diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 0324fdd..55972b1 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ MANPAGES = passt.1 pasta.1 qrap.1
 
 PASST_HEADERS = arch.h arp.h checksum.h conf.h dhcp.h dhcpv6.h icmp.h \
 	inany.h isolation.h lineread.h log.h ndp.h netlink.h packet.h passt.h \
-	pasta.h pcap.h port_fwd.h siphash.h tap.h tcp.h tcp_conn.h \
+	pasta.h pcap.h pif.h port_fwd.h siphash.h tap.h tcp.h tcp_conn.h \
 	tcp_splice.h udp.h util.h
 HEADERS = $(PASST_HEADERS) seccomp.h
 
diff --git a/pif.h b/pif.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a705f2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pif.h
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
+ * Copyright Red Hat
+ * Author: David Gibson <david@gibson.dropbear.id.au>
+ *
+ * Passt/pasta interface types and IDs
+ */
+#ifndef PIF_H
+#define PIF_H
+
+/**
+ * enum pif_type - Type of passt/pasta interface ("pif")
+ *
+ * pifs can be an L4 level channel (sockets) or an L2 level channel (tap device
+ * or qemu socket).
+ */
+enum pif_type {
+	/* Invalid or not present pif */
+	PIF_NONE = 0,
+	/* Host socket interface */
+	PIF_HOST,
+	/* Qemu socket or namespace tuntap interface */
+	PIF_TAP,
+	/* Namespace socket interface for splicing */
+	PIF_SPLICE,
+};
+
+#endif /* PIF_H */