diff --git a/concurrency/CHANGELOG.markdown b/concurrency/CHANGELOG.markdown
index f838b42..3b92854 100644
--- a/concurrency/CHANGELOG.markdown
+++ b/concurrency/CHANGELOG.markdown
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@ This project is versioned according to the [Package Versioning Policy](https://p
 unreleased
 ----------
 
+### Changed
+
+- The `isEmptyMVar` function is now implemented using `tryReadMVar` instead of a combination of
+  `tryTakeMVar` and `putMVar`. It no longer modifies the contents of the `MVar` and can no longer
+  block.
+
 ### Miscellaneous
 
 - There is now a changelog.
diff --git a/concurrency/Control/Concurrent/Classy/MVar.hs b/concurrency/Control/Concurrent/Classy/MVar.hs
index c0eb799..96efc87 100644
--- a/concurrency/Control/Concurrent/Classy/MVar.hs
+++ b/concurrency/Control/Concurrent/Classy/MVar.hs
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ module Control.Concurrent.Classy.MVar
 
 import Control.Monad.Catch (mask_, onException)
 import Control.Monad.Conc.Class
+import Data.Maybe (isJust)
 
 -- | Swap the contents of a @MVar@, and return the value taken. This
 -- function is atomic only if there are no other producers fro this
@@ -64,13 +65,14 @@ swapMVar cvar a = mask_ $ do
 
 -- | Check if a @MVar@ is empty.
 --
+-- The boolean value returned is just a snapshot of the state of the
+-- @MVar@, it may have been emptied (or filled) by the time you
+-- actually access it. Generally prefer 'tryPutMVar', 'tryTakeMVar',
+-- and 'tryReadMVar'.
+--
 -- @since 1.0.0.0
 isEmptyMVar :: MonadConc m => MVar m a -> m Bool
-isEmptyMVar cvar = do
-  val <- tryTakeMVar cvar
-  case val of
-    Just val' -> putMVar cvar val' >> pure True
-    Nothing   -> pure False
+isEmptyMVar = fmap isJust . tryReadMVar
 
 -- | Operate on the contents of a @MVar@, replacing the contents after
 -- finishing. This operation is exception-safe: it will replace the