diff --git a/container.go b/container.go
index cb4e25b1d..a65d7b13a 100644
--- a/container.go
+++ b/container.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ type State struct {
 	Config configs.Config `json:"config"`
 
 	// Container's standard descriptors (std{in,out,err}), needed for checkpoint and restore
-	StdFds [3]string `json:"std_fds,omitempty"`
+	ExternalDescriptors [3]string `json:"external_descriptors,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // A libcontainer container object.
diff --git a/container_linux.go b/container_linux.go
index c70663e5c..3b1351730 100644
--- a/container_linux.go
+++ b/container_linux.go
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ func (c *linuxContainer) Checkpoint(criuOpts *CriuOpts) error {
 
 	// Write the FD info to a file in the image directory
 
-	fdsJSON, err := json.Marshal(c.initProcess.stdFds())
+	fdsJSON, err := json.Marshal(c.initProcess.externalDescriptors())
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ func (c *linuxContainer) criuSwrk(process *Process, req *criurpc.CriuReq, opts *
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		c.initProcess.setStdFds(fds)
+		c.initProcess.setExternalDescriptors(fds)
 	}
 
 	data, err := proto.Marshal(req)
@@ -700,7 +700,7 @@ func (c *linuxContainer) criuNotifications(resp *criurpc.CriuResp, process *Proc
 
 	case notify.GetScript() == "post-restore":
 		pid := notify.GetPid()
-		r, err := newRestoredProcess(int(pid), c.initProcess.stdFds())
+		r, err := newRestoredProcess(int(pid), c.initProcess.externalDescriptors())
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ func (c *linuxContainer) currentState() (*State, error) {
 		InitProcessStartTime: startTime,
 		CgroupPaths:          c.cgroupManager.GetPaths(),
 		NamespacePaths:       make(map[configs.NamespaceType]string),
-		StdFds:               c.initProcess.stdFds(),
+		ExternalDescriptors:  c.initProcess.externalDescriptors(),
 	}
 	for _, ns := range c.config.Namespaces {
 		state.NamespacePaths[ns.Type] = ns.GetPath(c.initProcess.pid())
diff --git a/factory_linux.go b/factory_linux.go
index 70abb1a59..a1c7289f9 100644
--- a/factory_linux.go
+++ b/factory_linux.go
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ func (l *LinuxFactory) Load(id string) (Container, error) {
 	r := &nonChildProcess{
 		processPid:       state.InitProcessPid,
 		processStartTime: state.InitProcessStartTime,
-		fds:              state.StdFds,
+		fds:              state.ExternalDescriptors,
 	}
 	return &linuxContainer{
 		initProcess:   r,
diff --git a/process_linux.go b/process_linux.go
index b37e88303..ac2264365 100644
--- a/process_linux.go
+++ b/process_linux.go
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ type parentProcess interface {
 
 	signal(os.Signal) error
 
-	stdFds() [3]string
+	externalDescriptors() [3]string
 
-	setStdFds(fds [3]string)
+	setExternalDescriptors(fds [3]string)
 }
 
 type setnsProcess struct {
@@ -149,11 +149,11 @@ func (p *setnsProcess) pid() int {
 	return p.cmd.Process.Pid
 }
 
-func (p *setnsProcess) stdFds() [3]string {
+func (p *setnsProcess) externalDescriptors() [3]string {
 	return p.fds
 }
 
-func (p *setnsProcess) setStdFds(newFds [3]string) {
+func (p *setnsProcess) setExternalDescriptors(newFds [3]string) {
 	p.fds = newFds
 }
 
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ func (p *initProcess) pid() int {
 	return p.cmd.Process.Pid
 }
 
-func (p *initProcess) stdFds() [3]string {
+func (p *initProcess) externalDescriptors() [3]string {
 	return p.fds
 }
 
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ func (p *initProcess) start() error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return newSystemError(err)
 	}
-	p.setStdFds(fds);
+	p.setExternalDescriptors(fds);
 
 	// Do this before syncing with child so that no children
 	// can escape the cgroup
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ func (p *initProcess) signal(sig os.Signal) error {
 	return syscall.Kill(p.cmd.Process.Pid, s)
 }
 
-func (p *initProcess) setStdFds(newFds [3]string) {
+func (p *initProcess) setExternalDescriptors(newFds [3]string) {
 	p.fds = newFds
 }
 
diff --git a/restored_process.go b/restored_process.go
index ebf96d9fe..142b3fe89 100644
--- a/restored_process.go
+++ b/restored_process.go
@@ -68,11 +68,11 @@ func (p *restoredProcess) signal(s os.Signal) error {
 	return p.proc.Signal(s)
 }
 
-func (p *restoredProcess) stdFds() [3]string {
+func (p *restoredProcess) externalDescriptors() [3]string {
 	return p.fds
 }
 
-func (p *restoredProcess) setStdFds(newFds [3]string) {
+func (p *restoredProcess) setExternalDescriptors(newFds [3]string) {
 	p.fds = newFds
 }
 
@@ -109,10 +109,10 @@ func (p *nonChildProcess) signal(s os.Signal) error {
 	return newGenericError(fmt.Errorf("restored process cannot be signaled"), SystemError)
 }
 
-func (p *nonChildProcess) stdFds() [3]string {
+func (p *nonChildProcess) externalDescriptors() [3]string {
 	return p.fds
 }
 
-func (p *nonChildProcess) setStdFds(newFds [3]string) {
+func (p *nonChildProcess) setExternalDescriptors(newFds [3]string) {
 	p.fds = newFds
 }