diff --git a/linux/runtime.go b/linux/runtime.go
index 083b07224..26dedbfa9 100644
--- a/linux/runtime.go
+++ b/linux/runtime.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func init() {
 	})
 }
 
-var _ = (runtime.Runtime)(&Runtime{})
+var _ = (runtime.PlatformRuntime)(&Runtime{})
 
 // Config options for the runtime
 type Config struct {
diff --git a/runtime/runtime.go b/runtime/runtime.go
index 000af4ad3..0057c1a4e 100644
--- a/runtime/runtime.go
+++ b/runtime/runtime.go
@@ -53,9 +53,9 @@ type Exit struct {
 	Timestamp time.Time
 }
 
-// Runtime is responsible for the creation of containers for a certain platform,
-// arch, or custom usage.
-type Runtime interface {
+// PlatformRuntime is responsible for the creation and management of
+// tasks and processes for a platform.
+type PlatformRuntime interface {
 	// ID of the runtime
 	ID() string
 	// Create creates a task with the provided id and options.
diff --git a/services/tasks/local.go b/services/tasks/local.go
index 3f99b8e23..1de7a4aa2 100644
--- a/services/tasks/local.go
+++ b/services/tasks/local.go
@@ -79,14 +79,14 @@ func initFunc(ic *plugin.InitContext) (interface{}, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	cs := m.(*metadata.DB).ContentStore()
-	runtimes := make(map[string]runtime.Runtime)
+	runtimes := make(map[string]runtime.PlatformRuntime)
 	for _, rr := range rt {
 		ri, err := rr.Instance()
 		if err != nil {
 			log.G(ic.Context).WithError(err).Warn("could not load runtime instance due to initialization error")
 			continue
 		}
-		r := ri.(runtime.Runtime)
+		r := ri.(runtime.PlatformRuntime)
 		runtimes[r.ID()] = r
 	}
 
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ func initFunc(ic *plugin.InitContext) (interface{}, error) {
 }
 
 type local struct {
-	runtimes  map[string]runtime.Runtime
+	runtimes  map[string]runtime.PlatformRuntime
 	db        *metadata.DB
 	store     content.Store
 	publisher events.Publisher
@@ -625,7 +625,7 @@ func (l *local) getTaskFromContainer(ctx context.Context, container *containers.
 	return t, nil
 }
 
-func (l *local) getRuntime(name string) (runtime.Runtime, error) {
+func (l *local) getRuntime(name string) (runtime.PlatformRuntime, error) {
 	runtime, ok := l.runtimes[name]
 	if !ok {
 		return nil, status.Errorf(codes.NotFound, "unknown runtime %q", name)
diff --git a/windows/runtime.go b/windows/runtime.go
index 44306d7b8..59edf55f2 100644
--- a/windows/runtime.go
+++ b/windows/runtime.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ var (
 	pluginID = fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", plugin.RuntimePlugin, runtimeName)
 )
 
-var _ = (runtime.Runtime)(&windowsRuntime{})
+var _ = (runtime.PlatformRuntime)(&windowsRuntime{})
 
 func init() {
 	plugin.Register(&plugin.Registration{