diff --git a/lib/dns/include/dns/message.h b/lib/dns/include/dns/message.h
index ca1026a253..750dfa14a4 100644
--- a/lib/dns/include/dns/message.h
+++ b/lib/dns/include/dns/message.h
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ typedef struct {
 	/* public from here down */
 	unsigned int			magic;
 
-	unsigned int			id;
+	dns_messageid_t			id;
 	unsigned int			flags;
 	unsigned int			rcode;
 	unsigned int			opcode;
diff --git a/lib/dns/include/dns/types.h b/lib/dns/include/dns/types.h
index f3b3ec6ac1..5496556691 100644
--- a/lib/dns/include/dns/types.h
+++ b/lib/dns/include/dns/types.h
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ typedef struct dns_rdataset			dns_rdataset_t;
 typedef ISC_LIST(dns_rdataset_t)		dns_rdatasetlist_t;
 typedef struct dns_rdatasetiter			dns_rdatasetiter_t;
 typedef struct dns_dbtable			dns_dbtable_t;
+typedef isc_uint16_t				dns_messageid_t;
 
 typedef enum {
 	dns_labeltype_ordinary = 0,