diff --git a/Control/Concurrent/Lifted.hs b/Control/Concurrent/Lifted.hs
--- a/Control/Concurrent/Lifted.hs
+++ b/Control/Concurrent/Lifted.hs
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@
 -- Note that, while the forked computation @m ()@ has access to the captured
 -- state, all its side-effects in @m@ are discarded. It is run only for its
 -- side-effects in 'IO'.
-forkWithUnmask ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ ((∀ α. m α → m α) → m ()) → m ThreadId
+forkWithUnmask ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ ((∀ a. m a → m a) → m ()) → m ThreadId
 forkWithUnmask f = liftBaseWith $ \runInIO →
                      C.forkIOWithUnmask $ \unmask →
                        void $ runInIO $ f $ liftBaseOp_ unmask
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@
 -- Note that, while the forked computation @m ()@ has access to the captured
 -- state, all its side-effects in @m@ are discarded. It is run only for its
 -- side-effects in 'IO'.
-forkOnWithUnmask ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ Int → ((∀ α. m α → m α) → m ()) → m ThreadId
+forkOnWithUnmask ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ Int → ((∀ a. m a → m a) → m ()) → m ThreadId
 forkOnWithUnmask cap f = liftBaseWith $ \runInIO →
                            C.forkOnWithUnmask cap $ \unmask →
                              void $ runInIO $ f $ liftBaseOp_ unmask
@@ -190,12 +190,12 @@
 {-# INLINABLE threadWaitWrite #-}
 
 -- | Generalized version of 'C.mergeIO'.
-merge ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ [α] → [α] → m [α]
+merge ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ [a] → [a] → m [a]
 merge xs ys = liftBase $ C.mergeIO xs ys
 {-# INLINABLE merge #-}
 
 -- | Generalized version of 'C.nmergeIO'.
-nmerge ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ [[α]] → m [α]
+nmerge ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ [[a]] → m [a]
 nmerge = liftBase ∘ C.nmergeIO
 {-# INLINABLE nmerge #-}
 
@@ -214,11 +214,11 @@
 {-# INLINABLE isCurrentThreadBound #-}
 
 -- | Generalized version of 'C.runInBoundThread'.
-runInBoundThread ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ m α → m α
+runInBoundThread ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ m a → m a
 runInBoundThread = liftBaseOp_ C.runInBoundThread
 {-# INLINABLE runInBoundThread #-}
 
 -- | Generalized version of 'C.runInUnboundThread'.
-runInUnboundThread ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ m α → m α
+runInUnboundThread ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ m a → m a
 runInUnboundThread = liftBaseOp_ C.runInUnboundThread
 {-# INLINABLE runInUnboundThread #-}
diff --git a/Control/Concurrent/MVar/Lifted.hs b/Control/Concurrent/MVar/Lifted.hs
--- a/Control/Concurrent/MVar/Lifted.hs
+++ b/Control/Concurrent/MVar/Lifted.hs
@@ -81,62 +81,62 @@
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 -- | Generalized version of 'MVar.newEmptyMVar'.
-newEmptyMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ m (MVar α)
+newEmptyMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ m (MVar a)
 newEmptyMVar = liftBase MVar.newEmptyMVar
 {-# INLINABLE newEmptyMVar #-}
 
 -- | Generalized version of 'MVar.newMVar'.
-newMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ α → m (MVar α)
+newMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ a → m (MVar a)
 newMVar = liftBase ∘ MVar.newMVar
 {-# INLINABLE newMVar #-}
 
 -- | Generalized version of 'MVar.takeMVar'.
-takeMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ MVar α → m α
+takeMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ MVar a → m a
 takeMVar = liftBase ∘ MVar.takeMVar
 {-# INLINABLE takeMVar #-}
 
 -- | Generalized version of 'MVar.putMVar'.
-putMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ MVar α → α → m ()
+putMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ MVar a → a → m ()
 putMVar mv x = liftBase $ MVar.putMVar mv x
 {-# INLINABLE putMVar #-}
 
 -- | Generalized version of 'MVar.readMVar'.
-readMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ MVar α → m α
+readMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ MVar a → m a
 readMVar = liftBase ∘ MVar.readMVar
 {-# INLINABLE readMVar #-}
 
 -- | Generalized version of 'MVar.swapMVar'.
-swapMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ MVar α → α → m α
+swapMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ MVar a → a → m a
 swapMVar mv x = liftBase $ MVar.swapMVar mv x
 {-# INLINABLE swapMVar #-}
 
 -- | Generalized version of 'MVar.tryTakeMVar'.
-tryTakeMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ MVar α → m (Maybe α)
+tryTakeMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ MVar a → m (Maybe a)
 tryTakeMVar = liftBase ∘ MVar.tryTakeMVar
 {-# INLINABLE tryTakeMVar #-}
 
 -- | Generalized version of 'MVar.tryPutMVar'.
-tryPutMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ MVar α → α → m Bool
+tryPutMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ MVar a → a → m Bool
 tryPutMVar mv x = liftBase $ MVar.tryPutMVar mv x
 {-# INLINABLE tryPutMVar #-}
 
 -- | Generalized version of 'MVar.isEmptyMVar'.
-isEmptyMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ MVar α → m Bool
+isEmptyMVar ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ MVar a → m Bool
 isEmptyMVar = liftBase ∘ MVar.isEmptyMVar
 {-# INLINABLE isEmptyMVar #-}
 
 -- | Generalized version of 'MVar.withMVar'.
-withMVar ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ MVar α → (α → m β) → m β
+withMVar ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ MVar a → (a → m b) → m b
 withMVar = liftBaseOp ∘ MVar.withMVar
 {-# INLINABLE withMVar #-}
 
 -- | Generalized version of 'MVar.modifyMVar_'.
-modifyMVar_ ∷ (MonadBaseControl IO m, MonadBase IO m) ⇒ MVar α → (α → m α) → m ()
+modifyMVar_ ∷ (MonadBaseControl IO m) ⇒ MVar a → (a → m a) → m ()
 modifyMVar_ mv = modifyMVar mv ∘ (fmap (, ()) ∘)
 {-# INLINABLE modifyMVar_ #-}
 
 -- | Generalized version of 'MVar.modifyMVar'.
-modifyMVar ∷ (MonadBaseControl IO m, MonadBase IO m) ⇒ MVar α → (α → m (α, β)) → m β
+modifyMVar ∷ (MonadBaseControl IO m) ⇒ MVar a → (a → m (a, b)) → m b
 
 #if MIN_VERSION_base(4,3,0)
 modifyMVar mv f = control $ \runInIO -> mask $ \restore → do
@@ -173,6 +173,6 @@
 --
 -- Note any monadic side effects in @m@ of the \"finalizer\" computation are
 -- discarded.
-addMVarFinalizer ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ MVar α → m () → m ()
+addMVarFinalizer ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ MVar a → m () → m ()
 addMVarFinalizer = liftBaseDiscard ∘ MVar.addMVarFinalizer
 {-# INLINABLE addMVarFinalizer #-}
diff --git a/Control/Exception/Lifted.hs b/Control/Exception/Lifted.hs
--- a/Control/Exception/Lifted.hs
+++ b/Control/Exception/Lifted.hs
@@ -127,12 +127,12 @@
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.throwIO'.
-throwIO ∷ (MonadBase IO m, Exception e) ⇒ e → m α
+throwIO ∷ (MonadBase IO m, Exception e) ⇒ e → m a
 throwIO = liftBase ∘ E.throwIO
 {-# INLINABLE throwIO #-}
 
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.ioError'.
-ioError ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ IOError → m α
+ioError ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ IOError → m a
 ioError = liftBase ∘ E.ioError
 {-# INLINABLE ioError #-}
 
@@ -143,16 +143,16 @@
 
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.catch'.
 catch ∷ (MonadBaseControl IO m, Exception e)
-      ⇒ m α       -- ^ The computation to run
-      → (e → m α) -- ^ Handler to invoke if an exception is raised
-      → m α
+      ⇒ m a       -- ^ The computation to run
+      → (e → m a) -- ^ Handler to invoke if an exception is raised
+      → m a
 catch a handler = control $ \runInIO →
                     E.catch (runInIO a)
                             (\e → runInIO $ handler e)
 {-# INLINABLE catch #-}
 
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.catches'.
-catches ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ m α → [Handler m α] → m α
+catches ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ m a → [Handler m a] → m a
 catches a handlers = control $ \runInIO →
                        E.catches (runInIO a)
                                  [ E.Handler $ \e → runInIO $ handler e
@@ -161,14 +161,14 @@
 {-# INLINABLE catches #-}
 
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.Handler'.
-data Handler m α = ∀ e. Exception e ⇒ Handler (e → m α)
+data Handler m a = ∀ e. Exception e ⇒ Handler (e → m a)
 
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.catchJust'.
 catchJust ∷ (MonadBaseControl IO m, Exception e)
-          ⇒ (e → Maybe β) -- ^ Predicate to select exceptions
-          → m α           -- ^ Computation to run
-          → (β → m α)     -- ^ Handler
-          → m α
+          ⇒ (e → Maybe b) -- ^ Predicate to select exceptions
+          → m a           -- ^ Computation to run
+          → (b → m a)     -- ^ Handler
+          → m a
 catchJust p a handler = control $ \runInIO →
                           E.catchJust p
                                       (runInIO a)
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.handle'.
-handle ∷ (MonadBaseControl IO m, Exception e) ⇒ (e → m α) → m α → m α
+handle ∷ (MonadBaseControl IO m, Exception e) ⇒ (e → m a) → m a → m a
 handle handler a = control $ \runInIO →
                      E.handle (\e → runInIO (handler e))
                               (runInIO a)
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@
 
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.handleJust'.
 handleJust ∷ (MonadBaseControl IO m, Exception e)
-           ⇒ (e → Maybe β) → (β → m α) → m α → m α
+           ⇒ (e → Maybe b) → (b → m a) → m a → m a
 handleJust p handler a = control $ \runInIO →
                            E.handleJust p (\e → runInIO (handler e))
                                           (runInIO a)
@@ -199,17 +199,17 @@
 -- ** The @try@ functions
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-sequenceEither ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ Either e (StM m α) → m (Either e α)
+sequenceEither ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ Either e (StM m a) → m (Either e a)
 sequenceEither = either (return ∘ Left) (liftM Right ∘ restoreM)
 {-# INLINE sequenceEither #-}
 
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.try'.
-try ∷ (MonadBaseControl IO m, Exception e) ⇒ m α → m (Either e α)
+try ∷ (MonadBaseControl IO m, Exception e) ⇒ m a → m (Either e a)
 try m = liftBaseWith (\runInIO → E.try (runInIO m)) >>= sequenceEither
 {-# INLINABLE try #-}
 
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.tryJust'.
-tryJust ∷ (MonadBaseControl IO m, Exception e) ⇒ (e → Maybe β) → m α → m (Either β α)
+tryJust ∷ (MonadBaseControl IO m, Exception e) ⇒ (e → Maybe b) → m a → m (Either b a)
 tryJust p m = liftBaseWith (\runInIO → E.tryJust p (runInIO m)) >>= sequenceEither
 {-# INLINABLE tryJust #-}
 
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.evaluate'.
-evaluate ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ α → m α
+evaluate ∷ MonadBase IO m ⇒ a → m a
 evaluate = liftBase ∘ E.evaluate
 {-# INLINABLE evaluate #-}
 
@@ -230,28 +230,28 @@
 
 #if MIN_VERSION_base(4,3,0)
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.mask'.
-mask ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ ((∀ α. m α → m α) → m β) → m β
+mask ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ ((∀ a. m a → m a) → m b) → m b
 mask = liftBaseOp E.mask ∘ liftRestore
 {-# INLINABLE mask #-}
 
 liftRestore ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m
-            ⇒ ((∀ α.  m α →  m α) → β)
-            → ((∀ α. IO α → IO α) → β)
+            ⇒ ((∀ a.  m a →  m a) → b)
+            → ((∀ a. IO a → IO a) → b)
 liftRestore f r = f $ liftBaseOp_ r
 {-# INLINE liftRestore #-}
 
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.mask_'.
-mask_ ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ m α → m α
+mask_ ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ m a → m a
 mask_ = liftBaseOp_ E.mask_
 {-# INLINABLE mask_ #-}
 
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.uninterruptibleMask'.
-uninterruptibleMask ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ ((∀ α. m α → m α) → m β) → m β
+uninterruptibleMask ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ ((∀ a. m a → m a) → m b) → m b
 uninterruptibleMask = liftBaseOp E.uninterruptibleMask ∘ liftRestore
 {-# INLINABLE uninterruptibleMask #-}
 
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.uninterruptibleMask_'.
-uninterruptibleMask_ ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ m α → m α
+uninterruptibleMask_ ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ m a → m a
 uninterruptibleMask_ = liftBaseOp_ E.uninterruptibleMask_
 {-# INLINABLE uninterruptibleMask_ #-}
 
@@ -261,12 +261,12 @@
 {-# INLINABLE getMaskingState #-}
 #else
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.block'.
-block ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ m α → m α
+block ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ m a → m a
 block = liftBaseOp_ E.block
 {-# INLINABLE block #-}
 
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.unblock'.
-unblock ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ m α → m α
+unblock ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ m a → m a
 unblock = liftBaseOp_ E.unblock
 {-# INLINABLE unblock #-}
 #endif
@@ -294,10 +294,10 @@
 --
 -- @'liftBaseOp' ('E.bracket' acquire release)@
 bracket ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m
-        ⇒ m α       -- ^ computation to run first (\"acquire resource\")
-        → (α → m β) -- ^ computation to run last (\"release resource\")
-        → (α → m γ) -- ^ computation to run in-between
-        → m γ
+        ⇒ m a       -- ^ computation to run first (\"acquire resource\")
+        → (a → m b) -- ^ computation to run last (\"release resource\")
+        → (a → m c) -- ^ computation to run in-between
+        → m c
 bracket before after thing = control $ \runInIO →
                                E.bracket (runInIO before)
                                          (\st → runInIO $ restoreM st >>= after)
@@ -315,10 +315,10 @@
 --
 -- @'liftBaseOp_' ('E.bracket_' acquire release)@
 bracket_ ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m
-         ⇒ m α -- ^ computation to run first (\"acquire resource\")
-         → m β -- ^ computation to run last (\"release resource\")
-         → m γ -- ^ computation to run in-between
-         → m γ
+         ⇒ m a -- ^ computation to run first (\"acquire resource\")
+         → m b -- ^ computation to run last (\"release resource\")
+         → m c -- ^ computation to run in-between
+         → m c
 bracket_ before after thing = control $ \runInIO →
                                 E.bracket_ (runInIO before)
                                            (runInIO after)
@@ -333,10 +333,10 @@
 --
 -- @'liftBaseOp' ('E.bracketOnError' acquire release)@
 bracketOnError ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m
-               ⇒ m α       -- ^ computation to run first (\"acquire resource\")
-               → (α → m β) -- ^ computation to run last (\"release resource\")
-               → (α → m γ) -- ^ computation to run in-between
-               → m γ
+               ⇒ m a       -- ^ computation to run first (\"acquire resource\")
+               → (a → m b) -- ^ computation to run last (\"release resource\")
+               → (a → m c) -- ^ computation to run in-between
+               → m c
 bracketOnError before after thing =
     control $ \runInIO →
       E.bracketOnError (runInIO before)
@@ -352,9 +352,9 @@
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.finally'.  Note, any monadic side
 -- effects in @m@ of the \"afterward\" computation will be discarded.
 finally ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m
-        ⇒ m α -- ^ computation to run first
-        → m β -- ^ computation to run afterward (even if an exception was raised)
-        → m α
+        ⇒ m a -- ^ computation to run first
+        → m b -- ^ computation to run afterward (even if an exception was raised)
+        → m a
 finally a sequel = control $ \runInIO →
                      E.finally (runInIO a)
                                (runInIO sequel)
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@
 
 -- |Generalized version of 'E.onException'.  Note, any monadic side
 -- effects in @m@ of the \"afterward\" computation will be discarded.
-onException ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ m α → m β → m α
+onException ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ m a → m b → m a
 onException m what = control $ \runInIO →
                        E.onException (runInIO m)
                                      (runInIO what)
diff --git a/System/Timeout/Lifted.hs b/System/Timeout/Lifted.hs
--- a/System/Timeout/Lifted.hs
+++ b/System/Timeout/Lifted.hs
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
 -- Note that when the given computation times out any side effects of @m@ are
 -- discarded. When the computation completes within the given time the
 -- side-effects are restored on return.
-timeout ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ Int → m α → m (Maybe α)
+timeout ∷ MonadBaseControl IO m ⇒ Int → m a → m (Maybe a)
 timeout t m = liftBaseWith (\runInIO → T.timeout t (runInIO m)) >>=
                 maybe (return Nothing) (liftM Just ∘ restoreM)
 {-# INLINABLE timeout #-}
diff --git a/lifted-base.cabal b/lifted-base.cabal
--- a/lifted-base.cabal
+++ b/lifted-base.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 Name:                lifted-base
-Version:             0.1.0.3
+Version:             0.1.0.4
 Synopsis:            lifted IO operations from the base library
 License:             BSD3
 License-file:        LICENSE
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
 
   build-depends: base                 >= 3     && < 4.6
                , base-unicode-symbols >= 0.1.1 && < 0.3
-               , transformers         >= 0.2   && < 0.3
+               , transformers         >= 0.2   && < 0.4
                , transformers-base    >= 0.4   && < 0.5
                , monad-control        >= 0.3   && < 0.4
                , HUnit                >= 1.2.2 && < 1.3