diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 See also https://pvp.haskell.org/faq
 
+## 0.2.2.0 *(minor)*
+
+ - Provide safe `Coercible`-based default-methods for `pack`/`unpack`
+   ([#1](https://github.com/haskell-hvr/newtype/pull/1))
+
 ## 0.2.1.0 *(minor)*
 
  - Added `Newtype` instances for
diff --git a/Control/Newtype.hs b/Control/Newtype.hs
--- a/Control/Newtype.hs
+++ b/Control/Newtype.hs
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 {-# LANGUAGE FunctionalDependencies #-}
 {-# LANGUAGE MultiParamTypeClasses  #-}
 {-# LANGUAGE TypeFamilies           #-}
+#if __GLASGOW_HASKELL__ >= 704
+{-# LANGUAGE DefaultSignatures      #-}
+#endif
 
 {-# OPTIONS_GHC -fno-warn-unused-imports #-}
 
@@ -48,14 +51,50 @@
 #if !MIN_VERSION_base(4,7,0)
 -- necessary evil for 'Newtype Fixed'
 import           Unsafe.Coerce         (unsafeCoerce)
+#else
+import           Data.Coerce
 #endif
 
 -- | Given a @newtype@ @n@, we will always have the same unwrapped type @o@, meaning we can represent this with a fundep @n -> o@.
 --
 -- Any instance of this class just needs to let 'pack' equal to the newtype's constructor, and let 'unpack' destruct the @newtype@ with pattern matching.
+--
+-- Starting with @newtype-0.2.2.0@, default method implementations are provided using "Data.Coerce" for GHC 7.8 (i.e. @base-4.7.0.0@) and later, i.e.:
+--
+-- @
+-- 'pack'   = 'coerce'
+-- 'unpack' = 'coerce'
+-- @
+--
+-- When omitting the method definitions with GHC 7.4 and 7.6 a compile error will be triggered.
+--
+-- Consequently, if your code relies on these default methods make sure to state
+--
+-- > build-depends: newtype ^>= 0.2.2.0
+--
+-- In your @.cabal@ package description.
 class Newtype n o | n -> o where
   pack :: o -> n
+
   unpack :: n -> o
+
+#if  __GLASGOW_HASKELL__ >= 704
+  default pack :: Coercible o n => o -> n
+  pack = coerce
+
+  default unpack :: Coercible n o => n -> o
+  unpack = coerce
+#endif
+
+#if __GLASGOW_HASKELL__ >= 704 && !MIN_VERSION_base(4,7,0)
+-- Hack: We define a dummy 'Coercible' class to force a
+-- missing-instance compile error when methods are not explicitly
+-- defined
+class Coercible o n
+
+coerce :: a -> b
+coerce = undefined
+#endif
 
 {- TODO: for newtype-0.3
 
diff --git a/Setup.hs b/Setup.hs
--- a/Setup.hs
+++ b/Setup.hs
@@ -1,2 +1,7 @@
+
 import Distribution.Simple
+
+
+
+
 main = defaultMain
diff --git a/newtype.cabal b/newtype.cabal
--- a/newtype.cabal
+++ b/newtype.cabal
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 cabal-version:       1.12
 build-type:          Simple
 name:                newtype
-version:             0.2.1.0
+version:             0.2.2.0
 
 license:             BSD3
 license-file:        LICENSE
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 library
   exposed-modules:     Control.Newtype
 
-  build-depends:       base >= 4.3 && < 4.14
+  build-depends:       base >= 4.5 && < 4.14
   if !impl(ghc >= 8.0)
     build-depends:     transformers >= 0.2.2.0 && < 0.6