diff --git a/src/datastore_access.hpp b/src/datastore_access.hpp
index 72e3553..9e5c317 100644
--- a/src/datastore_access.hpp
+++ b/src/datastore_access.hpp
@@ -38,8 +38,9 @@
 
 class DatastoreAccess {
 public:
+    using Tree = std::map<std::string, leaf_data_>;
     virtual ~DatastoreAccess() = 0;
-    virtual std::map<std::string, leaf_data_> getItems(const std::string& path) = 0;
+    virtual Tree getItems(const std::string& path) = 0;
     virtual void setLeaf(const std::string& path, leaf_data_ value) = 0;
     virtual void createPresenceContainer(const std::string& path) = 0;
     virtual void deletePresenceContainer(const std::string& path) = 0;