diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index ba3e590..e5a849a 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -187,6 +187,36 @@ function initGoals(peer, config) {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * @public
+   * @param {GoalDSL} goalDSL
+   * @returns {Goal}
+   */
+  function parse(goalDSL) {
+    return new GoalImpl('?', goalDSL)
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * @param {Pick<Goal, 'type' | 'count'>} goal
+   * @returns {GoalDSL}
+   */
+  function serialize(goal) {
+    switch (goal.type) {
+      case 'newest':
+        return `newest-${goal.count}`
+      case 'all':
+        return 'all'
+      case 'set':
+        return 'set'
+      case 'dict':
+        return 'dict'
+      case 'none':
+        return 'none'
+      default:
+        throw new Error(`Unrecognized goal type: ${goal.type}`)
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * @public
    * @param {string} tangleID
@@ -268,14 +298,14 @@ function initGoals(peer, config) {
         assertDictPlugin(peer)
         const span = peer.dict.getGhostSpan()
         if (peer.dict.isGhostable(msgID, tangle.id)) {
-          return ['ghost', {tangleID: tangle.id, span }]
+          return ['ghost', { tangleID: tangle.id, span }]
         }
       }
       if (goalType === 'set') {
         assertSetPlugin(peer)
         const span = peer.set.getGhostSpan()
         if (peer.set.isGhostable(msgID, tangle.id)) {
-          return ['ghost', {tangleID: tangle.id, span }]
+          return ['ghost', { tangleID: tangle.id, span }]
         }
       }
     }
@@ -292,6 +322,8 @@ function initGoals(peer, config) {
   }
 
   return {
+    parse,
+    serialize,
     set,
     get,
     getMsgPurpose,
diff --git a/test/goals.test.js b/test/goals.test.js
index d895bb0..218054b 100644
--- a/test/goals.test.js
+++ b/test/goals.test.js
@@ -4,6 +4,25 @@ const { isMapIterator } = require('node:util/types')
 const p = require('node:util').promisify
 const { createPeer } = require('./util')
 
+test('parse() and serialize()', async (t) => {
+  const peer = createPeer({ name: 'alice' })
+  await peer.db.loaded()
+
+  const all = peer.goals.parse('all')
+  assert.equal(all.type, 'all')
+  assert.equal(all.count, Infinity)
+
+  const newest = peer.goals.parse('newest-123')
+  assert.equal(newest.type, 'newest')
+  assert.equal(newest.count, 123)
+
+  assert.equal(peer.goals.serialize(all), 'all')
+  assert.equal(peer.goals.serialize(newest), 'newest-123')
+
+  await p(setTimeout)(200) // necessary wait, otherwise peer.close fails
+  await p(peer.close)(true)
+})
+
 test('set, getByID, list, watch', async (t) => {
   const alice = createPeer({ name: 'alice' })