diff --git a/src/nodes/core.rs b/src/nodes/core.rs
index 87c1c16..580d5b1 100644
--- a/src/nodes/core.rs
+++ b/src/nodes/core.rs
@@ -10,8 +10,10 @@ use std::{
 
 use super::spatial::Spatial;
 
-type Signal<'a> = dyn Fn(&[u8]) + 'a;
-type Method<'a> = dyn Fn(&[u8]) -> Vec<u8> + 'a;
+pub type Signal<'a> = dyn Fn(&[u8]) + 'a;
+pub type Method<'a> = dyn Fn(&[u8]) -> Vec<u8> + 'a;
+
+pub type NodeRef<'a> = Weak<RefCell<Node<'a>>>;
 
 pub struct Node<'a> {
 	path: String,
@@ -31,7 +33,7 @@ impl<'a> Node<'a> {
 		self.path.as_str()
 	}
 
-	pub fn from_path(client: Option<&mut Client<'a>>, path: &str) -> Result<Weak<RefCell<Self>>> {
+	pub fn from_path(client: Option<&mut Client<'a>>, path: &str) -> Result<NodeRef<'a>> {
 		ensure!(path.starts_with('/'), "Invalid path {}", path);
 		let mut weak_messenger = Weak::default();
 		if client.is_some() {
diff --git a/src/nodes/spatial.rs b/src/nodes/spatial.rs
index 6d0e5f7..7b233f1 100644
--- a/src/nodes/spatial.rs
+++ b/src/nodes/spatial.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
-use super::core::Node;
+use super::core::{Node, NodeRef};
 use crate::core::client::Client;
 use anyhow::Result;
-use std::cell::RefCell;
-use std::rc::Weak;
 use vek::mat::repr_c::row_major::Mat4;
 
 pub struct Spatial {
@@ -18,7 +16,7 @@ impl<'a> Spatial {
 		client: Option<&'a mut Client<'a>>,
 		path: &str,
 		transform: Mat4<f32>,
-	) -> Result<Weak<RefCell<Node<'a>>>> {
+	) -> Result<NodeRef<'a>> {
 		let node = Node::from_path(client, path)?;
 		node.upgrade().unwrap().borrow_mut().spatial = Some(Spatial::new(transform));
 		Ok(node)