diff --git a/include/libtorrent/Makefile.am b/include/libtorrent/Makefile.am
index 465ba1d0e..b8c3ee994 100644
--- a/include/libtorrent/Makefile.am
+++ b/include/libtorrent/Makefile.am
@@ -127,8 +127,6 @@ nobase_include_HEADERS = \
   sliding_average.hpp          \
   socket.hpp                   \
   socket_io.hpp                \
-  socket_type.hpp              \
-  socket_type_fwd.hpp          \
   socks5_stream.hpp            \
   ssl_stream.hpp               \
   stack_allocator.hpp          \
@@ -191,6 +189,7 @@ nobase_include_HEADERS = \
   aux_/proxy_settings.hpp           \
   aux_/session_interface.hpp        \
   aux_/suggest_piece.hpp            \
+  aux_/socket_type.hpp              \
   aux_/storage_piece_set.hpp        \
   aux_/string_ptr.hpp               \
   aux_/time.hpp                     \
diff --git a/include/libtorrent/aux_/session_impl.hpp b/include/libtorrent/aux_/session_impl.hpp
index f8080309a..5f69df41c 100644
--- a/include/libtorrent/aux_/session_impl.hpp
+++ b/include/libtorrent/aux_/session_impl.hpp
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #include "libtorrent/aux_/session_settings.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/aux_/session_interface.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/aux_/session_udp_sockets.hpp"
-#include "libtorrent/linked_list.hpp"
+#include "libtorrent/aux_/socket_type.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/torrent_peer.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/torrent_peer_allocator.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/performance_counters.hpp" // for counters
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #include "libtorrent/stat.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/file_pool.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/bandwidth_manager.hpp"
-#include "libtorrent/socket_type.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/disk_io_thread.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/udp_socket.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/assert.hpp"
diff --git a/include/libtorrent/aux_/session_interface.hpp b/include/libtorrent/aux_/session_interface.hpp
index d78e4dc45..7ea4a7903 100644
--- a/include/libtorrent/aux_/session_interface.hpp
+++ b/include/libtorrent/aux_/session_interface.hpp
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ namespace libtorrent {
 	struct tracker_request;
 	struct request_callback;
 	struct utp_socket_manager;
-	struct socket_type;
 	struct block_info;
 	struct external_ip;
 	struct torrent_handle;
@@ -104,10 +103,12 @@ namespace dht {
 #endif
 }
 
-namespace libtorrent { namespace aux {
+namespace libtorrent {
+namespace aux {
 
 	struct proxy_settings;
 	struct session_settings;
+	struct socket_type;
 
 	struct ip_source_tag;
 	using ip_source_t = flags::bitfield_flag<std::uint8_t, ip_source_tag>;
diff --git a/include/libtorrent/socket_type.hpp b/include/libtorrent/aux_/socket_type.hpp
similarity index 99%
rename from include/libtorrent/socket_type.hpp
rename to include/libtorrent/aux_/socket_type.hpp
index de88979ac..0432fc268 100644
--- a/include/libtorrent/socket_type.hpp
+++ b/include/libtorrent/aux_/socket_type.hpp
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 	}
 
 namespace libtorrent {
+namespace aux {
 
 	template <class S>
 	struct socket_type_int_impl
@@ -341,5 +342,6 @@ namespace libtorrent {
 	// properly shuts down SSL sockets. holder keeps s alive
 	void async_shutdown(socket_type& s, std::shared_ptr<void> holder);
 }
+}
 
 #endif
diff --git a/include/libtorrent/enum_net.hpp b/include/libtorrent/enum_net.hpp
index 4b827df44..a50e02c19 100644
--- a/include/libtorrent/enum_net.hpp
+++ b/include/libtorrent/enum_net.hpp
@@ -53,8 +53,6 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 
 namespace libtorrent {
 
-	struct socket_type;
-
 	// the interface should not have a netmask
 	struct ip_interface
 	{
diff --git a/include/libtorrent/http_connection.hpp b/include/libtorrent/http_connection.hpp
index f3b7dda4a..a733b6001 100644
--- a/include/libtorrent/http_connection.hpp
+++ b/include/libtorrent/http_connection.hpp
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ namespace ssl {
 #include "libtorrent/http_parser.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/deadline_timer.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/assert.hpp"
-#include "libtorrent/socket_type.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/i2p_stream.hpp"
+#include "libtorrent/aux_/socket_type.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/aux_/vector.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/resolver_interface.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/optional.hpp"
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ struct TORRENT_EXTRA_EXPORT http_connection
 
 	void close(bool force = false);
 
-	socket_type const& socket() const { return m_sock; }
+	aux::socket_type const& socket() const { return m_sock; }
 
 	std::vector<tcp::endpoint> const& endpoints() const { return m_endpoints; }
 
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ private:
 	// endpoint with this index (in m_endpoints) next
 	int m_next_ep;
 
-	socket_type m_sock;
+	aux::socket_type m_sock;
 
 #ifdef TORRENT_USE_OPENSSL
 	ssl::context* m_ssl_ctx;
diff --git a/include/libtorrent/instantiate_connection.hpp b/include/libtorrent/instantiate_connection.hpp
index 8ba4d7a15..0ea23b575 100644
--- a/include/libtorrent/instantiate_connection.hpp
+++ b/include/libtorrent/instantiate_connection.hpp
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #ifndef TORRENT_INSTANTIATE_CONNECTION
 #define TORRENT_INSTANTIATE_CONNECTION
 
-#include "libtorrent/socket_type.hpp"
+#include "libtorrent/aux_/socket_type.hpp"
 
 namespace libtorrent {
 
@@ -43,11 +43,10 @@ namespace libtorrent {
 	}
 
 	struct utp_socket_manager;
-	struct socket_type;
 
 	// instantiate a socket_type (s) according to the specified criteria
 	TORRENT_EXTRA_EXPORT bool instantiate_connection(io_service& ios
-		, aux::proxy_settings const& ps, socket_type& s
+		, aux::proxy_settings const& ps, aux::socket_type& s
 		, void* ssl_context
 		, utp_socket_manager* sm
 		, bool peer_connection
diff --git a/include/libtorrent/peer_connection.hpp b/include/libtorrent/peer_connection.hpp
index dbbe4ac30..dbe93340a 100644
--- a/include/libtorrent/peer_connection.hpp
+++ b/include/libtorrent/peer_connection.hpp
@@ -41,13 +41,11 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #include "libtorrent/peer_request.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/piece_block_progress.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/bandwidth_limit.hpp"
-#include "libtorrent/socket_type_fwd.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/assert.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/chained_buffer.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/disk_buffer_holder.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/bitfield.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/bandwidth_socket.hpp"
-#include "libtorrent/socket_type_fwd.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/error_code.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/sliding_average.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/peer_class.hpp"
@@ -89,7 +87,9 @@ namespace libtorrent {
 
 namespace aux {
 
+	struct socket_type;
 	struct session_interface;
+
 }
 
 	struct pending_block
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ namespace aux {
 		disk_interface* disk_thread;
 		io_service* ios;
 		std::weak_ptr<torrent> tor;
-		std::shared_ptr<socket_type> s;
+		std::shared_ptr<aux::socket_type> s;
 		tcp::endpoint endp;
 		torrent_peer* peerinfo;
 	};
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ namespace aux {
 
 		void timeout_requests();
 
-		std::shared_ptr<socket_type> get_socket() const { return m_socket; }
+		std::shared_ptr<aux::socket_type> get_socket() const { return m_socket; }
 		tcp::endpoint const& remote() const override { return m_remote; }
 		tcp::endpoint local_endpoint() const override { return m_local; }
 
@@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ namespace aux {
 		int wanted_transfer(int channel);
 		int request_bandwidth(int channel, int bytes = 0);
 
-		std::shared_ptr<socket_type> m_socket;
+		std::shared_ptr<aux::socket_type> m_socket;
 
 		// the queue of blocks we have requested
 		// from this peer
diff --git a/include/libtorrent/socket_type_fwd.hpp b/include/libtorrent/socket_type_fwd.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index cf6098b67..000000000
--- a/include/libtorrent/socket_type_fwd.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,42 +0,0 @@
-/*
-
-Copyright (c) 2009-2016, Arvid Norberg
-All rights reserved.
-
-Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
-modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
-are met:
-
-    * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
-      notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
-    * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
-      notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
-      the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
-    * Neither the name of the author nor the names of its
-      contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
-      from this software without specific prior written permission.
-
-THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
-AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
-IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
-ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
-LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
-CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
-SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
-INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
-CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
-ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
-POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
-
-*/
-
-#ifndef TORRENT_SOCKET_TYPE_FWD_HPP
-#define TORRENT_SOCKET_TYPE_FWD_HPP
-
-namespace libtorrent {
-
-	struct socket_type;
-}
-
-#endif
-
diff --git a/include/libtorrent/utp_socket_manager.hpp b/include/libtorrent/utp_socket_manager.hpp
index 30ea98d48..54e0415e8 100644
--- a/include/libtorrent/utp_socket_manager.hpp
+++ b/include/libtorrent/utp_socket_manager.hpp
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #include <map>
 #include <functional>
 
-#include "libtorrent/socket_type.hpp"
+#include "libtorrent/aux_/socket_type.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/session_status.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/enum_net.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/aux_/session_settings.hpp"
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ namespace libtorrent {
 			, span<char const>
 			, error_code&, udp_send_flags_t)>;
 
-		using incoming_utp_callback_t =  std::function<void(std::shared_ptr<socket_type> const&)>;
+		using incoming_utp_callback_t =  std::function<void(std::shared_ptr<aux::socket_type> const&)>;
 
 		utp_socket_manager(send_fun_t const& send_fun
 			, incoming_utp_callback_t const& cb
diff --git a/src/bt_peer_connection.cpp b/src/bt_peer_connection.cpp
index a8533cc0e..10372872b 100644
--- a/src/bt_peer_connection.cpp
+++ b/src/bt_peer_connection.cpp
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #include "libtorrent/peer_info.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/random.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/aux_/alloca.hpp"
-#include "libtorrent/socket_type.hpp"
+#include "libtorrent/aux_/socket_type.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/performance_counters.hpp" // for counters
 #include "libtorrent/alert_manager.hpp" // for alert_manager
 #include "libtorrent/string_util.hpp" // for search
diff --git a/src/enum_net.cpp b/src/enum_net.cpp
index 942b02495..02d877a6c 100644
--- a/src/enum_net.cpp
+++ b/src/enum_net.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #include "libtorrent/enum_net.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/broadcast_socket.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/assert.hpp"
-#include "libtorrent/socket_type.hpp"
+#include "libtorrent/aux_/socket_type.hpp"
 #ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
 #include "libtorrent/aux_/win_util.hpp"
 #endif
diff --git a/src/http_connection.cpp b/src/http_connection.cpp
index c39d1fffa..be607f9a5 100644
--- a/src/http_connection.cpp
+++ b/src/http_connection.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #include "libtorrent/gzip.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/parse_url.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/socket.hpp"
-#include "libtorrent/socket_type.hpp" // for async_shutdown
+#include "libtorrent/aux_/socket_type.hpp" // for async_shutdown
 #include "libtorrent/resolver_interface.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/settings_pack.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/aux_/time.hpp"
diff --git a/src/instantiate_connection.cpp b/src/instantiate_connection.cpp
index dc4ee69bd..6a9110680 100644
--- a/src/instantiate_connection.cpp
+++ b/src/instantiate_connection.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 */
 
 #include "libtorrent/socket.hpp"
-#include "libtorrent/socket_type.hpp"
+#include "libtorrent/aux_/socket_type.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/utp_socket_manager.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/instantiate_connection.hpp"
 
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ namespace libtorrent {
 	// TODO: 2 peer_connection and tracker_connection should probably be flags
 	// TODO: 2 move this function into libtorrent::aux namespace
 	bool instantiate_connection(io_service& ios
-		, aux::proxy_settings const& ps, socket_type& s
+		, aux::proxy_settings const& ps, aux::socket_type& s
 		, void* ssl_context
 		, utp_socket_manager* sm
 		, bool peer_connection
diff --git a/src/peer_connection.cpp b/src/peer_connection.cpp
index b473cf741..2413ff535 100644
--- a/src/peer_connection.cpp
+++ b/src/peer_connection.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #include "libtorrent/extensions.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/aux_/session_interface.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/peer_list.hpp"
-#include "libtorrent/socket_type.hpp"
+#include "libtorrent/aux_/socket_type.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/assert.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/broadcast_socket.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/torrent.hpp"
diff --git a/src/peer_list.cpp b/src/peer_list.cpp
index 4666f829f..8e11aaef5 100644
--- a/src/peer_list.cpp
+++ b/src/peer_list.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #include "libtorrent/web_peer_connection.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/peer_list.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/socket.hpp"
-#include "libtorrent/socket_type.hpp"
+#include "libtorrent/aux_/socket_type.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/invariant_check.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/time.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/aux_/session_interface.hpp"
diff --git a/src/request_blocks.cpp b/src/request_blocks.cpp
index 868f63b31..d48f0930f 100644
--- a/src/request_blocks.cpp
+++ b/src/request_blocks.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #include "libtorrent/bitfield.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/peer_connection.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/torrent.hpp"
-#include "libtorrent/socket_type.hpp"
+#include "libtorrent/aux_/socket_type.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/peer_info.hpp" // for peer_info flags
 #include "libtorrent/performance_counters.hpp" // for counters
 #include "libtorrent/request_blocks.hpp"
diff --git a/src/socket_type.cpp b/src/socket_type.cpp
index c1b18c1bb..008befd7b 100644
--- a/src/socket_type.cpp
+++ b/src/socket_type.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 */
 
 #include "libtorrent/config.hpp"
-#include "libtorrent/socket_type.hpp"
+#include "libtorrent/aux_/socket_type.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/aux_/openssl.hpp"
 
 #ifdef TORRENT_USE_OPENSSL
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #include "libtorrent/debug.hpp"
 
 namespace libtorrent {
+namespace aux {
 
 	bool is_ssl(socket_type const& s)
 	{
@@ -396,3 +397,5 @@ namespace libtorrent {
 #endif
 
 }
+}
+
diff --git a/src/torrent.cpp b/src/torrent.cpp
index 0c089d389..05b51865d 100644
--- a/src/torrent.cpp
+++ b/src/torrent.cpp
@@ -5910,8 +5910,8 @@ namespace libtorrent {
 		if (!web->have_files.empty()
 			&& web->have_files.none_set()) return;
 
-		std::shared_ptr<socket_type> s
-			= std::make_shared<socket_type>(m_ses.get_io_service());
+		std::shared_ptr<aux::socket_type> s
+			= std::make_shared<aux::socket_type>(m_ses.get_io_service());
 		if (!s) return;
 
 		void* userdata = nullptr;
@@ -6488,7 +6488,7 @@ namespace libtorrent {
 			|| !m_ip_filter
 			|| (m_ip_filter->access(peerinfo->address()) & ip_filter::blocked) == 0);
 
-		std::shared_ptr<socket_type> s = std::make_shared<socket_type>(m_ses.get_io_service());
+		std::shared_ptr<aux::socket_type> s = std::make_shared<aux::socket_type>(m_ses.get_io_service());
 
 #if TORRENT_USE_I2P
 		bool const i2p = peerinfo->is_i2p_addr;
@@ -6562,7 +6562,7 @@ namespace libtorrent {
 				// for ssl sockets, set the hostname
 				std::string host_name = aux::to_hex(m_torrent_file->info_hash());
 
-#define CASE(t) case socket_type_int_impl<ssl_stream<t>>::value: \
+#define CASE(t) case aux::socket_type_int_impl<ssl_stream<t>>::value: \
 	s->get<ssl_stream<t>>()->set_host_name(host_name); break;
 
 				switch (s->type())
@@ -6750,10 +6750,10 @@ namespace libtorrent {
 		if (is_ssl_torrent())
 		{
 			// if this is an SSL torrent, don't allow non SSL peers on it
-			std::shared_ptr<socket_type> s = p->get_socket();
+			std::shared_ptr<aux::socket_type> s = p->get_socket();
 
 			//
-#define SSL(t) socket_type_int_impl<ssl_stream<t>>::value: \
+#define SSL(t) aux::socket_type_int_impl<ssl_stream<t>>::value: \
 			ssl_conn = s->get<ssl_stream<t>>()->native_handle(); \
 			break;
 
diff --git a/src/ut_pex.cpp b/src/ut_pex.cpp
index 7dedd7f8d..2d3dba9c0 100644
--- a/src/ut_pex.cpp
+++ b/src/ut_pex.cpp
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #include "libtorrent/broadcast_socket.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/socket_io.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/peer_info.hpp"
-#include "libtorrent/socket_type.hpp" // for is_utp
+#include "libtorrent/aux_/socket_type.hpp" // for is_utp
 #include "libtorrent/performance_counters.hpp" // for counters
 #include "libtorrent/extensions/ut_pex.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/aux_/time.hpp"
diff --git a/src/utp_socket_manager.cpp b/src/utp_socket_manager.cpp
index 5d537b29b..e46ee84fe 100644
--- a/src/utp_socket_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/utp_socket_manager.cpp
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ namespace libtorrent {
 
 //			UTP_LOGV("not found, new connection id:%d\n", m_new_connection);
 
-			std::shared_ptr<socket_type> c(new (std::nothrow) socket_type(m_ios));
+			std::shared_ptr<aux::socket_type> c(new (std::nothrow) aux::socket_type(m_ios));
 			if (!c) return false;
 
 			TORRENT_ASSERT(m_new_connection == -1);