diff --git a/api/storage_service.cc b/api/storage_service.cc
index 7503537cea..3281c32f07 100644
--- a/api/storage_service.cc
+++ b/api/storage_service.cc
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 #include "storage_service.hh"
 #include "api/api-doc/storage_service.json.hh"
+#include "db/config.hh"
 #include <service/storage_service.hh>
 #include <db/commitlog/commitlog.hh>
 #include <gms/gossiper.hh>
diff --git a/db/batchlog_manager.cc b/db/batchlog_manager.cc
index 63940c9e76..74b109ee86 100644
--- a/db/batchlog_manager.cc
+++ b/db/batchlog_manager.cc
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #include "db_clock.hh"
 #include "database.hh"
 #include "unimplemented.hh"
+#include "db/config.hh"
 
 static logging::logger logger("BatchLog Manager");
 
diff --git a/db/config.hh b/db/config.hh
index 865cb95539..41956b281b 100644
--- a/db/config.hh
+++ b/db/config.hh
@@ -14,6 +14,24 @@ class file;
 
 namespace db {
 
+typedef std::unordered_map<sstring, sstring> string_map;
+
+/*
+ * This type is not use, and probably never will be.
+ * So it makes sense to jump through hoops just to ensure
+ * it is in fact handled properly...
+ */
+struct seed_provider_type {
+    seed_provider_type() = default;
+    seed_provider_type(sstring n,
+            std::initializer_list<string_map::value_type> opts =
+                    { })
+            : class_name(std::move(n)), parameters(std::move(opts)) {
+    }
+    sstring class_name;
+    string_map parameters;
+};
+
 class config {
 public:
     enum class value_status {
@@ -79,22 +97,7 @@ public:
 
     typedef std::unordered_map<sstring, sstring> string_map;
     typedef std::vector<sstring> string_list;
-
-    /*
-     * This type is not use, and probably never will be.
-     * So it makes sense to jump through hoops just to ensure
-     * it is in fact handled properly...
-     */
-    struct seed_provider_type {
-        seed_provider_type() = default;
-        seed_provider_type(sstring n,
-                std::initializer_list<typename string_map::value_type> opts =
-                        { })
-                : class_name(std::move(n)), parameters(std::move(opts)) {
-        }
-        sstring class_name;
-        string_map parameters;
-    };
+    using seed_provider_type = db::seed_provider_type;
 
     /*
      * All values and documentation taken from
diff --git a/db/system_keyspace.cc b/db/system_keyspace.cc
index f97abe55cf..6e6979c75a 100644
--- a/db/system_keyspace.cc
+++ b/db/system_keyspace.cc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 #include "db/serializer.hh"
 #include "query_context.hh"
 #include "partition_slice_builder.hh"
+#include "db/config.hh"
 
 using days = std::chrono::duration<int, std::ratio<24 * 3600>>;
 
diff --git a/message/messaging_service.cc b/message/messaging_service.cc
index 25a4393533..5333d67d75 100644
--- a/message/messaging_service.cc
+++ b/message/messaging_service.cc
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "query-request.hh"
 #include "query-result.hh"
 #include "rpc/rpc.hh"
+#include "db/config.hh"
 
 namespace net {
 
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ future<> deinit_messaging_service() {
     });
 }
 
-future<> init_messaging_service(sstring listen_address, db::config::seed_provider_type seed_provider) {
+future<> init_messaging_service(sstring listen_address, db::seed_provider_type seed_provider) {
     const gms::inet_address listen(listen_address);
     std::set<gms::inet_address> seeds;
     if (seed_provider.parameters.count("seeds") > 0) {
diff --git a/message/messaging_service.hh b/message/messaging_service.hh
index d577376b42..25fca89f21 100644
--- a/message/messaging_service.hh
+++ b/message/messaging_service.hh
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 #include "gms/inet_address.hh"
 #include "rpc/rpc_types.hh"
 #include <unordered_map>
-#include "db/config.hh"
 #include "frozen_mutation.hh"
 #include "query-request.hh"
 #include "db/serializer.hh"
@@ -38,6 +37,10 @@ namespace utils {
     class UUID;
 }
 
+namespace db {
+class seed_provider_type;
+}
+
 namespace net {
 
 /* All verb handler identifiers */
@@ -411,5 +414,5 @@ inline messaging_service& get_local_messaging_service() {
     return _the_messaging_service.local();
 }
 
-future<> init_messaging_service(sstring listen_address, db::config::seed_provider_type seed_provider);
+future<> init_messaging_service(sstring listen_address, db::seed_provider_type seed_provider);
 } // namespace net
diff --git a/service/storage_proxy.cc b/service/storage_proxy.cc
index 2c9785e8d2..5daf7492f9 100644
--- a/service/storage_proxy.cc
+++ b/service/storage_proxy.cc
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "storage_service.hh"
 #include "core/future-util.hh"
 #include "db/read_repair_decision.hh"
+#include "db/config.hh"
 #include <boost/range/algorithm_ext/push_back.hpp>
 #include <boost/range/adaptor/transformed.hpp>
 #include <boost/iterator/counting_iterator.hpp>
diff --git a/tests/urchin/cql_test_env.cc b/tests/urchin/cql_test_env.cc
index ae53091f7f..b8666d8139 100644
--- a/tests/urchin/cql_test_env.cc
+++ b/tests/urchin/cql_test_env.cc
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "utils/UUID_gen.hh"
 #include "message/messaging_service.hh"
 #include "service/storage_service.hh"
+#include "db/config.hh"
 
 class in_memory_cql_env : public cql_test_env {
 public: