diff --git a/ChangeLog.md b/ChangeLog.md
--- a/ChangeLog.md
+++ b/ChangeLog.md
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+# ChangeLog for unliftio-core
+
+## 0.2.0.0
+
+* Move `askUnliftIO` out of class [#55](https://github.com/fpco/unliftio/issues/55)
+
 ## 0.1.2.0
 
 * Add `wrappedWithRunInIO`.
diff --git a/src/Control/Monad/IO/Unlift.hs b/src/Control/Monad/IO/Unlift.hs
--- a/src/Control/Monad/IO/Unlift.hs
+++ b/src/Control/Monad/IO/Unlift.hs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 module Control.Monad.IO.Unlift
   ( MonadUnliftIO (..)
   , UnliftIO (..)
+  , askUnliftIO
   , askRunInIO
   , withUnliftIO
   , toIO
@@ -41,30 +42,16 @@
 --
 -- * @unliftIO u (m >>= f) = unliftIO u m >>= unliftIO u . f@
 --
--- The third is a currently nameless law which ensures that the
--- current context is preserved.
+-- Instances of @MonadUnliftIO@ must also satisfy the idempotency law:
 --
--- * @askUnliftIO >>= (\u -> liftIO (unliftIO u m)) = m@
+-- * @askUnliftIO >>= \\u -> (liftIO . unliftIO u) m = m@
 --
--- If you have a name for this, please submit it in a pull request for
--- great glory.
+-- This law showcases two properties. First, 'askUnliftIO' doesn't change
+-- the monadic context, and second, @liftIO . unliftIO u@ is equivalent to
+-- @id@ IF called in the same monadic context as 'askUnliftIO'.
 --
 -- @since 0.1.0.0
 class MonadIO m => MonadUnliftIO m where
-  {-# MINIMAL askUnliftIO | withRunInIO #-}
-  -- | Capture the current monadic context, providing the ability to
-  -- run monadic actions in 'IO'.
-  --
-  -- See 'UnliftIO' for an explanation of why we need a helper
-  -- datatype here.
-  --
-  -- @since 0.1.0.0
-  askUnliftIO :: m (UnliftIO m)
-  askUnliftIO = withRunInIO (\run -> return (UnliftIO run))
-  {-# INLINE askUnliftIO #-}
-  -- Would be better, but GHC hates us
-  -- askUnliftIO :: m (forall a. m a -> IO a)
-
   -- | Convenience function for capturing the monadic context and running an 'IO'
   -- action with a runner function. The runner function is used to run a monadic
   -- action @m@ in @IO@.
@@ -74,15 +61,9 @@
   withRunInIO :: ((forall a. m a -> IO a) -> IO b) -> m b
   withRunInIO inner = askUnliftIO >>= \u -> liftIO (inner (unliftIO u))
 instance MonadUnliftIO IO where
-  {-# INLINE askUnliftIO #-}
-  askUnliftIO = return (UnliftIO id)
   {-# INLINE withRunInIO #-}
   withRunInIO inner = inner id
 instance MonadUnliftIO m => MonadUnliftIO (ReaderT r m) where
-  {-# INLINE askUnliftIO #-}
-  askUnliftIO = ReaderT $ \r ->
-                withUnliftIO $ \u ->
-                return (UnliftIO (unliftIO u . flip runReaderT r))
   {-# INLINE withRunInIO #-}
   withRunInIO inner =
     ReaderT $ \r ->
@@ -90,15 +71,29 @@
     inner (run . flip runReaderT r)
 
 instance MonadUnliftIO m => MonadUnliftIO (IdentityT m) where
-  {-# INLINE askUnliftIO #-}
-  askUnliftIO = IdentityT $
-                withUnliftIO $ \u ->
-                return (UnliftIO (unliftIO u . runIdentityT))
   {-# INLINE withRunInIO #-}
   withRunInIO inner =
     IdentityT $
     withRunInIO $ \run ->
     inner (run . runIdentityT)
+
+-- | Capture the current monadic context, providing the ability to
+-- run monadic actions in 'IO'.
+--
+-- See 'UnliftIO' for an explanation of why we need a helper
+-- datatype here.
+--
+-- Prior to version 0.2.0.0 of this library, this was a method in the
+-- 'MonadUnliftIO' type class. It was moved out due to
+-- <https://github.com/fpco/unliftio/issues/55>.
+--
+-- @since 0.1.0.0
+askUnliftIO :: MonadUnliftIO m => m (UnliftIO m)
+askUnliftIO = withRunInIO (\run -> return (UnliftIO run))
+{-# INLINE askUnliftIO #-}
+-- Would be better, but GHC hates us
+-- askUnliftIO :: m (forall a. m a -> IO a)
+
 
 -- | Same as 'askUnliftIO', but returns a monomorphic function
 -- instead of a polymorphic newtype wrapper. If you only need to apply
diff --git a/unliftio-core.cabal b/unliftio-core.cabal
--- a/unliftio-core.cabal
+++ b/unliftio-core.cabal
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
-cabal-version: >= 1.10
+cabal-version: 1.12
 
--- This file has been generated from package.yaml by hpack version 0.29.6.
+-- This file has been generated from package.yaml by hpack version 0.33.0.
 --
 -- see: https://github.com/sol/hpack
 --
--- hash: 9dda29b2ae88c7aba738c44b9efa373de55a416be845a7bf888fc8c108166fed
+-- hash: 9b9f7a8193dd633099cfaf8dc393fdfd8a2a5ea77517a9ad27a80ef76c429ff0
 
 name:           unliftio-core
-version:        0.1.2.0
+version:        0.2.0.0
 synopsis:       The MonadUnliftIO typeclass for unlifting monads to IO
 description:    Please see the documentation and README at <https://www.stackage.org/package/unliftio-core>
 category:       Control
@@ -19,17 +19,17 @@
 license-file:   LICENSE
 build-type:     Simple
 extra-source-files:
-    ChangeLog.md
     README.md
+    ChangeLog.md
 
 library
-  hs-source-dirs:
-      src
-  build-depends:
-      base >=4.5 && <4.12
-    , transformers >=0.2 && <0.6
   exposed-modules:
       Control.Monad.IO.Unlift
   other-modules:
       Paths_unliftio_core
+  hs-source-dirs:
+      src
+  build-depends:
+      base >=4.5 && <4.14
+    , transformers >=0.2 && <0.6
   default-language: Haskell2010