diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_diff.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_diff.go
index 594e387e8..d1067b5ec 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_diff.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_diff.go
@@ -108,9 +108,9 @@ func (s *DiffStat) Add(node *restic.Node) {
 	}
 
 	switch node.Type {
-	case "file":
+	case restic.NodeTypeFile:
 		s.Files++
-	case "dir":
+	case restic.NodeTypeDir:
 		s.Dirs++
 	default:
 		s.Others++
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ func addBlobs(bs restic.BlobSet, node *restic.Node) {
 	}
 
 	switch node.Type {
-	case "file":
+	case restic.NodeTypeFile:
 		for _, blob := range node.Content {
 			h := restic.BlobHandle{
 				ID:   blob,
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ func addBlobs(bs restic.BlobSet, node *restic.Node) {
 			}
 			bs.Insert(h)
 		}
-	case "dir":
+	case restic.NodeTypeDir:
 		h := restic.BlobHandle{
 			ID:   *node.Subtree,
 			Type: restic.TreeBlob,
@@ -184,14 +184,14 @@ func (c *Comparer) printDir(ctx context.Context, mode string, stats *DiffStat, b
 		}
 
 		name := path.Join(prefix, node.Name)
-		if node.Type == "dir" {
+		if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 			name += "/"
 		}
 		c.printChange(NewChange(name, mode))
 		stats.Add(node)
 		addBlobs(blobs, node)
 
-		if node.Type == "dir" {
+		if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 			err := c.printDir(ctx, mode, stats, blobs, name, *node.Subtree)
 			if err != nil && err != context.Canceled {
 				Warnf("error: %v\n", err)
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ func (c *Comparer) collectDir(ctx context.Context, blobs restic.BlobSet, id rest
 
 		addBlobs(blobs, node)
 
-		if node.Type == "dir" {
+		if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 			err := c.collectDir(ctx, blobs, *node.Subtree)
 			if err != nil && err != context.Canceled {
 				Warnf("error: %v\n", err)
@@ -284,12 +284,12 @@ func (c *Comparer) diffTree(ctx context.Context, stats *DiffStatsContainer, pref
 				mod += "T"
 			}
 
-			if node2.Type == "dir" {
+			if node2.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 				name += "/"
 			}
 
-			if node1.Type == "file" &&
-				node2.Type == "file" &&
+			if node1.Type == restic.NodeTypeFile &&
+				node2.Type == restic.NodeTypeFile &&
 				!reflect.DeepEqual(node1.Content, node2.Content) {
 				mod += "M"
 				stats.ChangedFiles++
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ func (c *Comparer) diffTree(ctx context.Context, stats *DiffStatsContainer, pref
 				c.printChange(NewChange(name, mod))
 			}
 
-			if node1.Type == "dir" && node2.Type == "dir" {
+			if node1.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir && node2.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 				var err error
 				if (*node1.Subtree).Equal(*node2.Subtree) {
 					err = c.collectDir(ctx, stats.BlobsCommon, *node1.Subtree)
@@ -324,13 +324,13 @@ func (c *Comparer) diffTree(ctx context.Context, stats *DiffStatsContainer, pref
 			}
 		case t1 && !t2:
 			prefix := path.Join(prefix, name)
-			if node1.Type == "dir" {
+			if node1.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 				prefix += "/"
 			}
 			c.printChange(NewChange(prefix, "-"))
 			stats.Removed.Add(node1)
 
-			if node1.Type == "dir" {
+			if node1.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 				err := c.printDir(ctx, "-", &stats.Removed, stats.BlobsBefore, prefix, *node1.Subtree)
 				if err != nil && err != context.Canceled {
 					Warnf("error: %v\n", err)
@@ -338,13 +338,13 @@ func (c *Comparer) diffTree(ctx context.Context, stats *DiffStatsContainer, pref
 			}
 		case !t1 && t2:
 			prefix := path.Join(prefix, name)
-			if node2.Type == "dir" {
+			if node2.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 				prefix += "/"
 			}
 			c.printChange(NewChange(prefix, "+"))
 			stats.Added.Add(node2)
 
-			if node2.Type == "dir" {
+			if node2.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 				err := c.printDir(ctx, "+", &stats.Added, stats.BlobsAfter, prefix, *node2.Subtree)
 				if err != nil && err != context.Canceled {
 					Warnf("error: %v\n", err)
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_dump.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_dump.go
index 7d6652e17..6b7f8d012 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_dump.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_dump.go
@@ -95,15 +95,15 @@ func printFromTree(ctx context.Context, tree *restic.Tree, repo restic.BlobLoade
 		// first item it finds and dump that according to the switch case below.
 		if node.Name == pathComponents[0] {
 			switch {
-			case l == 1 && dump.IsFile(node):
+			case l == 1 && node.Type == restic.NodeTypeFile:
 				return d.WriteNode(ctx, node)
-			case l > 1 && dump.IsDir(node):
+			case l > 1 && node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir:
 				subtree, err := restic.LoadTree(ctx, repo, *node.Subtree)
 				if err != nil {
 					return errors.Wrapf(err, "cannot load subtree for %q", item)
 				}
 				return printFromTree(ctx, subtree, repo, item, pathComponents[1:], d, canWriteArchiveFunc)
-			case dump.IsDir(node):
+			case node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir:
 				if err := canWriteArchiveFunc(); err != nil {
 					return err
 				}
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ func printFromTree(ctx context.Context, tree *restic.Tree, repo restic.BlobLoade
 				return d.DumpTree(ctx, subtree, item)
 			case l > 1:
 				return fmt.Errorf("%q should be a dir, but is a %q", item, node.Type)
-			case !dump.IsFile(node):
+			case node.Type != restic.NodeTypeFile:
 				return fmt.Errorf("%q should be a file, but is a %q", item, node.Type)
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_find.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_find.go
index cb5c0e5e0..92e88203f 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_find.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_find.go
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ func (f *Finder) findInSnapshot(ctx context.Context, sn *restic.Snapshot) error
 		}
 
 		var errIfNoMatch error
-		if node.Type == "dir" {
+		if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 			var childMayMatch bool
 			for _, pat := range f.pat.pattern {
 				mayMatch, err := filter.ChildMatch(pat, normalizedNodepath)
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ func (f *Finder) findIDs(ctx context.Context, sn *restic.Snapshot) error {
 			return nil
 		}
 
-		if node.Type == "dir" && f.treeIDs != nil {
+		if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir && f.treeIDs != nil {
 			treeID := node.Subtree
 			found := false
 			if _, ok := f.treeIDs[treeID.Str()]; ok {
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ func (f *Finder) findIDs(ctx context.Context, sn *restic.Snapshot) error {
 			}
 		}
 
-		if node.Type == "file" && f.blobIDs != nil {
+		if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeFile && f.blobIDs != nil {
 			for _, id := range node.Content {
 				if ctx.Err() != nil {
 					return ctx.Err()
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_ls.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_ls.go
index 69e278103..2213d8e7a 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_ls.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_ls.go
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ func lsNodeJSON(enc *json.Encoder, path string, node *restic.Node) error {
 		size uint64 // Target for Size pointer.
 	}{
 		Name:        node.Name,
-		Type:        node.Type,
+		Type:        string(node.Type),
 		Path:        path,
 		UID:         node.UID,
 		GID:         node.GID,
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ func lsNodeJSON(enc *json.Encoder, path string, node *restic.Node) error {
 	}
 	// Always print size for regular files, even when empty,
 	// but never for other types.
-	if node.Type == "file" {
+	if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeFile {
 		n.Size = &n.size
 	}
 
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ func lsNcduNode(_ string, node *restic.Node) ([]byte, error) {
 		Dev:    node.DeviceID,
 		Ino:    node.Inode,
 		NLink:  node.Links,
-		NotReg: node.Type != "dir" && node.Type != "file",
+		NotReg: node.Type != restic.NodeTypeDir && node.Type != restic.NodeTypeFile,
 		UID:    node.UID,
 		GID:    node.GID,
 		Mode:   uint16(node.Mode & os.ModePerm),
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ func (p *ncduLsPrinter) Node(path string, node *restic.Node, _ bool) {
 		Warnf("JSON encode failed: %v\n", err)
 	}
 
-	if node.Type == "dir" {
+	if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 		fmt.Fprintf(p.out, ",\n%s[\n%s%s", strings.Repeat("  ", p.depth), strings.Repeat("  ", p.depth+1), string(out))
 		p.depth++
 	} else {
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ func runLs(ctx context.Context, opts LsOptions, gopts GlobalOptions, args []stri
 
 		// otherwise, signal the walker to not walk recursively into any
 		// subdirs
-		if node.Type == "dir" {
+		if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 			// immediately generate leaveDir if the directory is skipped
 			if printedDir {
 				printer.LeaveDir(nodepath)
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_ls_test.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_ls_test.go
index a1fcd479b..b8b074242 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_ls_test.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_ls_test.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ var lsTestNodes = []lsTestNode{
 		path: "/bar/baz",
 		Node: restic.Node{
 			Name: "baz",
-			Type: "file",
+			Type: restic.NodeTypeFile,
 			Size: 12345,
 			UID:  10000000,
 			GID:  20000000,
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ var lsTestNodes = []lsTestNode{
 		path: "/foo/empty",
 		Node: restic.Node{
 			Name: "empty",
-			Type: "file",
+			Type: restic.NodeTypeFile,
 			Size: 0,
 			UID:  1001,
 			GID:  1001,
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ var lsTestNodes = []lsTestNode{
 		path: "/foo/link",
 		Node: restic.Node{
 			Name:       "link",
-			Type:       "symlink",
+			Type:       restic.NodeTypeSymlink,
 			Mode:       os.ModeSymlink | 0777,
 			LinkTarget: "not printed",
 		},
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ var lsTestNodes = []lsTestNode{
 		path: "/some/directory",
 		Node: restic.Node{
 			Name:       "directory",
-			Type:       "dir",
+			Type:       restic.NodeTypeDir,
 			Mode:       os.ModeDir | 0755,
 			ModTime:    time.Date(2020, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 0, time.UTC),
 			AccessTime: time.Date(2021, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, time.UTC),
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ var lsTestNodes = []lsTestNode{
 		path: "/some/sticky",
 		Node: restic.Node{
 			Name: "sticky",
-			Type: "dir",
+			Type: restic.NodeTypeDir,
 			Mode: os.ModeDir | 0755 | os.ModeSetuid | os.ModeSetgid | os.ModeSticky,
 		},
 	},
@@ -139,19 +139,19 @@ func TestLsNcdu(t *testing.T) {
 		Paths:    []string{"/example"},
 	})
 	printer.Node("/directory", &restic.Node{
-		Type:    "dir",
+		Type:    restic.NodeTypeDir,
 		Name:    "directory",
 		ModTime: modTime,
 	}, false)
 	printer.Node("/directory/data", &restic.Node{
-		Type:    "file",
+		Type:    restic.NodeTypeFile,
 		Name:    "data",
 		Size:    42,
 		ModTime: modTime,
 	}, false)
 	printer.LeaveDir("/directory")
 	printer.Node("/file", &restic.Node{
-		Type:    "file",
+		Type:    restic.NodeTypeFile,
 		Name:    "file",
 		Size:    12345,
 		ModTime: modTime,
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_recover.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_recover.go
index a6ef59cc2..133f77978 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_recover.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_recover.go
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func runRecover(ctx context.Context, gopts GlobalOptions) error {
 		}
 
 		for _, node := range tree.Nodes {
-			if node.Type == "dir" && node.Subtree != nil {
+			if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir && node.Subtree != nil {
 				trees[*node.Subtree] = true
 			}
 		}
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ func runRecover(ctx context.Context, gopts GlobalOptions) error {
 	for id := range roots {
 		var subtreeID = id
 		node := restic.Node{
-			Type:       "dir",
+			Type:       restic.NodeTypeDir,
 			Name:       id.Str(),
 			Mode:       0755,
 			Subtree:    &subtreeID,
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_repair_snapshots.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_repair_snapshots.go
index 385854312..46ba52dd4 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_repair_snapshots.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_repair_snapshots.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func runRepairSnapshots(ctx context.Context, gopts GlobalOptions, opts RepairOpt
 	// - files whose contents are not fully available  (-> file will be modified)
 	rewriter := walker.NewTreeRewriter(walker.RewriteOpts{
 		RewriteNode: func(node *restic.Node, path string) *restic.Node {
-			if node.Type != "file" {
+			if node.Type != restic.NodeTypeFile {
 				return node
 			}
 
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_stats.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_stats.go
index dd51175d3..e0b60a29e 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_stats.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_stats.go
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ func statsWalkTree(repo restic.Loader, opts StatsOptions, stats *statsContainer,
 			// will still be restored
 			stats.TotalFileCount++
 
-			if node.Links == 1 || node.Type == "dir" {
+			if node.Links == 1 || node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 				stats.TotalSize += node.Size
 			} else {
 				// if hardlinks are present only count each deviceID+inode once
diff --git a/cmd/restic/format.go b/cmd/restic/format.go
index 063cd4e71..e7d178b4e 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/format.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/format.go
@@ -24,20 +24,20 @@ func formatNode(path string, n *restic.Node, long bool, human bool) string {
 	}
 
 	switch n.Type {
-	case "file":
+	case restic.NodeTypeFile:
 		mode = 0
-	case "dir":
+	case restic.NodeTypeDir:
 		mode = os.ModeDir
-	case "symlink":
+	case restic.NodeTypeSymlink:
 		mode = os.ModeSymlink
 		target = fmt.Sprintf(" -> %v", n.LinkTarget)
-	case "dev":
+	case restic.NodeTypeDev:
 		mode = os.ModeDevice
-	case "chardev":
+	case restic.NodeTypeCharDev:
 		mode = os.ModeDevice | os.ModeCharDevice
-	case "fifo":
+	case restic.NodeTypeFifo:
 		mode = os.ModeNamedPipe
-	case "socket":
+	case restic.NodeTypeSocket:
 		mode = os.ModeSocket
 	}
 
diff --git a/cmd/restic/format_test.go b/cmd/restic/format_test.go
index 689bd27a5..e232a200b 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/format_test.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/format_test.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ func TestFormatNode(t *testing.T) {
 	testPath := "/test/path"
 	node := restic.Node{
 		Name:    "baz",
-		Type:    "file",
+		Type:    restic.NodeTypeFile,
 		Size:    14680064,
 		UID:     1000,
 		GID:     2000,
diff --git a/internal/archiver/archiver.go b/internal/archiver/archiver.go
index a783f6c7f..0a0c18d28 100644
--- a/internal/archiver/archiver.go
+++ b/internal/archiver/archiver.go
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ func (arch *Archiver) trackItem(item string, previous, current *restic.Node, s I
 	}
 
 	switch current.Type {
-	case "dir":
+	case restic.NodeTypeDir:
 		switch {
 		case previous == nil:
 			arch.summary.Dirs.New++
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ func (arch *Archiver) trackItem(item string, previous, current *restic.Node, s I
 			arch.summary.Dirs.Changed++
 		}
 
-	case "file":
+	case restic.NodeTypeFile:
 		switch {
 		case previous == nil:
 			arch.summary.Files.New++
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ func (arch *Archiver) nodeFromFileInfo(snPath, filename string, fi os.FileInfo,
 		node.AccessTime = node.ModTime
 	}
 	if feature.Flag.Enabled(feature.DeviceIDForHardlinks) {
-		if node.Links == 1 || node.Type == "dir" {
+		if node.Links == 1 || node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 			// the DeviceID is only necessary for hardlinked files
 			// when using subvolumes or snapshots their deviceIDs tend to change which causes
 			// restic to upload new tree blobs
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ func (arch *Archiver) nodeFromFileInfo(snPath, filename string, fi os.FileInfo,
 // loadSubtree tries to load the subtree referenced by node. In case of an error, nil is returned.
 // If there is no node to load, then nil is returned without an error.
 func (arch *Archiver) loadSubtree(ctx context.Context, node *restic.Node) (*restic.Tree, error) {
-	if node == nil || node.Type != "dir" || node.Subtree == nil {
+	if node == nil || node.Type != restic.NodeTypeDir || node.Subtree == nil {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
 
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ func fileChanged(fs fs.FS, fi os.FileInfo, node *restic.Node, ignoreFlags uint)
 	switch {
 	case node == nil:
 		return true
-	case node.Type != "file":
+	case node.Type != restic.NodeTypeFile:
 		// We're only called for regular files, so this is a type change.
 		return true
 	case uint64(fi.Size()) != node.Size:
diff --git a/internal/archiver/archiver_test.go b/internal/archiver/archiver_test.go
index 962fd5481..04d0b876b 100644
--- a/internal/archiver/archiver_test.go
+++ b/internal/archiver/archiver_test.go
@@ -730,7 +730,7 @@ func TestFilChangedSpecialCases(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("type-change", func(t *testing.T) {
 		fi := lstat(t, filename)
 		node := nodeFromFI(t, filename, fi)
-		node.Type = "symlink"
+		node.Type = "restic.NodeTypeSymlink"
 		if !fileChanged(&fs.Local{}, fi, node, 0) {
 			t.Fatal("node with changed type detected as unchanged")
 		}
diff --git a/internal/archiver/file_saver.go b/internal/archiver/file_saver.go
index fa19cab86..b9d07434a 100644
--- a/internal/archiver/file_saver.go
+++ b/internal/archiver/file_saver.go
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ func (s *fileSaver) saveFile(ctx context.Context, chnker *chunker.Chunker, snPat
 		return
 	}
 
-	if node.Type != "file" {
+	if node.Type != restic.NodeTypeFile {
 		_ = f.Close()
 		completeError(errors.Errorf("node type %q is wrong", node.Type))
 		return
diff --git a/internal/archiver/testing.go b/internal/archiver/testing.go
index 8bd854904..97bada644 100644
--- a/internal/archiver/testing.go
+++ b/internal/archiver/testing.go
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ func TestEnsureTree(ctx context.Context, t testing.TB, prefix string, repo resti
 
 		switch e := entry.(type) {
 		case TestDir:
-			if node.Type != "dir" {
+			if node.Type != restic.NodeTypeDir {
 				t.Errorf("tree node %v has wrong type %q, want %q", nodePrefix, node.Type, "dir")
 				return
 			}
@@ -301,13 +301,13 @@ func TestEnsureTree(ctx context.Context, t testing.TB, prefix string, repo resti
 
 			TestEnsureTree(ctx, t, path.Join(prefix, node.Name), repo, *node.Subtree, e)
 		case TestFile:
-			if node.Type != "file" {
+			if node.Type != restic.NodeTypeFile {
 				t.Errorf("tree node %v has wrong type %q, want %q", nodePrefix, node.Type, "file")
 			}
 			TestEnsureFileContent(ctx, t, repo, nodePrefix, node, e)
 		case TestSymlink:
-			if node.Type != "symlink" {
-				t.Errorf("tree node %v has wrong type %q, want %q", nodePrefix, node.Type, "file")
+			if node.Type != restic.NodeTypeSymlink {
+				t.Errorf("tree node %v has wrong type %q, want %q", nodePrefix, node.Type, "symlink")
 			}
 
 			if e.Target != node.LinkTarget {
diff --git a/internal/checker/checker.go b/internal/checker/checker.go
index 76bb15f63..12020891a 100644
--- a/internal/checker/checker.go
+++ b/internal/checker/checker.go
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ func (c *Checker) checkTree(id restic.ID, tree *restic.Tree) (errs []error) {
 
 	for _, node := range tree.Nodes {
 		switch node.Type {
-		case "file":
+		case restic.NodeTypeFile:
 			if node.Content == nil {
 				errs = append(errs, &Error{TreeID: id, Err: errors.Errorf("file %q has nil blob list", node.Name)})
 			}
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ func (c *Checker) checkTree(id restic.ID, tree *restic.Tree) (errs []error) {
 				c.blobRefs.Unlock()
 			}
 
-		case "dir":
+		case restic.NodeTypeDir:
 			if node.Subtree == nil {
 				errs = append(errs, &Error{TreeID: id, Err: errors.Errorf("dir node %q has no subtree", node.Name)})
 				continue
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ func (c *Checker) checkTree(id restic.ID, tree *restic.Tree) (errs []error) {
 				continue
 			}
 
-		case "symlink", "socket", "chardev", "dev", "fifo":
+		case restic.NodeTypeSymlink, restic.NodeTypeSocket, restic.NodeTypeCharDev, restic.NodeTypeDev, restic.NodeTypeFifo:
 			// nothing to check
 
 		default:
diff --git a/internal/checker/checker_test.go b/internal/checker/checker_test.go
index 5eaf550ba..0e2125bba 100644
--- a/internal/checker/checker_test.go
+++ b/internal/checker/checker_test.go
@@ -482,7 +482,7 @@ func TestCheckerBlobTypeConfusion(t *testing.T) {
 
 	damagedNode := &restic.Node{
 		Name:    "damaged",
-		Type:    "file",
+		Type:    restic.NodeTypeFile,
 		Mode:    0644,
 		Size:    42,
 		Content: restic.IDs{restic.TestParseID("0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef")},
@@ -507,14 +507,14 @@ func TestCheckerBlobTypeConfusion(t *testing.T) {
 
 	malNode := &restic.Node{
 		Name:    "aaaaa",
-		Type:    "file",
+		Type:    restic.NodeTypeFile,
 		Mode:    0644,
 		Size:    uint64(len(buf)),
 		Content: restic.IDs{id},
 	}
 	dirNode := &restic.Node{
 		Name:    "bbbbb",
-		Type:    "dir",
+		Type:    restic.NodeTypeDir,
 		Mode:    0755,
 		Subtree: &id,
 	}
diff --git a/internal/dump/common.go b/internal/dump/common.go
index 62145ba9c..4bc404fe0 100644
--- a/internal/dump/common.go
+++ b/internal/dump/common.go
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func sendNodes(ctx context.Context, repo restic.BlobLoader, root *restic.Node, c
 	}
 
 	// If this is no directory we are finished
-	if !IsDir(root) {
+	if root.Type != restic.NodeTypeDir {
 		return nil
 	}
 
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ func sendNodes(ctx context.Context, repo restic.BlobLoader, root *restic.Node, c
 
 		node.Path = path.Join(root.Path, nodepath)
 
-		if !IsFile(node) && !IsDir(node) && !IsLink(node) {
+		if node.Type != restic.NodeTypeFile && node.Type != restic.NodeTypeDir && node.Type != restic.NodeTypeSymlink {
 			return nil
 		}
 
@@ -176,18 +176,3 @@ func (d *Dumper) writeNode(ctx context.Context, w io.Writer, node *restic.Node)
 
 	return wg.Wait()
 }
-
-// IsDir checks if the given node is a directory.
-func IsDir(node *restic.Node) bool {
-	return node.Type == "dir"
-}
-
-// IsLink checks if the given node as a link.
-func IsLink(node *restic.Node) bool {
-	return node.Type == "symlink"
-}
-
-// IsFile checks if the given node is a file.
-func IsFile(node *restic.Node) bool {
-	return node.Type == "file"
-}
diff --git a/internal/dump/tar.go b/internal/dump/tar.go
index e8f34deb1..c5933d4f8 100644
--- a/internal/dump/tar.go
+++ b/internal/dump/tar.go
@@ -79,16 +79,16 @@ func (d *Dumper) dumpNodeTar(ctx context.Context, node *restic.Node, w *tar.Writ
 		header.Mode |= cISVTX
 	}
 
-	if IsFile(node) {
+	if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeFile {
 		header.Typeflag = tar.TypeReg
 	}
 
-	if IsLink(node) {
+	if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeSymlink {
 		header.Typeflag = tar.TypeSymlink
 		header.Linkname = node.LinkTarget
 	}
 
-	if IsDir(node) {
+	if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 		header.Typeflag = tar.TypeDir
 		header.Name += "/"
 	}
diff --git a/internal/dump/tar_test.go b/internal/dump/tar_test.go
index 3556e6aeb..0c97eae35 100644
--- a/internal/dump/tar_test.go
+++ b/internal/dump/tar_test.go
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ func TestFieldTooLong(t *testing.T) {
 	node := restic.Node{
 		Name: "file_with_xattr",
 		Path: "/file_with_xattr",
-		Type: "file",
+		Type: restic.NodeTypeFile,
 		Mode: 0644,
 		ExtendedAttributes: []restic.ExtendedAttribute{
 			{
diff --git a/internal/dump/zip.go b/internal/dump/zip.go
index e5ef5c95b..d32475770 100644
--- a/internal/dump/zip.go
+++ b/internal/dump/zip.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func (d *Dumper) dumpNodeZip(ctx context.Context, node *restic.Node, zw *zip.Wri
 	}
 	header.SetMode(node.Mode)
 
-	if IsDir(node) {
+	if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 		header.Name += "/"
 	}
 
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func (d *Dumper) dumpNodeZip(ctx context.Context, node *restic.Node, zw *zip.Wri
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "ZipHeader")
 	}
 
-	if IsLink(node) {
+	if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeSymlink {
 		if _, err = w.Write([]byte(node.LinkTarget)); err != nil {
 			return errors.Wrap(err, "Write")
 		}
diff --git a/internal/fs/file_windows.go b/internal/fs/file_windows.go
index 50c7e9938..7a6d79f25 100644
--- a/internal/fs/file_windows.go
+++ b/internal/fs/file_windows.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/restic"
 	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
 )
 
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ func ClearAttribute(path string, attribute uint32) error {
 }
 
 // OpenHandleForEA return a file handle for file or dir for setting/getting EAs
-func OpenHandleForEA(nodeType, path string, writeAccess bool) (handle windows.Handle, err error) {
+func OpenHandleForEA(nodeType restic.NodeType, path string, writeAccess bool) (handle windows.Handle, err error) {
 	path = fixpath(path)
 	fileAccess := windows.FILE_READ_EA
 	if writeAccess {
@@ -113,10 +114,10 @@ func OpenHandleForEA(nodeType, path string, writeAccess bool) (handle windows.Ha
 	}
 
 	switch nodeType {
-	case "file":
+	case restic.NodeTypeFile:
 		utf16Path := windows.StringToUTF16Ptr(path)
 		handle, err = windows.CreateFile(utf16Path, uint32(fileAccess), 0, nil, windows.OPEN_EXISTING, windows.FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL, 0)
-	case "dir":
+	case restic.NodeTypeDir:
 		utf16Path := windows.StringToUTF16Ptr(path)
 		handle, err = windows.CreateFile(utf16Path, uint32(fileAccess), 0, nil, windows.OPEN_EXISTING, windows.FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL|windows.FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS, 0)
 	default:
diff --git a/internal/fs/node.go b/internal/fs/node.go
index 9bd507ba5..e29011cc2 100644
--- a/internal/fs/node.go
+++ b/internal/fs/node.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ func NodeFromFileInfo(path string, fi os.FileInfo, ignoreXattrListError bool) (*
 	}
 
 	node.Type = nodeTypeFromFileInfo(fi)
-	if node.Type == "file" {
+	if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeFile {
 		node.Size = uint64(fi.Size())
 	}
 
@@ -33,27 +33,27 @@ func NodeFromFileInfo(path string, fi os.FileInfo, ignoreXattrListError bool) (*
 	return node, err
 }
 
-func nodeTypeFromFileInfo(fi os.FileInfo) string {
+func nodeTypeFromFileInfo(fi os.FileInfo) restic.NodeType {
 	switch fi.Mode() & os.ModeType {
 	case 0:
-		return "file"
+		return restic.NodeTypeFile
 	case os.ModeDir:
-		return "dir"
+		return restic.NodeTypeDir
 	case os.ModeSymlink:
-		return "symlink"
+		return restic.NodeTypeSymlink
 	case os.ModeDevice | os.ModeCharDevice:
-		return "chardev"
+		return restic.NodeTypeCharDev
 	case os.ModeDevice:
-		return "dev"
+		return restic.NodeTypeDev
 	case os.ModeNamedPipe:
-		return "fifo"
+		return restic.NodeTypeFifo
 	case os.ModeSocket:
-		return "socket"
+		return restic.NodeTypeSocket
 	case os.ModeIrregular:
-		return "irregular"
+		return restic.NodeTypeIrregular
 	}
 
-	return ""
+	return restic.NodeTypeInvalid
 }
 
 func nodeFillExtra(node *restic.Node, path string, fi os.FileInfo, ignoreXattrListError bool) error {
@@ -74,25 +74,25 @@ func nodeFillExtra(node *restic.Node, path string, fi os.FileInfo, ignoreXattrLi
 	nodeFillUser(node, stat)
 
 	switch node.Type {
-	case "file":
+	case restic.NodeTypeFile:
 		node.Size = uint64(stat.size())
 		node.Links = uint64(stat.nlink())
-	case "dir":
-	case "symlink":
+	case restic.NodeTypeDir:
+	case restic.NodeTypeSymlink:
 		var err error
 		node.LinkTarget, err = Readlink(path)
 		node.Links = uint64(stat.nlink())
 		if err != nil {
 			return errors.WithStack(err)
 		}
-	case "dev":
+	case restic.NodeTypeDev:
 		node.Device = uint64(stat.rdev())
 		node.Links = uint64(stat.nlink())
-	case "chardev":
+	case restic.NodeTypeCharDev:
 		node.Device = uint64(stat.rdev())
 		node.Links = uint64(stat.nlink())
-	case "fifo":
-	case "socket":
+	case restic.NodeTypeFifo:
+	case restic.NodeTypeSocket:
 	default:
 		return errors.Errorf("unsupported file type %q", node.Type)
 	}
@@ -178,31 +178,31 @@ func NodeCreateAt(node *restic.Node, path string) error {
 	debug.Log("create node %v at %v", node.Name, path)
 
 	switch node.Type {
-	case "dir":
+	case restic.NodeTypeDir:
 		if err := nodeCreateDirAt(node, path); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-	case "file":
+	case restic.NodeTypeFile:
 		if err := nodeCreateFileAt(path); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-	case "symlink":
+	case restic.NodeTypeSymlink:
 		if err := nodeCreateSymlinkAt(node, path); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-	case "dev":
+	case restic.NodeTypeDev:
 		if err := nodeCreateDevAt(node, path); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-	case "chardev":
+	case restic.NodeTypeCharDev:
 		if err := nodeCreateCharDevAt(node, path); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-	case "fifo":
+	case restic.NodeTypeFifo:
 		if err := nodeCreateFifoAt(path); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-	case "socket":
+	case restic.NodeTypeSocket:
 		return nil
 	default:
 		return errors.Errorf("filetype %q not implemented", node.Type)
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ func nodeRestoreMetadata(node *restic.Node, path string, warn func(msg string))
 	// Moving RestoreTimestamps and restoreExtendedAttributes calls above as for readonly files in windows
 	// calling Chmod below will no longer allow any modifications to be made on the file and the
 	// calls above would fail.
-	if node.Type != "symlink" {
+	if node.Type != restic.NodeTypeSymlink {
 		if err := Chmod(path, node.Mode); err != nil {
 			if firsterr == nil {
 				firsterr = errors.WithStack(err)
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ func NodeRestoreTimestamps(node *restic.Node, path string) error {
 		syscall.NsecToTimespec(node.ModTime.UnixNano()),
 	}
 
-	if node.Type == "symlink" {
+	if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeSymlink {
 		return nodeRestoreSymlinkTimestamps(path, utimes)
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/fs/node_test.go b/internal/fs/node_test.go
index e7f608352..2623513a8 100644
--- a/internal/fs/node_test.go
+++ b/internal/fs/node_test.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func parseTime(s string) time.Time {
 var nodeTests = []restic.Node{
 	{
 		Name:       "testFile",
-		Type:       "file",
+		Type:       restic.NodeTypeFile,
 		Content:    restic.IDs{},
 		UID:        uint32(os.Getuid()),
 		GID:        uint32(os.Getgid()),
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ var nodeTests = []restic.Node{
 	},
 	{
 		Name:       "testSuidFile",
-		Type:       "file",
+		Type:       restic.NodeTypeFile,
 		Content:    restic.IDs{},
 		UID:        uint32(os.Getuid()),
 		GID:        uint32(os.Getgid()),
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ var nodeTests = []restic.Node{
 	},
 	{
 		Name:       "testSuidFile2",
-		Type:       "file",
+		Type:       restic.NodeTypeFile,
 		Content:    restic.IDs{},
 		UID:        uint32(os.Getuid()),
 		GID:        uint32(os.Getgid()),
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ var nodeTests = []restic.Node{
 	},
 	{
 		Name:       "testSticky",
-		Type:       "file",
+		Type:       restic.NodeTypeFile,
 		Content:    restic.IDs{},
 		UID:        uint32(os.Getuid()),
 		GID:        uint32(os.Getgid()),
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ var nodeTests = []restic.Node{
 	},
 	{
 		Name:       "testDir",
-		Type:       "dir",
+		Type:       restic.NodeTypeDir,
 		Subtree:    nil,
 		UID:        uint32(os.Getuid()),
 		GID:        uint32(os.Getgid()),
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ var nodeTests = []restic.Node{
 	},
 	{
 		Name:       "testSymlink",
-		Type:       "symlink",
+		Type:       restic.NodeTypeSymlink,
 		LinkTarget: "invalid",
 		UID:        uint32(os.Getuid()),
 		GID:        uint32(os.Getgid()),
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ var nodeTests = []restic.Node{
 	// metadata, so we can test if CreateAt works with pre-existing files.
 	{
 		Name:       "testFile",
-		Type:       "file",
+		Type:       restic.NodeTypeFile,
 		Content:    restic.IDs{},
 		UID:        uint32(os.Getuid()),
 		GID:        uint32(os.Getgid()),
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ var nodeTests = []restic.Node{
 	},
 	{
 		Name:       "testDir",
-		Type:       "dir",
+		Type:       restic.NodeTypeDir,
 		Subtree:    nil,
 		UID:        uint32(os.Getuid()),
 		GID:        uint32(os.Getgid()),
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ var nodeTests = []restic.Node{
 	},
 	{
 		Name:       "testXattrFile",
-		Type:       "file",
+		Type:       restic.NodeTypeFile,
 		Content:    restic.IDs{},
 		UID:        uint32(os.Getuid()),
 		GID:        uint32(os.Getgid()),
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ var nodeTests = []restic.Node{
 	},
 	{
 		Name:       "testXattrDir",
-		Type:       "dir",
+		Type:       restic.NodeTypeDir,
 		Subtree:    nil,
 		UID:        uint32(os.Getuid()),
 		GID:        uint32(os.Getgid()),
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ var nodeTests = []restic.Node{
 	},
 	{
 		Name:       "testXattrFileMacOSResourceFork",
-		Type:       "file",
+		Type:       restic.NodeTypeFile,
 		Content:    restic.IDs{},
 		UID:        uint32(os.Getuid()),
 		GID:        uint32(os.Getgid()),
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ func TestNodeRestoreAt(t *testing.T) {
 					"%v: UID doesn't match (%v != %v)", test.Type, test.UID, n2.UID)
 				rtest.Assert(t, test.GID == n2.GID,
 					"%v: GID doesn't match (%v != %v)", test.Type, test.GID, n2.GID)
-				if test.Type != "symlink" {
+				if test.Type != restic.NodeTypeSymlink {
 					// On OpenBSD only root can set sticky bit (see sticky(8)).
 					if runtime.GOOS != "openbsd" && runtime.GOOS != "netbsd" && runtime.GOOS != "solaris" && test.Name == "testSticky" {
 						rtest.Assert(t, test.Mode == n2.Mode,
@@ -288,11 +288,11 @@ func TestNodeRestoreAt(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func AssertFsTimeEqual(t *testing.T, label string, nodeType string, t1 time.Time, t2 time.Time) {
+func AssertFsTimeEqual(t *testing.T, label string, nodeType restic.NodeType, t1 time.Time, t2 time.Time) {
 	var equal bool
 
 	// Go currently doesn't support setting timestamps of symbolic links on darwin and bsd
-	if nodeType == "symlink" {
+	if nodeType == restic.NodeTypeSymlink {
 		switch runtime.GOOS {
 		case "darwin", "freebsd", "openbsd", "netbsd", "solaris":
 			return
diff --git a/internal/fs/node_unix_test.go b/internal/fs/node_unix_test.go
index b505357f2..3658c8356 100644
--- a/internal/fs/node_unix_test.go
+++ b/internal/fs/node_unix_test.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func checkFile(t testing.TB, stat *syscall.Stat_t, node *restic.Node) {
 		t.Errorf("Dev does not match, want %v, got %v", stat.Dev, node.DeviceID)
 	}
 
-	if node.Size != uint64(stat.Size) && node.Type != "symlink" {
+	if node.Size != uint64(stat.Size) && node.Type != restic.NodeTypeSymlink {
 		t.Errorf("Size does not match, want %v, got %v", stat.Size, node.Size)
 	}
 
@@ -135,9 +135,9 @@ func TestNodeFromFileInfo(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 
 			switch node.Type {
-			case "file", "symlink":
+			case restic.NodeTypeFile, restic.NodeTypeSymlink:
 				checkFile(t, s, node)
-			case "dev", "chardev":
+			case restic.NodeTypeDev, restic.NodeTypeCharDev:
 				checkFile(t, s, node)
 				checkDevice(t, s, node)
 			default:
diff --git a/internal/fs/node_windows.go b/internal/fs/node_windows.go
index 90fa3462c..f2a2001e9 100644
--- a/internal/fs/node_windows.go
+++ b/internal/fs/node_windows.go
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ func closeFileHandle(fileHandle windows.Handle, path string) {
 
 // restoreExtendedAttributes handles restore of the Windows Extended Attributes to the specified path.
 // The Windows API requires setting of all the Extended Attributes in one call.
-func restoreExtendedAttributes(nodeType, path string, eas []ExtendedAttribute) (err error) {
+func restoreExtendedAttributes(nodeType restic.NodeType, path string, eas []ExtendedAttribute) (err error) {
 	var fileHandle windows.Handle
 	if fileHandle, err = OpenHandleForEA(nodeType, path, true); fileHandle == 0 {
 		return nil
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ func nodeFillGenericAttributes(node *restic.Node, path string, fi os.FileInfo, s
 	}
 
 	var sd *[]byte
-	if node.Type == "file" || node.Type == "dir" {
+	if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeFile || node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 		// Check EA support and get security descriptor for file/dir only
 		allowExtended, err = checkAndStoreEASupport(path)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/fs/node_windows_test.go b/internal/fs/node_windows_test.go
index 046c1984c..729ce2adb 100644
--- a/internal/fs/node_windows_test.go
+++ b/internal/fs/node_windows_test.go
@@ -24,14 +24,14 @@ func TestRestoreSecurityDescriptors(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	for i, sd := range TestFileSDs {
-		testRestoreSecurityDescriptor(t, sd, tempDir, "file", fmt.Sprintf("testfile%d", i))
+		testRestoreSecurityDescriptor(t, sd, tempDir, restic.NodeTypeFile, fmt.Sprintf("testfile%d", i))
 	}
 	for i, sd := range TestDirSDs {
-		testRestoreSecurityDescriptor(t, sd, tempDir, "dir", fmt.Sprintf("testdir%d", i))
+		testRestoreSecurityDescriptor(t, sd, tempDir, restic.NodeTypeDir, fmt.Sprintf("testdir%d", i))
 	}
 }
 
-func testRestoreSecurityDescriptor(t *testing.T, sd string, tempDir, fileType, fileName string) {
+func testRestoreSecurityDescriptor(t *testing.T, sd string, tempDir string, fileType restic.NodeType, fileName string) {
 	// Decode the encoded string SD to get the security descriptor input in bytes.
 	sdInputBytes, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(sd)
 	test.OK(t, errors.Wrapf(err, "Error decoding SD for: %s", fileName))
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func testRestoreSecurityDescriptor(t *testing.T, sd string, tempDir, fileType, f
 	CompareSecurityDescriptors(t, testPath, *sdByteFromRestoredNode, *sdBytesFromRestoredPath)
 }
 
-func getNode(name string, fileType string, genericAttributes map[restic.GenericAttributeType]json.RawMessage) restic.Node {
+func getNode(name string, fileType restic.NodeType, genericAttributes map[restic.GenericAttributeType]json.RawMessage) restic.Node {
 	return restic.Node{
 		Name:              name,
 		Type:              fileType,
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func TestRestoreFileAttributes(t *testing.T) {
 		expectedNodes := []restic.Node{
 			{
 				Name:              fmt.Sprintf("testfile%d", i),
-				Type:              "file",
+				Type:              restic.NodeTypeFile,
 				Mode:              0655,
 				ModTime:           parseTime("2005-05-14 21:07:03.111"),
 				AccessTime:        parseTime("2005-05-14 21:07:04.222"),
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ func TestRestoreFileAttributes(t *testing.T) {
 		expectedNodes := []restic.Node{
 			{
 				Name:              fmt.Sprintf("testdirectory%d", i),
-				Type:              "dir",
+				Type:              restic.NodeTypeDir,
 				Mode:              0755,
 				ModTime:           parseTime("2005-05-14 21:07:03.111"),
 				AccessTime:        parseTime("2005-05-14 21:07:04.222"),
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ func runGenericAttributesTest(t *testing.T, tempDir string, genericAttributeName
 	expectedNodes := []restic.Node{
 		{
 			Name:              "testfile",
-			Type:              "file",
+			Type:              restic.NodeTypeFile,
 			Mode:              0644,
 			ModTime:           parseTime("2005-05-14 21:07:03.111"),
 			AccessTime:        parseTime("2005-05-14 21:07:04.222"),
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func runGenericAttributesTest(t *testing.T, tempDir string, genericAttributeName
 		},
 		{
 			Name:              "testdirectory",
-			Type:              "dir",
+			Type:              restic.NodeTypeDir,
 			Mode:              0755,
 			ModTime:           parseTime("2005-05-14 21:07:03.111"),
 			AccessTime:        parseTime("2005-05-14 21:07:04.222"),
@@ -200,12 +200,12 @@ func restoreAndGetNode(t *testing.T, tempDir string, testNode *restic.Node, warn
 	err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(testPath), testNode.Mode)
 	test.OK(t, errors.Wrapf(err, "Failed to create parent directories for: %s", testPath))
 
-	if testNode.Type == "file" {
+	if testNode.Type == restic.NodeTypeFile {
 
 		testFile, err := os.Create(testPath)
 		test.OK(t, errors.Wrapf(err, "Failed to create test file: %s", testPath))
 		testFile.Close()
-	} else if testNode.Type == "dir" {
+	} else if testNode.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 
 		err := os.Mkdir(testPath, testNode.Mode)
 		test.OK(t, errors.Wrapf(err, "Failed to create test directory: %s", testPath))
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ func TestNewGenericAttributeType(t *testing.T) {
 	expectedNodes := []restic.Node{
 		{
 			Name:              "testfile",
-			Type:              "file",
+			Type:              restic.NodeTypeFile,
 			Mode:              0644,
 			ModTime:           parseTime("2005-05-14 21:07:03.111"),
 			AccessTime:        parseTime("2005-05-14 21:07:04.222"),
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ func TestNewGenericAttributeType(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			Name:              "testdirectory",
-			Type:              "dir",
+			Type:              restic.NodeTypeDir,
 			Mode:              0755,
 			ModTime:           parseTime("2005-05-14 21:07:03.111"),
 			AccessTime:        parseTime("2005-05-14 21:07:04.222"),
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ func TestRestoreExtendedAttributes(t *testing.T) {
 	expectedNodes := []restic.Node{
 		{
 			Name:       "testfile",
-			Type:       "file",
+			Type:       restic.NodeTypeFile,
 			Mode:       0644,
 			ModTime:    parseTime("2005-05-14 21:07:03.111"),
 			AccessTime: parseTime("2005-05-14 21:07:04.222"),
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ func TestRestoreExtendedAttributes(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			Name:       "testdirectory",
-			Type:       "dir",
+			Type:       restic.NodeTypeDir,
 			Mode:       0755,
 			ModTime:    parseTime("2005-05-14 21:07:03.111"),
 			AccessTime: parseTime("2005-05-14 21:07:04.222"),
@@ -301,9 +301,9 @@ func TestRestoreExtendedAttributes(t *testing.T) {
 		var handle windows.Handle
 		var err error
 		utf16Path := windows.StringToUTF16Ptr(testPath)
-		if node.Type == "file" {
+		if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeFile {
 			handle, err = windows.CreateFile(utf16Path, windows.FILE_READ_EA, 0, nil, windows.OPEN_EXISTING, windows.FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL, 0)
-		} else if node.Type == "dir" {
+		} else if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 			handle, err = windows.CreateFile(utf16Path, windows.FILE_READ_EA, 0, nil, windows.OPEN_EXISTING, windows.FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL|windows.FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS, 0)
 		}
 		test.OK(t, errors.Wrapf(err, "Error opening file/directory for: %s", testPath))
diff --git a/internal/fs/node_xattr_all_test.go b/internal/fs/node_xattr_all_test.go
index 39670d6e1..690302f70 100644
--- a/internal/fs/node_xattr_all_test.go
+++ b/internal/fs/node_xattr_all_test.go
@@ -23,13 +23,13 @@ func setAndVerifyXattr(t *testing.T, file string, attrs []restic.ExtendedAttribu
 	}
 
 	node := &restic.Node{
-		Type:               "file",
+		Type:               restic.NodeTypeFile,
 		ExtendedAttributes: attrs,
 	}
 	rtest.OK(t, nodeRestoreExtendedAttributes(node, file))
 
 	nodeActual := &restic.Node{
-		Type: "file",
+		Type: restic.NodeTypeFile,
 	}
 	rtest.OK(t, nodeFillExtendedAttributes(nodeActual, file, false))
 
diff --git a/internal/fuse/dir.go b/internal/fuse/dir.go
index fd030295b..62298cf24 100644
--- a/internal/fuse/dir.go
+++ b/internal/fuse/dir.go
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func unwrapCtxCanceled(err error) error {
 // replaceSpecialNodes replaces nodes with name "." and "/" by their contents.
 // Otherwise, the node is returned.
 func replaceSpecialNodes(ctx context.Context, repo restic.BlobLoader, node *restic.Node) ([]*restic.Node, error) {
-	if node.Type != "dir" || node.Subtree == nil {
+	if node.Type != restic.NodeTypeDir || node.Subtree == nil {
 		return []*restic.Node{node}, nil
 	}
 
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ func (d *dir) calcNumberOfLinks() uint32 {
 	// of directories contained by d
 	count := uint32(2)
 	for _, node := range d.items {
-		if node.Type == "dir" {
+		if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 			count++
 		}
 	}
@@ -182,11 +182,11 @@ func (d *dir) ReadDirAll(ctx context.Context) ([]fuse.Dirent, error) {
 		name := cleanupNodeName(node.Name)
 		var typ fuse.DirentType
 		switch node.Type {
-		case "dir":
+		case restic.NodeTypeDir:
 			typ = fuse.DT_Dir
-		case "file":
+		case restic.NodeTypeFile:
 			typ = fuse.DT_File
-		case "symlink":
+		case restic.NodeTypeSymlink:
 			typ = fuse.DT_Link
 		}
 
@@ -215,13 +215,13 @@ func (d *dir) Lookup(ctx context.Context, name string) (fs.Node, error) {
 	}
 	inode := inodeFromNode(d.inode, node)
 	switch node.Type {
-	case "dir":
+	case restic.NodeTypeDir:
 		return newDir(d.root, inode, d.inode, node)
-	case "file":
+	case restic.NodeTypeFile:
 		return newFile(d.root, inode, node)
-	case "symlink":
+	case restic.NodeTypeSymlink:
 		return newLink(d.root, inode, node)
-	case "dev", "chardev", "fifo", "socket":
+	case restic.NodeTypeDev, restic.NodeTypeCharDev, restic.NodeTypeFifo, restic.NodeTypeSocket:
 		return newOther(d.root, inode, node)
 	default:
 		debug.Log("  node %v has unknown type %v", name, node.Type)
diff --git a/internal/fuse/fuse_test.go b/internal/fuse/fuse_test.go
index aebcb1272..bbdfe6b3f 100644
--- a/internal/fuse/fuse_test.go
+++ b/internal/fuse/fuse_test.go
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ func TestBlocks(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestInodeFromNode(t *testing.T) {
-	node := &restic.Node{Name: "foo.txt", Type: "chardev", Links: 2}
+	node := &restic.Node{Name: "foo.txt", Type: restic.NodeTypeCharDev, Links: 2}
 	ino1 := inodeFromNode(1, node)
 	ino2 := inodeFromNode(2, node)
 	rtest.Assert(t, ino1 == ino2, "inodes %d, %d of hard links differ", ino1, ino2)
@@ -261,9 +261,9 @@ func TestInodeFromNode(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Regression test: in a path a/b/b, the grandchild should not get the
 	// same inode as the grandparent.
-	a := &restic.Node{Name: "a", Type: "dir", Links: 2}
-	ab := &restic.Node{Name: "b", Type: "dir", Links: 2}
-	abb := &restic.Node{Name: "b", Type: "dir", Links: 2}
+	a := &restic.Node{Name: "a", Type: restic.NodeTypeDir, Links: 2}
+	ab := &restic.Node{Name: "b", Type: restic.NodeTypeDir, Links: 2}
+	abb := &restic.Node{Name: "b", Type: restic.NodeTypeDir, Links: 2}
 	inoA := inodeFromNode(1, a)
 	inoAb := inodeFromNode(inoA, ab)
 	inoAbb := inodeFromNode(inoAb, abb)
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ func TestInodeFromNode(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestLink(t *testing.T) {
-	node := &restic.Node{Name: "foo.txt", Type: "symlink", Links: 1, LinkTarget: "dst", ExtendedAttributes: []restic.ExtendedAttribute{
+	node := &restic.Node{Name: "foo.txt", Type: restic.NodeTypeSymlink, Links: 1, LinkTarget: "dst", ExtendedAttributes: []restic.ExtendedAttribute{
 		{Name: "foo", Value: []byte("bar")},
 	}}
 
@@ -305,11 +305,11 @@ func BenchmarkInode(b *testing.B) {
 	}{
 		{
 			name: "no_hard_links",
-			node: restic.Node{Name: "a somewhat long-ish filename.svg.bz2", Type: "fifo"},
+			node: restic.Node{Name: "a somewhat long-ish filename.svg.bz2", Type: restic.NodeTypeFifo},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "hard_link",
-			node: restic.Node{Name: "some other filename", Type: "file", Links: 2},
+			node: restic.Node{Name: "some other filename", Type: restic.NodeTypeFile, Links: 2},
 		},
 	} {
 		b.Run(sub.name, func(b *testing.B) {
diff --git a/internal/fuse/inode.go b/internal/fuse/inode.go
index 5e2ece4ac..88d5b8bb8 100644
--- a/internal/fuse/inode.go
+++ b/internal/fuse/inode.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ func inodeFromName(parent uint64, name string) uint64 {
 
 // inodeFromNode generates an inode number for a file within a snapshot.
 func inodeFromNode(parent uint64, node *restic.Node) (inode uint64) {
-	if node.Links > 1 && node.Type != "dir" {
+	if node.Links > 1 && node.Type != restic.NodeTypeDir {
 		// If node has hard links, give them all the same inode,
 		// irrespective of the parent.
 		var buf [16]byte
diff --git a/internal/restic/find.go b/internal/restic/find.go
index d7b032bf8..f9b4e8bdf 100644
--- a/internal/restic/find.go
+++ b/internal/restic/find.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func FindUsedBlobs(ctx context.Context, repo Loader, treeIDs IDs, blobs FindBlob
 			lock.Lock()
 			for _, node := range tree.Nodes {
 				switch node.Type {
-				case "file":
+				case NodeTypeFile:
 					for _, blob := range node.Content {
 						blobs.Insert(BlobHandle{ID: blob, Type: DataBlob})
 					}
diff --git a/internal/restic/node.go b/internal/restic/node.go
index 8bf97e59c..c572996a5 100644
--- a/internal/restic/node.go
+++ b/internal/restic/node.go
@@ -67,10 +67,24 @@ func storeGenericAttributeType(attributeTypes ...GenericAttributeType) {
 	}
 }
 
+type NodeType string
+
+var (
+	NodeTypeFile      = NodeType("file")
+	NodeTypeDir       = NodeType("dir")
+	NodeTypeSymlink   = NodeType("symlink")
+	NodeTypeDev       = NodeType("dev")
+	NodeTypeCharDev   = NodeType("chardev")
+	NodeTypeFifo      = NodeType("fifo")
+	NodeTypeSocket    = NodeType("socket")
+	NodeTypeIrregular = NodeType("irregular")
+	NodeTypeInvalid   = NodeType("")
+)
+
 // Node is a file, directory or other item in a backup.
 type Node struct {
 	Name       string      `json:"name"`
-	Type       string      `json:"type"`
+	Type       NodeType    `json:"type"`
 	Mode       os.FileMode `json:"mode,omitempty"`
 	ModTime    time.Time   `json:"mtime,omitempty"`
 	AccessTime time.Time   `json:"atime,omitempty"`
@@ -110,19 +124,19 @@ func (n Nodes) Swap(i, j int)      { n[i], n[j] = n[j], n[i] }
 func (node Node) String() string {
 	var mode os.FileMode
 	switch node.Type {
-	case "file":
+	case NodeTypeFile:
 		mode = 0
-	case "dir":
+	case NodeTypeDir:
 		mode = os.ModeDir
-	case "symlink":
+	case NodeTypeSymlink:
 		mode = os.ModeSymlink
-	case "dev":
+	case NodeTypeDev:
 		mode = os.ModeDevice
-	case "chardev":
+	case NodeTypeCharDev:
 		mode = os.ModeDevice | os.ModeCharDevice
-	case "fifo":
+	case NodeTypeFifo:
 		mode = os.ModeNamedPipe
-	case "socket":
+	case NodeTypeSocket:
 		mode = os.ModeSocket
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/restic/testing.go b/internal/restic/testing.go
index 8f86a7b2c..3e0563430 100644
--- a/internal/restic/testing.go
+++ b/internal/restic/testing.go
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ func (fs *fakeFileSystem) saveTree(ctx context.Context, seed int64, depth int) I
 
 			node := &Node{
 				Name:    fmt.Sprintf("dir-%v", treeSeed),
-				Type:    "dir",
+				Type:    NodeTypeDir,
 				Mode:    0755,
 				Subtree: &id,
 			}
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func (fs *fakeFileSystem) saveTree(ctx context.Context, seed int64, depth int) I
 
 		node := &Node{
 			Name: fmt.Sprintf("file-%v", fileSeed),
-			Type: "file",
+			Type: NodeTypeFile,
 			Mode: 0644,
 			Size: uint64(fileSize),
 		}
diff --git a/internal/restic/tree.go b/internal/restic/tree.go
index 3c3e3ab56..c4125653b 100644
--- a/internal/restic/tree.go
+++ b/internal/restic/tree.go
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func (t *Tree) Sort() {
 // Subtrees returns a slice of all subtree IDs of the tree.
 func (t *Tree) Subtrees() (trees IDs) {
 	for _, node := range t.Nodes {
-		if node.Type == "dir" && node.Subtree != nil {
+		if node.Type == NodeTypeDir && node.Subtree != nil {
 			trees = append(trees, *node.Subtree)
 		}
 	}
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ func FindTreeDirectory(ctx context.Context, repo BlobLoader, id *ID, dir string)
 		if node == nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("path %s: not found", subfolder)
 		}
-		if node.Type != "dir" || node.Subtree == nil {
+		if node.Type != NodeTypeDir || node.Subtree == nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("path %s: not a directory", subfolder)
 		}
 		id = node.Subtree
diff --git a/internal/restorer/restorer.go b/internal/restorer/restorer.go
index 26b6f3474..f28cd0ba3 100644
--- a/internal/restorer/restorer.go
+++ b/internal/restorer/restorer.go
@@ -202,18 +202,18 @@ func (res *Restorer) traverseTreeInner(ctx context.Context, target, location str
 		}
 
 		// sockets cannot be restored
-		if node.Type == "socket" {
+		if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeSocket {
 			continue
 		}
 
-		selectedForRestore, childMayBeSelected := res.SelectFilter(nodeLocation, node.Type == "dir")
+		selectedForRestore, childMayBeSelected := res.SelectFilter(nodeLocation, node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir)
 		debug.Log("SelectFilter returned %v %v for %q", selectedForRestore, childMayBeSelected, nodeLocation)
 
 		if selectedForRestore {
 			hasRestored = true
 		}
 
-		if node.Type == "dir" {
+		if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeDir {
 			if node.Subtree == nil {
 				return nil, hasRestored, errors.Errorf("Dir without subtree in tree %v", treeID.Str())
 			}
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ func (res *Restorer) RestoreTo(ctx context.Context, dst string) (uint64, error)
 				return err
 			}
 
-			if node.Type != "file" {
+			if node.Type != restic.NodeTypeFile {
 				res.opts.Progress.AddFile(0)
 				return nil
 			}
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ func (res *Restorer) RestoreTo(ctx context.Context, dst string) (uint64, error)
 	err = res.traverseTree(ctx, dst, *res.sn.Tree, treeVisitor{
 		visitNode: func(node *restic.Node, target, location string) error {
 			debug.Log("second pass, visitNode: restore node %q", location)
-			if node.Type != "file" {
+			if node.Type != restic.NodeTypeFile {
 				_, err := res.withOverwriteCheck(ctx, node, target, location, false, nil, func(_ bool, _ *fileState) error {
 					return res.restoreNodeTo(node, target, location)
 				})
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ func (res *Restorer) withOverwriteCheck(ctx context.Context, node *restic.Node,
 
 	var matches *fileState
 	updateMetadataOnly := false
-	if node.Type == "file" && !isHardlink {
+	if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeFile && !isHardlink {
 		// if a file fails to verify, then matches is nil which results in restoring from scratch
 		matches, buf, _ = res.verifyFile(ctx, target, node, false, res.opts.Overwrite == OverwriteIfChanged, buf)
 		// skip files that are already correct completely
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ func (res *Restorer) VerifyFiles(ctx context.Context, dst string, countRestoredF
 
 		err := res.traverseTree(ctx, dst, *res.sn.Tree, treeVisitor{
 			visitNode: func(node *restic.Node, target, location string) error {
-				if node.Type != "file" {
+				if node.Type != restic.NodeTypeFile {
 					return nil
 				}
 				if metadataOnly, ok := res.hasRestoredFile(location); !ok || metadataOnly {
diff --git a/internal/restorer/restorer_test.go b/internal/restorer/restorer_test.go
index 7d4895068..8844435ca 100644
--- a/internal/restorer/restorer_test.go
+++ b/internal/restorer/restorer_test.go
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ func saveDir(t testing.TB, repo restic.BlobSaver, nodes map[string]Node, inode u
 				mode = 0644
 			}
 			err := tree.Insert(&restic.Node{
-				Type:              "file",
+				Type:              restic.NodeTypeFile,
 				Mode:              mode,
 				ModTime:           node.ModTime,
 				Name:              name,
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ func saveDir(t testing.TB, repo restic.BlobSaver, nodes map[string]Node, inode u
 			rtest.OK(t, err)
 		case Symlink:
 			err := tree.Insert(&restic.Node{
-				Type:       "symlink",
+				Type:       restic.NodeTypeSymlink,
 				Mode:       os.ModeSymlink | 0o777,
 				ModTime:    node.ModTime,
 				Name:       name,
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ func saveDir(t testing.TB, repo restic.BlobSaver, nodes map[string]Node, inode u
 			}
 
 			err := tree.Insert(&restic.Node{
-				Type:              "dir",
+				Type:              restic.NodeTypeDir,
 				Mode:              mode,
 				ModTime:           node.ModTime,
 				Name:              name,
diff --git a/internal/ui/backup/progress.go b/internal/ui/backup/progress.go
index 1d494bf14..24640d71f 100644
--- a/internal/ui/backup/progress.go
+++ b/internal/ui/backup/progress.go
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ func (p *Progress) CompleteItem(item string, previous, current *restic.Node, s a
 	}
 
 	switch current.Type {
-	case "dir":
+	case restic.NodeTypeDir:
 		p.mu.Lock()
 		p.addProcessed(Counter{Dirs: 1})
 		p.mu.Unlock()
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ func (p *Progress) CompleteItem(item string, previous, current *restic.Node, s a
 			p.printer.CompleteItem("dir modified", item, s, d)
 		}
 
-	case "file":
+	case restic.NodeTypeFile:
 		p.mu.Lock()
 		p.addProcessed(Counter{Files: 1})
 		delete(p.currentFiles, item)
diff --git a/internal/ui/backup/progress_test.go b/internal/ui/backup/progress_test.go
index 6b242a0f3..512fbab26 100644
--- a/internal/ui/backup/progress_test.go
+++ b/internal/ui/backup/progress_test.go
@@ -55,10 +55,10 @@ func TestProgress(t *testing.T) {
 	prog.CompleteBlob(1024)
 
 	// "dir unchanged"
-	node := restic.Node{Type: "dir"}
+	node := restic.Node{Type: restic.NodeTypeDir}
 	prog.CompleteItem("foo", &node, &node, archiver.ItemStats{}, 0)
 	// "file new"
-	node.Type = "file"
+	node.Type = restic.NodeTypeFile
 	prog.CompleteItem("foo", nil, &node, archiver.ItemStats{}, 0)
 
 	time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
diff --git a/internal/walker/rewriter.go b/internal/walker/rewriter.go
index 7e984ae25..968ef44f3 100644
--- a/internal/walker/rewriter.go
+++ b/internal/walker/rewriter.go
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func NewSnapshotSizeRewriter(rewriteNode NodeRewriteFunc) (*TreeRewriter, QueryR
 	t := NewTreeRewriter(RewriteOpts{
 		RewriteNode: func(node *restic.Node, path string) *restic.Node {
 			node = rewriteNode(node, path)
-			if node != nil && node.Type == "file" {
+			if node != nil && node.Type == restic.NodeTypeFile {
 				count++
 				size += node.Size
 			}
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ func (t *TreeRewriter) RewriteTree(ctx context.Context, repo BlobLoadSaver, node
 			continue
 		}
 
-		if node.Type != "dir" {
+		if node.Type != restic.NodeTypeDir {
 			err = tb.AddNode(node)
 			if err != nil {
 				return restic.ID{}, err
diff --git a/internal/walker/rewriter_test.go b/internal/walker/rewriter_test.go
index f05e50f9b..58dd25cd0 100644
--- a/internal/walker/rewriter_test.go
+++ b/internal/walker/rewriter_test.go
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func checkIncreaseNodeSize(increase uint64) checkRewriteFunc {
 	return func(t testing.TB) (rewriter *TreeRewriter, final func(testing.TB)) {
 		rewriter = NewTreeRewriter(RewriteOpts{
 			RewriteNode: func(node *restic.Node, path string) *restic.Node {
-				if node.Type == "file" {
+				if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeFile {
 					node.Size += increase
 				}
 				return node
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ func TestSnapshotSizeQuery(t *testing.T) {
 			if path == "/bar" {
 				return nil
 			}
-			if node.Type == "file" {
+			if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeFile {
 				node.Size += 21
 			}
 			return node
diff --git a/internal/walker/walker.go b/internal/walker/walker.go
index 788ece1cf..8acfed2f2 100644
--- a/internal/walker/walker.go
+++ b/internal/walker/walker.go
@@ -63,11 +63,11 @@ func walk(ctx context.Context, repo restic.BlobLoader, prefix string, parentTree
 
 		p := path.Join(prefix, node.Name)
 
-		if node.Type == "" {
+		if node.Type == restic.NodeTypeInvalid {
 			return errors.Errorf("node type is empty for node %q", node.Name)
 		}
 
-		if node.Type != "dir" {
+		if node.Type != restic.NodeTypeDir {
 			err := visitor.ProcessNode(parentTreeID, p, node, nil)
 			if err != nil {
 				if err == ErrSkipNode {
diff --git a/internal/walker/walker_test.go b/internal/walker/walker_test.go
index 75f80e57f..fa377bb8f 100644
--- a/internal/walker/walker_test.go
+++ b/internal/walker/walker_test.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ func buildTreeMap(tree TestTree, m TreeMap) restic.ID {
 		case TestFile:
 			err := tb.AddNode(&restic.Node{
 				Name: name,
-				Type: "file",
+				Type: restic.NodeTypeFile,
 				Size: elem.Size,
 			})
 			if err != nil {
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func buildTreeMap(tree TestTree, m TreeMap) restic.ID {
 			err := tb.AddNode(&restic.Node{
 				Name:    name,
 				Subtree: &id,
-				Type:    "dir",
+				Type:    restic.NodeTypeDir,
 			})
 			if err != nil {
 				panic(err)