diff --git a/piker/cli.py b/piker/cli.py
index 32e567bf..963ebe5c 100644
--- a/piker/cli.py
+++ b/piker/cli.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import trio
 from . import watchlists as wl
 from .brokers import core, get_brokermod
 from .brokers.core import _brokerd_main
-from .ipc import Client
+from .ipc import Channel
 from .log import get_console_log, colorize_json, get_logger
 
 log = get_logger('cli')
@@ -133,32 +133,32 @@ def watch(loglevel, broker, rate, name, dhost):
 
     async def launch_client(sleep=0.5, tries=10):
 
-        async def subscribe(client):
+        async def subscribe(channel):
             # initial subs request for symbols
-            await client.send((brokermod.name, tickers))
+            await channel.send((brokermod.name, tickers))
             # symbol data is returned in first response which we'll
             # ignore on reconnect
-            await client.recv()
+            await channel.recv()
 
-        client = Client((dhost, 1616), on_reconnect=subscribe)
+        channel = Channel((dhost, 1616), on_reconnect=subscribe)
         for _ in range(tries):  # try for 5 seconds
             try:
-                await client.connect()
+                await channel.connect()
                 break
             except OSError as oserr:
                 await trio.sleep(sleep)
         else:
             # will raise indicating child proc should be spawned
-            await client.connect()
+            await channel.connect()
 
         async with trio.open_nursery() as nursery:
             nursery.start_soon(
-                _async_main, name, client, tickers,
+                _async_main, name, channel, tickers,
                 brokermod, rate
             )
 
         # signal exit of stream handler task
-        await client.aclose()
+        await channel.aclose()
 
     try:
         trio.run(partial(launch_client, tries=1))