diff --git a/src/fmm/types.jl b/src/fmm/types.jl
index 328a123..0475db7 100644
--- a/src/fmm/types.jl
+++ b/src/fmm/types.jl
@@ -1,10 +1,17 @@
-abstract type AbstractPanels{TK,TF,NK,NS} end
-
 abstract type AbstractKernel{M} end
 
 abstract type AbstractRotatedKernel{M} <: AbstractKernel{M} end
 
 abstract type AbstractUnrotatedKernel{M} <: AbstractKernel{M} end
 
+abstract type AbstractPanels{TK<:AbstractKernel, TF, NK, NS} end
 
 @inline kernel_multiplicity(::AbstractKernel{M}) where M = M
+
+function kernel_multiplicity(type::Type)
+    if type <: AbstractKernel
+        return type.parameters[1]
+    else
+        error("Requested kernel multiplicity over invalid type $(type)")
+    end
+end