diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
index 3b3f771fca..a2e393b6bd 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ use codex_protocol::config_types::Settings;
 use codex_protocol::config_types::WebSearchMode;
 use codex_protocol::dynamic_tools::DynamicToolResponse;
 use codex_protocol::dynamic_tools::DynamicToolSpec;
+use codex_protocol::item_metadata::stamp_user_message_type_on_input_item;
 use codex_protocol::items::PlanItem;
 use codex_protocol::items::TurnItem;
 use codex_protocol::items::UserMessageItem;
@@ -90,6 +91,7 @@ use codex_protocol::items::build_hook_prompt_message;
 use codex_protocol::mcp::CallToolResult;
 use codex_protocol::models::BaseInstructions;
 use codex_protocol::models::PermissionProfile;
+use codex_protocol::models::ResponseItemMessageMetadata;
 use codex_protocol::models::UserMessageType;
 use codex_protocol::models::format_allow_prefixes;
 use codex_protocol::openai_models::ModelInfo;
@@ -331,7 +333,6 @@ use codex_protocol::models::ContentItem;
 use codex_protocol::models::DeveloperInstructions;
 use codex_protocol::models::ResponseInputItem;
 use codex_protocol::models::ResponseItem;
-use codex_protocol::models::ResponseItemMessageMetadata;
 use codex_protocol::openai_models::ReasoningEffort as ReasoningEffortConfig;
 use codex_protocol::protocol::CodexErrorInfo;
 use codex_protocol::protocol::InitialHistory;
@@ -1002,20 +1003,6 @@ fn local_time_context() -> (String, String) {
     }
 }
 
-fn stamp_user_message_type_on_input_item(item: &mut ResponseInputItem, kind: UserMessageType) {
-    let ResponseInputItem::Message { role, metadata, .. } = item else {
-        return;
-    };
-    if role != "user" {
-        return;
-    }
-    let mut metadata_value = metadata
-        .take()
-        .unwrap_or_else(|| ResponseItemMessageMetadata::new(None));
-    metadata_value.user_message_type = Some(kind);
-    *metadata = Some(metadata_value);
-}
-
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub(crate) struct SessionConfiguration {
     /// Provider identifier ("openai", "openrouter", ...).
diff --git a/codex-rs/protocol/src/item_metadata.rs b/codex-rs/protocol/src/item_metadata.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..09e04a4938
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codex-rs/protocol/src/item_metadata.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+use crate::models::ResponseInputItem;
+use crate::models::ResponseItemMessageMetadata;
+use crate::models::UserMessageType;
+
+pub fn stamp_user_message_type_on_input_item(item: &mut ResponseInputItem, kind: UserMessageType) {
+    let ResponseInputItem::Message { role, metadata, .. } = item else {
+        return;
+    };
+    if role != "user" {
+        return;
+    }
+    let mut metadata_value = metadata
+        .take()
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| ResponseItemMessageMetadata::new(None));
+    metadata_value.user_message_type = Some(kind);
+    *metadata = Some(metadata_value);
+}
diff --git a/codex-rs/protocol/src/lib.rs b/codex-rs/protocol/src/lib.rs
index 08466ba4ea..10b4c55efe 100644
--- a/codex-rs/protocol/src/lib.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/protocol/src/lib.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ pub mod approvals;
 pub mod config_types;
 pub mod custom_prompts;
 pub mod dynamic_tools;
+pub mod item_metadata;
 pub mod items;
 pub mod mcp;
 pub mod memory_citation;