diff --git a/include/ipmid/api.h b/include/ipmid/api.h
index b1c078b..f08ee11 100644
--- a/include/ipmid/api.h
+++ b/include/ipmid/api.h
@@ -152,4 +152,8 @@
 sd_event* ipmid_get_sd_event_connection(void);
 sd_bus_slot* ipmid_get_sd_bus_slot(void);
 
+// move this from ipmid.hpp, which is now gone
+// this should not be used. Use the channel API to get the channel size
+#define MAX_IPMI_BUFFER 64
+
 #endif