diff --git a/conn.go b/conn.go
index 77c673b..c981551 100644
--- a/conn.go
+++ b/conn.go
@@ -4,11 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding"
 
 	"github.com/mdlayher/netlink"
-)
-
-const (
-	// Protocol is the netlink protocol constant used to specify rtnetlink.
-	Protocol = 0x0
+	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
 )
 
 // A Conn is a route netlink connection. A Conn can be used to send and
@@ -34,7 +30,7 @@ type conn interface {
 // configuration for the underlying netlink connection.  If config is
 // nil, a default configuration will be used.
 func Dial(config *netlink.Config) (*Conn, error) {
-	c, err := netlink.Dial(Protocol, config)
+	c, err := netlink.Dial(unix.NETLINK_ROUTE, config)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -162,23 +158,23 @@ func unpackMessages(msgs []netlink.Message) ([]Message, error) {
 	for _, nm := range msgs {
 		var m Message
 		switch nm.Header.Type {
-		case RTM_GETLINK:
+		case unix.RTM_GETLINK:
 			fallthrough
-		case RTM_NEWLINK:
+		case unix.RTM_NEWLINK:
 			fallthrough
-		case RTM_DELLINK:
+		case unix.RTM_DELLINK:
 			m = &LinkMessage{}
-		case RTM_GETADDR:
+		case unix.RTM_GETADDR:
 			fallthrough
-		case RTM_NEWADDR:
+		case unix.RTM_NEWADDR:
 			fallthrough
-		case RTM_DELADDR:
+		case unix.RTM_DELADDR:
 			m = &AddressMessage{}
-		case RTM_GETROUTE:
+		case unix.RTM_GETROUTE:
 			fallthrough
-		case RTM_NEWROUTE:
+		case unix.RTM_NEWROUTE:
 			fallthrough
-		case RTM_DELROUTE:
+		case unix.RTM_DELROUTE:
 			m = &RouteMessage{}
 		default:
 			continue
diff --git a/conn_test.go b/conn_test.go
index 6afda46..3804263 100644
--- a/conn_test.go
+++ b/conn_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/mdlayher/netlink"
+	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
 )
 
 func TestConnExecute(t *testing.T) {
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ func TestConnExecute(t *testing.T) {
 
 	wantnl := netlink.Message{
 		Header: netlink.Header{
-			Type:  RTM_GETLINK,
+			Type:  unix.RTM_GETLINK,
 			Flags: netlink.Request,
 			// Sequence and PID not set because we are mocking the underlying
 			// netlink connection.
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ func TestConnExecute(t *testing.T) {
 	tc.receive = []netlink.Message{{
 		Header: netlink.Header{
 			Length: 16,
-			Type:   RTM_GETLINK,
+			Type:   unix.RTM_GETLINK,
 			// Sequence and PID not set because we are mocking the underlying
 			// netlink connection.
 		},
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ func TestConnExecute(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}}
 
-	msgs, err := c.Execute(req, RTM_GETLINK, netlink.Request)
+	msgs, err := c.Execute(req, unix.RTM_GETLINK, netlink.Request)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to execute: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -72,7 +73,7 @@ func TestConnSend(t *testing.T) {
 
 	c, tc := testConn(t)
 
-	nlreq, err := c.Send(req, RTM_GETLINK, netlink.Request)
+	nlreq, err := c.Send(req, unix.RTM_GETLINK, netlink.Request)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to send: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ func TestConnSend(t *testing.T) {
 
 	want := netlink.Message{
 		Header: netlink.Header{
-			Type:  RTM_GETLINK,
+			Type:  unix.RTM_GETLINK,
 			Flags: netlink.Request,
 		},
 		Data: reqb,
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ func TestConnReceive(t *testing.T) {
 			Header: netlink.Header{
 				Length:   16,
 				Sequence: 1,
-				Type:     RTM_GETLINK,
+				Type:     unix.RTM_GETLINK,
 				PID:      uint32(os.Getpid()),
 			},
 			Data: []byte{
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ func TestConnReceive(t *testing.T) {
 			Header: netlink.Header{
 				Length:   16,
 				Sequence: 1,
-				Type:     RTM_GETLINK,
+				Type:     unix.RTM_GETLINK,
 				PID:      uint32(os.Getpid()),
 			},
 			Data: []byte{