diff --git a/gossip/api/channel.go b/gossip/api/channel.go
index fd5ddf26814..c5f1381f2a3 100644
--- a/gossip/api/channel.go
+++ b/gossip/api/channel.go
@@ -16,7 +16,11 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 package api
 
-import "time"
+import (
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric/gossip/common"
+)
 
 // SecurityAdvisor defines an external auxiliary object
 // that provides security and identity related capabilities
@@ -33,7 +37,7 @@ type SecurityAdvisor interface {
 // ChannelNotifier is implemented by the gossip component and is used for the peer
 // layer to notify the gossip component of a JoinChannel event
 type ChannelNotifier interface {
-	JoinChannel(joinMsg JoinChannelMessage, chainID ChainID)
+	JoinChannel(joinMsg JoinChannelMessage, chainID common.ChainID)
 }
 
 // JoinChannelMessage is the message that asserts a creation or mutation
@@ -48,9 +52,6 @@ type JoinChannelMessage interface {
 	Members() []ChannelMember
 }
 
-// ChainID defines the identity representation of a chain
-type ChainID []byte
-
 // ChannelMember is a peer's certificate and endpoint (host:port)
 type ChannelMember struct {
 	Cert PeerCert // Cert defines the certificate of the remote peer
diff --git a/gossip/common/common.go b/gossip/common/common.go
index 5adff378fc6..bc6f2beaac4 100644
--- a/gossip/common/common.go
+++ b/gossip/common/common.go
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 package common
 
-import "github.com/hyperledger/fabric/gossip/api"
-
 // PKIidType defines the type that holds the PKI-id
 // which is the security identifier of a peer
 type PKIidType []byte
@@ -29,8 +27,11 @@ type MessageAcceptor func(interface{}) bool
 
 // Payload defines an object that contains a ledger block
 type Payload struct {
-	ChainID api.ChainID // The channel's ID of the block
-	Data    []byte      // The content of the message, possibly encrypted or signed
-	Hash    string      // The message hash
-	SeqNum  uint64      // The message sequence number
+	ChainID ChainID // The channel's ID of the block
+	Data    []byte  // The content of the message, possibly encrypted or signed
+	Hash    string  // The message hash
+	SeqNum  uint64  // The message sequence number
 }
+
+// ChainID defines the identity representation of a chain
+type ChainID []byte