diff --git a/usr.sbin/bhyve/snapshot.h b/usr.sbin/bhyve/snapshot.h
--- a/usr.sbin/bhyve/snapshot.h
+++ b/usr.sbin/bhyve/snapshot.h
@@ -60,12 +60,6 @@
 	ucl_object_t *meta_root_obj;
 };
 
-/* Messages that a bhyve process understands. */
-enum ipc_opcode {
-	START_CHECKPOINT,
-	START_SUSPEND,
-};
-
 struct checkpoint_thread_info {
 	struct vmctx *ctx;
 	int socket_fd;
diff --git a/usr.sbin/bhyve/snapshot.c b/usr.sbin/bhyve/snapshot.c
--- a/usr.sbin/bhyve/snapshot.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/bhyve/snapshot.c
@@ -1443,24 +1443,23 @@
 static int
 handle_message(struct vmctx *ctx, nvlist_t *nvl)
 {
-	int err, cmd;
+	int err;
+	const char *cmd;
 
-	if (!nvlist_exists_number(nvl, "cmd"))
+	if (!nvlist_exists_string(nvl, "cmd"))
 		return (-1);
 
-	cmd = nvlist_get_number(nvl, "cmd");
-	switch (cmd) {
-		case START_SUSPEND:
-		case START_CHECKPOINT:
-			if (!nvlist_exists_string(nvl, "filename"))
-				err = -1;
-			else
-				err = vm_checkpoint(ctx, nvlist_get_string(nvl, "filename"),
-				    cmd == START_SUSPEND ? true : false);
-			break;
-		default:
-			EPRINTLN("Unrecognized checkpoint operation\n");
+	cmd = nvlist_get_string(nvl, "cmd");
+	if (strcmp(cmd, "checkpoint") == 0) {
+		if (!nvlist_exists_string(nvl, "filename") ||
+		    !nvlist_exists_bool(nvl, "suspend"))
 			err = -1;
+		else
+			err = vm_checkpoint(ctx, nvlist_get_string(nvl, "filename"),
+			    nvlist_get_bool(nvl, "suspend"));
+	} else {
+		EPRINTLN("Unrecognized checkpoint operation\n");
+		err = -1;
 	}
 
 	if (err != 0)
diff --git a/usr.sbin/bhyvectl/bhyvectl.c b/usr.sbin/bhyvectl/bhyvectl.c
--- a/usr.sbin/bhyvectl/bhyvectl.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/bhyvectl/bhyvectl.c
@@ -1725,13 +1725,14 @@
 }
 
 static int
-snapshot_request(struct vmctx *ctx, const char *file, enum ipc_opcode code)
+snapshot_request(struct vmctx *ctx, const char *file, bool suspend)
 {
 	nvlist_t *nvl;
 
 	nvl = nvlist_create(0);
-	nvlist_add_number(nvl, "cmd", code);
+	nvlist_add_string(nvl, "cmd", "checkpoint");
 	nvlist_add_string(nvl, "filename", file);
+	nvlist_add_bool(nvl, "suspend", suspend);
 
 	return (send_message(ctx, nvl));
 }
@@ -2397,10 +2398,10 @@
 
 #ifdef BHYVE_SNAPSHOT
 	if (!error && vm_checkpoint_opt)
-		error = snapshot_request(ctx, checkpoint_file, START_CHECKPOINT);
+		error = snapshot_request(ctx, checkpoint_file, false);
 
 	if (!error && vm_suspend_opt)
-		error = snapshot_request(ctx, suspend_file, START_SUSPEND);
+		error = snapshot_request(ctx, suspend_file, true);
 #endif
 
 	free (opts);