diff --git a/include/osmocom/ranap/Makefile.am b/include/osmocom/ranap/Makefile.am
index b4e1e29..13f1e1c 100644
--- a/include/osmocom/ranap/Makefile.am
+++ b/include/osmocom/ranap/Makefile.am
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 ranap_HEADERS = \
 	ranap_ies_defs.h \
 	ranap_common.h \
+	ranap_common_cn.h \
 	ranap_msg_factory.h \
 	iu_helpers.h \
 	RANAP_AccuracyFulfilmentIndicator.h \
diff --git a/include/osmocom/ranap/ranap_common_cn.h b/include/osmocom/ranap/ranap_common_cn.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f0fd09e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/osmocom/ranap/ranap_common_cn.h
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+#include <osmocom/ranap/ranap_common.h>
+#include <osmocom/ranap/ranap_ies_defs.h>
+
+typedef void (*ranap_handle_cb)(void *ctx, ranap_message *ranap_msg);
+
+/* receive a connections-liess RANAP message */
+int ranap_cn_rx_cl(ranap_handle_cb cb, void *ctx, uint8_t *data, size_t len);
+
+/* receive a connection-oriented RANAP message */
+int ranap_cn_rx_co(ranap_handle_cb cb, void *ctx, uint8_t *data, size_t len);