diff --git a/backend/backend.c b/backend/backend.c
index 790a14b3..9a3fd036 100644
--- a/backend/backend.c
+++ b/backend/backend.c
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ struct wlr_backend *wlr_backend_autocreate(struct wl_display *display) {
 
 	// Attempt DRM+libinput
 
-	struct wlr_session *session = wlr_session_start(display);
+	struct wlr_session *session = wlr_session_create(display);
 	if (!session) {
 		wlr_log(L_ERROR, "Failed to start a DRM session");
 		return NULL;
@@ -131,6 +131,6 @@ error_gpu:
 error_udev:
 	wlr_udev_destroy(udev);
 error_session:
-	wlr_session_finish(session);
+	wlr_session_destroy(session);
 	return NULL;
 }
diff --git a/backend/multi/backend.c b/backend/multi/backend.c
index 33b26a0a..9bb596e5 100644
--- a/backend/multi/backend.c
+++ b/backend/multi/backend.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ static void multi_backend_destroy(struct wlr_backend *_backend) {
 		free(sub);
 	}
 	list_free(backend->backends);
-	wlr_session_finish(backend->session);
+	wlr_session_destroy(backend->session);
 	wlr_udev_destroy(backend->udev);
 	free(backend);
 }
diff --git a/backend/session/direct-ipc.c b/backend/session/direct-ipc.c
index 71e22148..5f1494a6 100644
--- a/backend/session/direct-ipc.c
+++ b/backend/session/direct-ipc.c
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ void direct_ipc_finish(int sock, pid_t pid) {
 	waitpid(pid, NULL, 0);
 }
 
-int direct_ipc_start(pid_t *pid_out) {
+int direct_ipc_init(pid_t *pid_out) {
 	if (!have_permissions()) {
 		return -1;
 	}
diff --git a/backend/session/direct.c b/backend/session/direct.c
index 82aa8e00..0a08bfd6 100644
--- a/backend/session/direct.c
+++ b/backend/session/direct.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ static bool direct_change_vt(struct wlr_session *base, unsigned vt) {
 	return ioctl(session->tty_fd, VT_ACTIVATE, (int)vt) == 0;
 }
 
-static void direct_session_finish(struct wlr_session *base) {
+static void direct_session_destroy(struct wlr_session *base) {
 	struct direct_session *session = wl_container_of(base, session, base);
 	struct vt_mode mode = {
 		.mode = VT_AUTO,
@@ -196,14 +196,14 @@ error:
 	return false;
 }
 
-static struct wlr_session *direct_session_start(struct wl_display *disp) {
+static struct wlr_session *direct_session_create(struct wl_display *disp) {
 	struct direct_session *session = calloc(1, sizeof(*session));
 	if (!session) {
 		wlr_log_errno(L_ERROR, "Allocation failed");
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
-	session->sock = direct_ipc_start(&session->child);
+	session->sock = direct_ipc_init(&session->child);
 	if (session->sock == -1) {
 		goto error_session;
 	}
@@ -236,8 +236,8 @@ error_session:
 }
 
 const struct session_impl session_direct = {
-	.start = direct_session_start,
-	.finish = direct_session_finish,
+	.create = direct_session_create,
+	.destroy = direct_session_destroy,
 	.open = direct_session_open,
 	.close = direct_session_close,
 	.change_vt = direct_change_vt,
diff --git a/backend/session/logind.c b/backend/session/logind.c
index 20d9b5ed..6b93ff67 100644
--- a/backend/session/logind.c
+++ b/backend/session/logind.c
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ static void release_control(struct logind_session *session) {
 	sd_bus_message_unref(msg);
 }
 
-static void logind_session_finish(struct wlr_session *base) {
+static void logind_session_destroy(struct wlr_session *base) {
 	struct logind_session *session = wl_container_of(base, session, base);
 
 	release_control(session);
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ static int dbus_event(int fd, uint32_t mask, void *data) {
 	return 1;
 }
 
-static struct wlr_session *logind_session_start(struct wl_display *disp) {
+static struct wlr_session *logind_session_create(struct wl_display *disp) {
 	int ret;
 	struct logind_session *session = calloc(1, sizeof(*session));
 	if (!session) {
@@ -390,8 +390,8 @@ error:
 }
 
 const struct session_impl session_logind = {
-	.start = logind_session_start,
-	.finish = logind_session_finish,
+	.create = logind_session_create,
+	.destroy = logind_session_destroy,
 	.open = logind_take_device,
 	.close = logind_release_device,
 	.change_vt = logind_change_vt,
diff --git a/backend/session/session.c b/backend/session/session.c
index a07d3cda..24a1f538 100644
--- a/backend/session/session.c
+++ b/backend/session/session.c
@@ -15,11 +15,11 @@ static const struct session_impl *impls[] = {
 	NULL,
 };
 
-struct wlr_session *wlr_session_start(struct wl_display *disp) {
+struct wlr_session *wlr_session_create(struct wl_display *disp) {
 	const struct session_impl **iter;
 
 	for (iter = impls; *iter; ++iter) {
-		struct wlr_session *session = (*iter)->start(disp);
+		struct wlr_session *session = (*iter)->create(disp);
 		if (session) {
 			return session;
 		}
@@ -29,12 +29,12 @@ struct wlr_session *wlr_session_start(struct wl_display *disp) {
 	return NULL;
 }
 
-void wlr_session_finish(struct wlr_session *session) {
+void wlr_session_destroy(struct wlr_session *session) {
 	if (!session) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	session->impl->finish(session);
+	session->impl->destroy(session);
 };
 
 int wlr_session_open_file(struct wlr_session *session, const char *path) {
diff --git a/include/backend/session/direct-ipc.h b/include/backend/session/direct-ipc.h
index 96504f04..2189d6fa 100644
--- a/include/backend/session/direct-ipc.h
+++ b/include/backend/session/direct-ipc.h
@@ -7,6 +7,6 @@ int direct_ipc_open(int sock, const char *path);
 void direct_ipc_setmaster(int sock, int fd);
 void direct_ipc_dropmaster(int sock, int fd);
 void direct_ipc_finish(int sock, pid_t pid);
-int direct_ipc_start(pid_t *pid_out);
+int direct_ipc_init(pid_t *pid_out);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/include/wlr/backend/session.h b/include/wlr/backend/session.h
index 7961e620..24854431 100644
--- a/include/wlr/backend/session.h
+++ b/include/wlr/backend/session.h
@@ -31,14 +31,14 @@ struct wlr_session {
  *
  * Returns NULL on error.
  */
-struct wlr_session *wlr_session_start(struct wl_display *disp);
+struct wlr_session *wlr_session_create(struct wl_display *disp);
 
 /*
  * Closes a previously opened session and restores the virtual terminal.
  * You should call wlr_session_close_file on each files you opened
  * with wlr_session_open_file before you call this.
  */
-void wlr_session_finish(struct wlr_session *session);
+void wlr_session_destroy(struct wlr_session *session);
 
 /*
  * Opens the file at path.
diff --git a/include/wlr/backend/session/interface.h b/include/wlr/backend/session/interface.h
index 16814446..1a029c54 100644
--- a/include/wlr/backend/session/interface.h
+++ b/include/wlr/backend/session/interface.h
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 #include <wlr/backend/session.h>
 
 struct session_impl {
-	struct wlr_session *(*start)(struct wl_display *disp);
-	void (*finish)(struct wlr_session *session);
+	struct wlr_session *(*create)(struct wl_display *disp);
+	void (*destroy)(struct wlr_session *session);
 	int (*open)(struct wlr_session *session, const char *path);
 	void (*close)(struct wlr_session *session, int fd);
 	bool (*change_vt)(struct wlr_session *session, unsigned vt);