diff --git a/src/go/types/api.go b/src/go/types/api.go
index 1252aade35..6699231fce 100644
--- a/src/go/types/api.go
+++ b/src/go/types/api.go
@@ -374,3 +374,15 @@ func Implements(V Type, T *Interface) bool {
 	f, _ := MissingMethod(V, T, true)
 	return f == nil
 }
+
+// Identical reports whether x and y are identical types.
+// Receivers of Signature types are ignored.
+func Identical(x, y Type) bool {
+	return (*Checker)(nil).identical(x, y)
+}
+
+// IdenticalIgnoreTags reports whether x and y are identical types if tags are ignored.
+// Receivers of Signature types are ignored.
+func IdenticalIgnoreTags(x, y Type) bool {
+	return (*Checker)(nil).identicalIgnoreTags(x, y)
+}
diff --git a/src/go/types/predicates.go b/src/go/types/predicates.go
index faaf753cd8..057908eacd 100644
--- a/src/go/types/predicates.go
+++ b/src/go/types/predicates.go
@@ -110,29 +110,14 @@ func hasNil(typ Type) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-// The functions Identical and IdenticalIgnoreTags are
-// provided for external use only, after interface types
-// were fully set up (completed). During type-checking,
-// use the methods identical and identicalIgnoreTags
-// which take a non-nil *Checker receiver.
-// TODO(gri) factor these out into api.go.
-
-// Identical reports whether x and y are identical types.
+// identical reports whether x and y are identical types.
 // Receivers of Signature types are ignored.
-func Identical(x, y Type) bool {
-	return (*Checker)(nil).identical(x, y)
-}
-
 func (check *Checker) identical(x, y Type) bool {
 	return check.identical0(x, y, true, nil)
 }
 
-// IdenticalIgnoreTags reports whether x and y are identical types if tags are ignored.
+// identicalIgnoreTags reports whether x and y are identical types if tags are ignored.
 // Receivers of Signature types are ignored.
-func IdenticalIgnoreTags(x, y Type) bool {
-	return (*Checker)(nil).identicalIgnoreTags(x, y)
-}
-
 func (check *Checker) identicalIgnoreTags(x, y Type) bool {
 	return check.identical0(x, y, false, nil)
 }