diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 95489ed33f..fa82c3c943 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ authors = ["Glenn Watson <gw@intuitionlibrary.com>"]
 [dependencies.freetype]
 git = "https://github.com/servo/rust-freetype"
 
+[dependencies.ipc-channel]
+git = "https://github.com/pcwalton/ipc-channel"
+
 [dependencies.webrender_traits]
 git = "https://github.com/glennw/webrender_traits"
 
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 9ea2b988f2..02751de9a3 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ extern crate euclid;
 extern crate fnv;
 extern crate gleam;
 extern crate freetype;
+extern crate ipc_channel;
 extern crate scoped_threadpool;
 extern crate simd;
 extern crate time;
diff --git a/src/render_backend.rs b/src/render_backend.rs
index 3a10fafa7b..0e2addcb3d 100644
--- a/src/render_backend.rs
+++ b/src/render_backend.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use euclid::{Rect, Size2D};
 use frame::Frame;
 use internal_types::{FontTemplate, ResultMsg, DrawLayer};
+use ipc_channel::ipc::{IpcReceiver, IpcSender};
 use resource_cache::ResourceCache;
 use scene::Scene;
 use scoped_threadpool;
@@ -26,8 +27,8 @@ use webrender_traits::{ApiMsg, IdNamespace, ResourceId, RenderApi, RenderNotifie
  */
 
 pub struct RenderBackend {
-    api_rx: Receiver<ApiMsg>,
-    api_tx: Sender<ApiMsg>,
+    api_rx: IpcReceiver<ApiMsg>,
+    api_tx: IpcSender<ApiMsg>,
     result_tx: Sender<ResultMsg>,
 
     viewport: Rect<i32>,
@@ -42,8 +43,8 @@ pub struct RenderBackend {
 }
 
 impl RenderBackend {
-    pub fn new(api_rx: Receiver<ApiMsg>,
-               api_tx: Sender<ApiMsg>,
+    pub fn new(api_rx: IpcReceiver<ApiMsg>,
+               api_tx: IpcSender<ApiMsg>,
                result_tx: Sender<ResultMsg>,
                viewport: Rect<i32>,
                device_pixel_ratio: f32,
@@ -127,16 +128,12 @@ impl RenderBackend {
                                                             stacking_context);
                         }
                         ApiMsg::CloneApi(sender) => {
-                            let new_api = RenderApi {
-                                tx: self.api_tx.clone(),
-                                id_namespace: self.next_namespace_id,
-                                next_id: Cell::new(ResourceId(0)),
-                            };
+                            let result = self.next_namespace_id;
 
                             let IdNamespace(id_namespace) = self.next_namespace_id;
                             self.next_namespace_id = IdNamespace(id_namespace + 1);
 
-                            sender.send(new_api).unwrap();
+                            sender.send(result).unwrap();
                         }
                         ApiMsg::SetRootStackingContext(stacking_context_id,
                                                        background_color,
diff --git a/src/renderer.rs b/src/renderer.rs
index 24a43e99bf..0374d1ad36 100644
--- a/src/renderer.rs
+++ b/src/renderer.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ use internal_types::{TextureUpdateDetails, TextureUpdateList, PackedVertex, Rend
 use internal_types::{ORTHO_NEAR_PLANE, ORTHO_FAR_PLANE, BoxShadowPart, BasicRotationAngle};
 use internal_types::{PackedVertexForTextureCacheUpdate, TextureTarget, CompositionOp};
 use internal_types::{BlurDirection, LowLevelFilterOp, DrawCommand, ANGLE_FLOAT_TO_FIXED};
+use ipc_channel::ipc;
 use render_backend::RenderBackend;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::collections::hash_state::DefaultState;
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ impl Renderer {
                device_pixel_ratio: f32,
                resource_path: PathBuf,
                enable_aa: bool) -> (Renderer, RenderApi) {
-        let (api_tx, api_rx) = channel();
+        let (api_tx, api_rx) = ipc::channel().unwrap();
         let (result_tx, result_rx) = channel();
 
         let initial_viewport = Rect::new(Point2D::zero(), Size2D::new(width as i32, height as i32));