/python/training/tracking/util_test.py
index 6e57d690726..e63baa60003 100644
--- a/tensorflow/python/training/tracking/util_test.py
+++ b/tensorflow/python/training/tracking/util_test.py
@@ -1376,8 +1376,7 @@ class CheckpointingTests(parameterized.TestCase, test.TestCase):
   @test_util.run_in_graph_and_eager_modes
   def test_write_checkpoint_from_function(self):
     checkpoint_prefix = os.path.join(self.get_temp_dir(), "ckpt")
-    save_checkpoint = trackable_utils.Checkpoint(
-        v=variables_lib.Variable(1.))
+    save_checkpoint = trackable_utils.Checkpoint(v=variables_lib.Variable(1.))
 
     @def_function.function
     def _write_checkpoint():
@@ -1386,14 +1385,21 @@ class CheckpointingTests(parameterized.TestCase, test.TestCase):
 
     self.evaluate([save_checkpoint.v.initializer])
     self.evaluate(_write_checkpoint())
-    load_checkpoint = trackable_utils.Checkpoint(
-        v=variables_lib.Variable(0.))
-    load_checkpoint.restore(checkpoint_prefix).run_restore_ops()
+    load_checkpoint = trackable_utils.Checkpoint(v=variables_lib.Variable(0.))
+    # Use read() instead of restore() which allows us to check that all
+    # existing objects were loaded.
+    status = load_checkpoint.read(checkpoint_prefix)
+    status.assert_existing_objects_matched()
+    status.assert_consumed()
+    status.run_restore_ops()
     self.assertEqual(1., self.evaluate(load_checkpoint.v))
     self.evaluate(save_checkpoint.v.assign(3.))
     self.evaluate(_write_checkpoint())
     self.evaluate(save_checkpoint.v.assign(0.))
-    load_checkpoint.restore(checkpoint_prefix).run_restore_ops()
+    status = load_checkpoint.read(checkpoint_prefix)
+    status.assert_existing_objects_matched()
+    status.assert_consumed()
+    status.run_restore_ops()
     self.assertEqual(3., self.evaluate(load_checkpoint.v))
 
   def test_inititialize_with_data_structures(self):
diff --git a/tensorflow/tools/api/golden/v2/tensorflow.train.-checkpoint.pbtxt b/tensorflow/tools/api/golden/v2/tensorflow.train.-checkpoint.pbtxt
index deb93d7adca..d7e93a0f937 100644
--- a/tensorflow/tools/api/golden/v2/tensorflow.train.-checkpoint.pbtxt
+++ b/tensorflow/tools/api/golden/v2/tensorflow.train.-checkpoint.pbtxt
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ tf_class {
     name: "__init__"
     argspec: "args=[\'self\'], varargs=None, keywords=kwargs, defaults=None"
   }
+  member_method {
+    name: "read"
+    argspec: "args=[\'self\', \'save_path\'], varargs=None, keywords=None, defaults=None"
+  }
   member_method {
     name: "restore"
     argspec: "args=[\'self\', \'save_path\'], varargs=None, keywords=None, defaults=None"