diff --git a/crates/utils/src/lib.rs b/crates/utils/src/lib.rs
index 5e76e8bc5..373cacab5 100644
--- a/crates/utils/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/utils/src/lib.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ use thiserror::Error;
 pub type ConnectionId = usize;
 pub type PostId = i32;
 pub type CommunityId = i32;
-pub type UserId = i32;
+pub type LocalUserId = i32;
 pub type IpAddr = String;
 
 #[macro_export]
diff --git a/crates/websocket/src/chat_server.rs b/crates/websocket/src/chat_server.rs
index 9978d1ec6..ea4a651ad 100644
--- a/crates/websocket/src/chat_server.rs
+++ b/crates/websocket/src/chat_server.rs
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ use lemmy_utils::{
   ConnectionId,
   IpAddr,
   LemmyError,
+  LocalUserId,
   PostId,
-  UserId,
 };
 use rand::rngs::ThreadRng;
 use reqwest::Client;
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ pub struct ChatServer {
 
   /// A map from user id to its connection ID for joined users. Remember a user can have multiple
   /// sessions (IE clients)
-  pub(super) user_rooms: HashMap<UserId, HashSet<ConnectionId>>,
+  pub(super) user_rooms: HashMap<LocalUserId, HashSet<ConnectionId>>,
 
   pub(super) rng: ThreadRng,
 
@@ -185,7 +185,11 @@ impl ChatServer {
     Ok(())
   }
 
-  pub fn join_user_room(&mut self, user_id: UserId, id: ConnectionId) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
+  pub fn join_user_room(
+    &mut self,
+    user_id: LocalUserId,
+    id: ConnectionId,
+  ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
     // remove session from all rooms
     for sessions in self.user_rooms.values_mut() {
       sessions.remove(&id);
@@ -302,7 +306,7 @@ impl ChatServer {
     &self,
     op: &UserOperation,
     response: &Response,
-    recipient_id: UserId,
+    recipient_id: LocalUserId,
     websocket_id: Option<ConnectionId>,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError>
   where
diff --git a/crates/websocket/src/messages.rs b/crates/websocket/src/messages.rs
index b3d98d066..e66ffe110 100644
--- a/crates/websocket/src/messages.rs
+++ b/crates/websocket/src/messages.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use crate::UserOperation;
 use actix::{prelude::*, Recipient};
 use lemmy_api_structs::{comment::CommentResponse, post::PostResponse};
-use lemmy_utils::{CommunityId, ConnectionId, IpAddr, PostId, UserId};
+use lemmy_utils::{CommunityId, ConnectionId, IpAddr, LocalUserId, PostId};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 /// Chat server sends this messages to session
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ pub struct SendAllMessage<Response> {
 pub struct SendUserRoomMessage<Response> {
   pub op: UserOperation,
   pub response: Response,
-  pub recipient_id: UserId,
+  pub recipient_id: LocalUserId,
   pub websocket_id: Option<ConnectionId>,
 }
 
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ pub struct SendComment {
 #[derive(Message)]
 #[rtype(result = "()")]
 pub struct JoinUserRoom {
-  pub local_user_id: UserId,
+  pub local_user_id: LocalUserId,
   pub id: ConnectionId,
 }