diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+5.4.0
+  - Changed eventChannel of Graphics.Vty.Input from Chan to TChan. This enables clients to query if
+    there are no pending events. The Graphics.Vty interface nextEvent is unchanged. Clients that use
+    eventChannel directly will require updating.
+    https://github.com/coreyoconnor/vty/issues/60
 5.3.1
   - Reverted cabal file to depend on Cabal >= 1.18 instead of 1.20 due
     to possibly breaking this on reasonable GHC versions
diff --git a/dist/build/verify-attribute-opsStub/verify-attribute-opsStub-tmp/verify-attribute-opsStub.hs b/dist/build/verify-attribute-opsStub/verify-attribute-opsStub-tmp/verify-attribute-opsStub.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dist/build/verify-attribute-opsStub/verify-attribute-opsStub-tmp/verify-attribute-opsStub.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+module Main ( main ) where
+import Distribution.Simple.Test.LibV09 ( stubMain )
+import VerifyAttributeOps ( tests )
+main :: IO ()
+main = stubMain tests
diff --git a/dist/build/verify-crop-span-generationStub/verify-crop-span-generationStub-tmp/verify-crop-span-generationStub.hs b/dist/build/verify-crop-span-generationStub/verify-crop-span-generationStub-tmp/verify-crop-span-generationStub.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dist/build/verify-crop-span-generationStub/verify-crop-span-generationStub-tmp/verify-crop-span-generationStub.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+module Main ( main ) where
+import Distribution.Simple.Test.LibV09 ( stubMain )
+import VerifyCropSpanGeneration ( tests )
+main :: IO ()
+main = stubMain tests
diff --git a/dist/build/verify-display-attributesStub/verify-display-attributesStub-tmp/verify-display-attributesStub.hs b/dist/build/verify-display-attributesStub/verify-display-attributesStub-tmp/verify-display-attributesStub.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dist/build/verify-display-attributesStub/verify-display-attributesStub-tmp/verify-display-attributesStub.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+module Main ( main ) where
+import Distribution.Simple.Test.LibV09 ( stubMain )
+import VerifyDisplayAttributes ( tests )
+main :: IO ()
+main = stubMain tests
diff --git a/dist/build/verify-empty-image-propsStub/verify-empty-image-propsStub-tmp/verify-empty-image-propsStub.hs b/dist/build/verify-empty-image-propsStub/verify-empty-image-propsStub-tmp/verify-empty-image-propsStub.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dist/build/verify-empty-image-propsStub/verify-empty-image-propsStub-tmp/verify-empty-image-propsStub.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+module Main ( main ) where
+import Distribution.Simple.Test.LibV09 ( stubMain )
+import VerifyEmptyImageProps ( tests )
+main :: IO ()
+main = stubMain tests
diff --git a/dist/build/verify-eval-terminfo-capsStub/verify-eval-terminfo-capsStub-tmp/verify-eval-terminfo-capsStub.hs b/dist/build/verify-eval-terminfo-capsStub/verify-eval-terminfo-capsStub-tmp/verify-eval-terminfo-capsStub.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dist/build/verify-eval-terminfo-capsStub/verify-eval-terminfo-capsStub-tmp/verify-eval-terminfo-capsStub.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+module Main ( main ) where
+import Distribution.Simple.Test.LibV09 ( stubMain )
+import VerifyEvalTerminfoCaps ( tests )
+main :: IO ()
+main = stubMain tests
diff --git a/dist/build/verify-image-opsStub/verify-image-opsStub-tmp/verify-image-opsStub.hs b/dist/build/verify-image-opsStub/verify-image-opsStub-tmp/verify-image-opsStub.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dist/build/verify-image-opsStub/verify-image-opsStub-tmp/verify-image-opsStub.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+module Main ( main ) where
+import Distribution.Simple.Test.LibV09 ( stubMain )
+import VerifyImageOps ( tests )
+main :: IO ()
+main = stubMain tests
diff --git a/dist/build/verify-image-transStub/verify-image-transStub-tmp/verify-image-transStub.hs b/dist/build/verify-image-transStub/verify-image-transStub-tmp/verify-image-transStub.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dist/build/verify-image-transStub/verify-image-transStub-tmp/verify-image-transStub.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+module Main ( main ) where
+import Distribution.Simple.Test.LibV09 ( stubMain )
+import VerifyImageTrans ( tests )
+main :: IO ()
+main = stubMain tests
diff --git a/dist/build/verify-inlineStub/verify-inlineStub-tmp/verify-inlineStub.hs b/dist/build/verify-inlineStub/verify-inlineStub-tmp/verify-inlineStub.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dist/build/verify-inlineStub/verify-inlineStub-tmp/verify-inlineStub.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+module Main ( main ) where
+import Distribution.Simple.Test.LibV09 ( stubMain )
+import VerifyInline ( tests )
+main :: IO ()
+main = stubMain tests
diff --git a/dist/build/verify-layers-span-generationStub/verify-layers-span-generationStub-tmp/verify-layers-span-generationStub.hs b/dist/build/verify-layers-span-generationStub/verify-layers-span-generationStub-tmp/verify-layers-span-generationStub.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dist/build/verify-layers-span-generationStub/verify-layers-span-generationStub-tmp/verify-layers-span-generationStub.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+module Main ( main ) where
+import Distribution.Simple.Test.LibV09 ( stubMain )
+import VerifyLayersSpanGeneration ( tests )
+main :: IO ()
+main = stubMain tests
diff --git a/dist/build/verify-parse-terminfo-capsStub/verify-parse-terminfo-capsStub-tmp/verify-parse-terminfo-capsStub.hs b/dist/build/verify-parse-terminfo-capsStub/verify-parse-terminfo-capsStub-tmp/verify-parse-terminfo-capsStub.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dist/build/verify-parse-terminfo-capsStub/verify-parse-terminfo-capsStub-tmp/verify-parse-terminfo-capsStub.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+module Main ( main ) where
+import Distribution.Simple.Test.LibV09 ( stubMain )
+import VerifyParseTerminfoCaps ( tests )
+main :: IO ()
+main = stubMain tests
diff --git a/dist/build/verify-simple-span-generationStub/verify-simple-span-generationStub-tmp/verify-simple-span-generationStub.hs b/dist/build/verify-simple-span-generationStub/verify-simple-span-generationStub-tmp/verify-simple-span-generationStub.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dist/build/verify-simple-span-generationStub/verify-simple-span-generationStub-tmp/verify-simple-span-generationStub.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+module Main ( main ) where
+import Distribution.Simple.Test.LibV09 ( stubMain )
+import VerifySimpleSpanGeneration ( tests )
+main :: IO ()
+main = stubMain tests
diff --git a/dist/build/verify-terminalStub/verify-terminalStub-tmp/verify-terminalStub.hs b/dist/build/verify-terminalStub/verify-terminalStub-tmp/verify-terminalStub.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dist/build/verify-terminalStub/verify-terminalStub-tmp/verify-terminalStub.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+module Main ( main ) where
+import Distribution.Simple.Test.LibV09 ( stubMain )
+import VerifyOutput ( tests )
+main :: IO ()
+main = stubMain tests
diff --git a/dist/build/verify-using-mock-terminalStub/verify-using-mock-terminalStub-tmp/verify-using-mock-terminalStub.hs b/dist/build/verify-using-mock-terminalStub/verify-using-mock-terminalStub-tmp/verify-using-mock-terminalStub.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dist/build/verify-using-mock-terminalStub/verify-using-mock-terminalStub-tmp/verify-using-mock-terminalStub.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+module Main ( main ) where
+import Distribution.Simple.Test.LibV09 ( stubMain )
+import VerifyUsingMockTerminal ( tests )
+main :: IO ()
+main = stubMain tests
diff --git a/dist/build/verify-utf8-widthStub/verify-utf8-widthStub-tmp/verify-utf8-widthStub.hs b/dist/build/verify-utf8-widthStub/verify-utf8-widthStub-tmp/verify-utf8-widthStub.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dist/build/verify-utf8-widthStub/verify-utf8-widthStub-tmp/verify-utf8-widthStub.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+module Main ( main ) where
+import Distribution.Simple.Test.LibV09 ( stubMain )
+import VerifyUtf8Width ( tests )
+main :: IO ()
+main = stubMain tests
diff --git a/src/Graphics/Vty.hs b/src/Graphics/Vty.hs
--- a/src/Graphics/Vty.hs
+++ b/src/Graphics/Vty.hs
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
 import Graphics.Vty.Output
 import Graphics.Vty.Picture
 
-import Control.Concurrent
+import Control.Concurrent.STM
 
 import Data.IORef
 import Data.Monoid
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@
             >>  readIORef lastPicRef 
             >>= maybe ( return () ) ( \pic -> innerUpdate pic ) 
 
-    let gkey = do k <- readChan $ _eventChannel input
+    let gkey = do k <- atomically $ readTChan $ _eventChannel input
                   case k of 
                     (EvResize _ _)  -> innerRefresh
                                        >> displayBounds out
diff --git a/src/Graphics/Vty/Input.hs b/src/Graphics/Vty/Input.hs
--- a/src/Graphics/Vty/Input.hs
+++ b/src/Graphics/Vty/Input.hs
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@
 import Graphics.Vty.Input.Loop
 import Graphics.Vty.Input.Terminfo
 
-import Control.Concurrent
+import Control.Concurrent.STM
 import Control.Lens
 
 import qualified System.Console.Terminfo as Terminfo
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@
     let pokeIO = Catch $ do
             let e = error "vty internal failure: this value should not propagate to users"
             setAttrs
-            writeChan (input^.eventChannel) (EvResize e e)
+            atomically $ writeTChan (input^.eventChannel) (EvResize e e)
     _ <- installHandler windowChange pokeIO Nothing
     _ <- installHandler continueProcess pokeIO Nothing
     return $ input
diff --git a/src/Graphics/Vty/Input/Loop.hs b/src/Graphics/Vty/Input/Loop.hs
--- a/src/Graphics/Vty/Input/Loop.hs
+++ b/src/Graphics/Vty/Input/Loop.hs
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 import Control.Applicative
 import Control.Concurrent
+import Control.Concurrent.STM
 import Control.Exception (mask, try, SomeException)
 import Control.Lens
 import Control.Monad (when, mzero, forM_)
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@
 data Input = Input
     { -- | Channel of events direct from input processing. Unlike 'nextEvent' this will not refresh
       -- the display if the next event is an 'EvResize'.
-      _eventChannel  :: Chan Event
+      _eventChannel  :: TChan Event
       -- | Shuts down the input processing. This should return the terminal input state to before
       -- the input initialized.
     , shutdownInput :: IO ()
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@
 emit :: Event -> InputM ()
 emit event = do
     logMsg $ "parsed event: " ++ show event
-    view eventChannel >>= liftIO . flip writeChan event
+    view eventChannel >>= liftIO . atomically . flip writeTChan event
 
 -- The timing requirements are assured by the VMIN and VTIME set for the device.
 --
@@ -192,7 +193,7 @@
     setFdOption fd NonBlockingRead False
     applyConfig fd config
     stopSync <- newEmptyMVar
-    input <- Input <$> newChan
+    input <- Input <$> atomically newTChan
                    <*> pure (return ())
                    <*> newIORef config
                    <*> maybe (return Nothing)
diff --git a/test/VerifyUsingMockInput.hs b/test/VerifyUsingMockInput.hs
--- a/test/VerifyUsingMockInput.hs
+++ b/test/VerifyUsingMockInput.hs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 
 import Control.Applicative
 import Control.Concurrent
+import Control.Concurrent.STM
 import Control.Exception
 import Control.Lens ((^.))
 import Control.Monad
@@ -128,7 +129,7 @@
     let readEvents = readLoop eventCount
         readLoop 0 = return ()
         readLoop n = do
-            e <- readChan $ input^.eventChannel
+            e <- atomically $ readTChan $ input^.eventChannel
             modifyIORef eventsRef ((:) e)
             readLoop (n - 1)
     genEventsUsingIoActions maxDuration writeWaitClose readEvents
diff --git a/vty.cabal b/vty.cabal
--- a/vty.cabal
+++ b/vty.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:                vty
-version:             5.3.1
+version:             5.4.0
 license:             BSD3
 license-file:        LICENSE
 author:              AUTHORS
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@
                        mtl >= 1.1.1.0 && < 2.3,
                        parallel >= 2.2 && < 3.3,
                        parsec >= 2 && < 4,
+                       stm,
                        terminfo >= 0.3 && < 0.5,
                        transformers >= 0.3.0.0,
                        text >= 0.11.3,
@@ -564,6 +565,7 @@
                        deepseq >= 1.1 && < 1.5,
                        lens >= 3.9.0.2 && < 5.0,
                        mtl >= 1.1.1.0 && < 2.3,
+                       stm,
                        terminfo >= 0.3 && < 0.5,
                        text >= 0.11.3,
                        unix,