diff --git a/llama_stack/apis/safety/safety.py b/llama_stack/apis/safety/safety.py
index d60600b4a..0b74fd259 100644
--- a/llama_stack/apis/safety/safety.py
+++ b/llama_stack/apis/safety/safety.py
@@ -48,5 +48,5 @@ class Safety(Protocol):
 
     @webmethod(route="/safety/run_shield")
     async def run_shield(
-        self, shield_type: str, messages: List[Message], params: Dict[str, Any] = None
+        self, identifier: str, messages: List[Message], params: Dict[str, Any] = None
     ) -> RunShieldResponse: ...
diff --git a/llama_stack/distribution/routers/routers.py b/llama_stack/distribution/routers/routers.py
index 173b28483..760dbaf2f 100644
--- a/llama_stack/distribution/routers/routers.py
+++ b/llama_stack/distribution/routers/routers.py
@@ -154,12 +154,12 @@ class SafetyRouter(Safety):
 
     async def run_shield(
         self,
-        shield_type: str,
+        identifier: str,
         messages: List[Message],
         params: Dict[str, Any] = None,
     ) -> RunShieldResponse:
         return await self.routing_table.get_provider_impl(identifier).run_shield(
-            shield_type=shield_type,
+            identifier=identifier,
             messages=messages,
             params=params,
         )
diff --git a/llama_stack/providers/inline/meta_reference/safety/safety.py b/llama_stack/providers/inline/meta_reference/safety/safety.py
index 28c78b65c..2d0db7624 100644
--- a/llama_stack/providers/inline/meta_reference/safety/safety.py
+++ b/llama_stack/providers/inline/meta_reference/safety/safety.py
@@ -57,13 +57,13 @@ class MetaReferenceSafetyImpl(Safety, ShieldsProtocolPrivate):
 
     async def run_shield(
         self,
-        shield_type: str,
+        identifier: str,
         messages: List[Message],
         params: Dict[str, Any] = None,
     ) -> RunShieldResponse:
-        shield_def = await self.shield_store.get_shield(shield_type)
+        shield_def = await self.shield_store.get_shield(identifier)
         if not shield_def:
-            raise ValueError(f"Unknown shield {shield_type}")
+            raise ValueError(f"Unknown shield {identifier}")
 
         shield = self.get_shield_impl(shield_def)