diff --git a/piker/brokers/ib/__init__.py b/piker/brokers/ib/__init__.py
index 2d9c198e..3f6504a1 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/ib/__init__.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/ib/__init__.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ Sub-modules within break into the core functionalities:
   tracking..
 
 """
-from .client import (
+from .api import (
     get_client,
 )
 from .feed import (
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ __all__ = [
 
 # tractor RPC enable arg
 __enable_modules__: list[str] = [
-    'client',
+    'api',
     'feed',
     'broker',
 ]
diff --git a/piker/brokers/ib/client.py b/piker/brokers/ib/api.py
similarity index 100%
rename from piker/brokers/ib/client.py
rename to piker/brokers/ib/api.py
diff --git a/piker/brokers/ib/broker.py b/piker/brokers/ib/broker.py
index 6bd35b37..50532bfd 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/ib/broker.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/ib/broker.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ from piker.clearing._messages import (
     BrokerdFill,
     BrokerdError,
 )
-from .client import (
+from .api import (
     _adhoc_futes_set,
     log,
     get_config,
diff --git a/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py b/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
index d533af60..1b2bfb45 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ from trio_typing import TaskStatus
 
 from piker.data._sharedmem import ShmArray
 from .._util import SymbolNotFound, NoData
-from .client import (
+from .api import (
     _adhoc_futes_set,
     log,
     load_aio_clients,