diff --git a/protocol/input-method.xml b/protocol/input-method.xml
index dd905c2d..4ccb08e1 100644
--- a/protocol/input-method.xml
+++ b/protocol/input-method.xml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <protocol name="input_method">
   <copyright>
-    Copyright © 2012 Intel Corporation
+    Copyright © 2012, 2013 Intel Corporation
 
     Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute, and sell this
     software and its documentation for any purpose is hereby granted
@@ -215,7 +215,11 @@
       <arg name="position" type="uint"/>
     </request>
 
-    <request name="set_panel">
+    <request name="set_overlay_panel">
+      <description summary="set the surface type as an overlay panel">
+        An overlay panel is shown near the input cursor above the application
+        window when a text model is active.
+      </description>
     </request>
   </interface>
 </protocol>
diff --git a/src/shell.c b/src/shell.c
index fd9e9a82..dff41eb1 100644
--- a/src/shell.c
+++ b/src/shell.c
@@ -3638,8 +3638,8 @@ input_panel_surface_set_toplevel(struct wl_client *client,
 }
 
 static void
-input_panel_surface_set_panel(struct wl_client *client,
-			      struct wl_resource *resource)
+input_panel_surface_set_overlay_panel(struct wl_client *client,
+				      struct wl_resource *resource)
 {
 	struct input_panel_surface *input_panel_surface = resource->data;
 	struct desktop_shell *shell = input_panel_surface->shell;
@@ -3652,7 +3652,7 @@ input_panel_surface_set_panel(struct wl_client *client,
 
 static const struct input_panel_surface_interface input_panel_surface_implementation = {
 	input_panel_surface_set_toplevel,
-	input_panel_surface_set_panel
+	input_panel_surface_set_overlay_panel
 };
 
 static void