diff --git a/include/proto/pattern.h b/include/proto/pattern.h
index 8a896ff55..5a9f9444a 100644
--- a/include/proto/pattern.h
+++ b/include/proto/pattern.h
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@
 #include <types/stick_table.h>
 
 struct pattern_expr *pattern_parse_expr(char **str, int *idx, char *err, int err_size);
-struct pattern *pattern_process(struct proxy *px, struct session *l4,
-                                void *l7, int dir, struct pattern_expr *expr,
-                                struct pattern *p);
+struct sample *pattern_process(struct proxy *px, struct session *l4,
+                               void *l7, int dir, struct pattern_expr *expr,
+                               struct sample *p);
 void pattern_register_fetches(struct pattern_fetch_kw_list *psl);
 void pattern_register_convs(struct pattern_conv_kw_list *psl);
 #endif
diff --git a/include/types/pattern.h b/include/types/pattern.h
index c710b207c..1ac1cc368 100644
--- a/include/types/pattern.h
+++ b/include/types/pattern.h
@@ -70,12 +70,6 @@ union pattern_data {
 	struct chunk    str;   /* used for char strings or buffers */
 };
 
-/* pattern result */
-struct pattern {
-	int type;                 /* current type of data */
-	union pattern_data data;  /* data */
-};
-
 /* a sample context might be used by any sample fetch function in order to
  * store information needed across multiple calls (eg: restart point for a
  * next occurrence). By definition it may store up to 8 pointers, or any
diff --git a/src/pattern.c b/src/pattern.c
index 4665be3d8..10e136560 100644
--- a/src/pattern.c
+++ b/src/pattern.c
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@
 #include <proto/buffers.h>
 #include <common/standard.h>
 
-/* static structure used on pattern_process if <p> is NULL */
-static struct pattern temp_pattern;
+/* static sample used in pattern_process() when <p> is NULL */
+static struct sample temp_smp;
 
 /* trash chunk used for pattern conversions */
 static struct chunk trash_chunk;
@@ -467,13 +467,13 @@ out_error:
  *  If <p> is not null, function returns results in structure pointed by <p>.
  *  If <p> is null, functions returns a pointer on a static pattern structure.
  */
-struct pattern *pattern_process(struct proxy *px, struct session *l4, void *l7, int dir,
-                                struct pattern_expr *expr, struct pattern *p)
+struct sample *pattern_process(struct proxy *px, struct session *l4, void *l7, int dir,
+                               struct pattern_expr *expr, struct sample *p)
 {
 	struct pattern_conv_expr *conv_expr;
 
 	if (p == NULL)
-		p = &temp_pattern;
+		p = &temp_smp;
 
 	if (!expr->fetch->process(px, l4, l7, dir, expr->arg_p, &p->data))
 		return NULL;
diff --git a/src/stick_table.c b/src/stick_table.c
index 433d7d3ec..6574f0e55 100644
--- a/src/stick_table.c
+++ b/src/stick_table.c
@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ static pattern_to_key_fct pattern_to_key[SMP_TYPES][STKTABLE_TYPES] = {
 struct stktable_key *stktable_fetch_key(struct stktable *t, struct proxy *px, struct session *l4, void *l7, int dir,
                                         struct pattern_expr *expr)
 {
-	struct pattern *ptrn;
+	struct sample *ptrn;
 
 	ptrn = pattern_process(px, l4, l7, dir, expr, NULL);
 	if (!ptrn)