diff --git a/akka-channels-tests/src/test/scala/akka/channels/ChannelSpec.scala b/akka-channels-tests/src/test/scala/akka/channels/ChannelSpec.scala
index a06a0647dc..50c46781c6 100644
--- a/akka-channels-tests/src/test/scala/akka/channels/ChannelSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-channels-tests/src/test/scala/akka/channels/ChannelSpec.scala
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ object ChannelSpec {
     implicit val timeout = Timeout(1.second)
     channel[T] { (x, snd) ⇒
       val xx: WrappedMessage[T, Any] = x
-      val f: Future[WrappedMessage[(ReplyChannels[T], Nothing) :+: TNil, ReplyChannels[T]]] = target <-?- x
+      val f: Future[ReplyChannels[T]] = target <-?- x
       f -!-> snd
     }
     import language.existentials
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ class ChannelSpec extends AkkaSpec(ActorSystem("ChannelSpec", AkkaSpec.testConf,
     "support typed ask" in {
       val t = ChannelExt(system).actorOf(new Tester, "t21")
       implicit val timeout = Timeout(1.second)
-      val r: Future[C] = (t <-?- A).lub
+      val r: Future[C] = t <-?- A
       Await.result(r, 1.second) must be(C)
     }
 
@@ -471,12 +471,22 @@ class ChannelSpec extends AkkaSpec(ActorSystem("ChannelSpec", AkkaSpec.testConf,
       lastSender must be === t.actorRef
     }
 
+    "not wrap Futures unnecessarily" in {
+      val a = ChannelExt(system).actorOf(new Tester, "t26a")
+      implicit val timeout = Timeout(1.second)
+      val c1: C = Await.result(a <-?- A, 1.second)
+      val c2: C = Await.result(A -?-> a, 1.second)
+      val fA = Future successful A
+      val c3: C = Await.result(a <-?- fA, 1.second)
+      val c4: C = Await.result(fA -?-> a, 1.second)
+    }
+
     "be able to transform Futures" in {
       val client = new ChannelRef[(Any, Nothing) :+: TNil](testActor)
       val someActor = ChannelExt(system).actorOf(new Tester, "t26b")
       implicit val timeout = Timeout(1.second)
       implicit val ec = system.dispatcher
-      A -?-> someActor -*-> (_ map (_.value match { case C ⇒ B })) -?-> someActor -!-> client
+      A -?-> someActor -*-> (_ map { case C ⇒ B }) -?-> someActor -!-> client
       expectMsg(D)
     }
 
diff --git a/akka-channels/src/main/scala/akka/channels/ChannelRef.scala b/akka-channels/src/main/scala/akka/channels/ChannelRef.scala
index 7fe2ee2591..80adae254d 100644
--- a/akka-channels/src/main/scala/akka/channels/ChannelRef.scala
+++ b/akka-channels/src/main/scala/akka/channels/ChannelRef.scala
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class ChannelRef[+T <: ChannelList](val actorRef: ActorRef) extends AnyVal {
    * which will be completed with the reply message or a TimeoutException.
    * If the message is a Future itself, eventually send the Future’s value.
    */
-  def <-?-[M](msg: M): Future[_] = macro macros.Ask.impl[ChannelList, Any, T, M]
+  def <-?-[M](msg: M): Future[_] = macro macros.Ask.impl[ChannelList, Any, Any, T, M]
 
   /**
    * Narrow this ChannelRef by removing channels or narrowing input types or
diff --git a/akka-channels/src/main/scala/akka/channels/macros/Ask.scala b/akka-channels/src/main/scala/akka/channels/macros/Ask.scala
index ca43f8eddb..628dc467d7 100644
--- a/akka-channels/src/main/scala/akka/channels/macros/Ask.scala
+++ b/akka-channels/src/main/scala/akka/channels/macros/Ask.scala
@@ -21,11 +21,12 @@ object Ask {
   def impl[ //
   ReturnChannels <: ChannelList, // the precise type union describing the reply
   ReturnLUB, // the least-upper bound for the reply types
+  ReturnT, // the return type if it is just a single type
   Channel <: ChannelList: c.WeakTypeTag, // the channel being asked
   Msg: c.WeakTypeTag // the message being sent down the channel
   ](c: Context {
       type PrefixType = ChannelRef[Channel]
-    })(msg: c.Expr[Msg]): c.Expr[Future[WrappedMessage[ReturnChannels, ReturnLUB]]] = {
+    })(msg: c.Expr[Msg]): c.Expr[Future[_]] = {
     import c.universe._
 
     val tpeChannel = weakTypeOf[Channel]
@@ -41,18 +42,32 @@ object Ask {
 
     Tell.verify(c)(null, unwrapped, typeOf[(Any, Nothing) :+: TNil], tpeChannel)
 
-    implicit val ttReturnChannels = c.TypeTag[ReturnChannels](toChannels(c.universe)(out, weakTypeOf[Nothing]))
-    implicit val ttReturnLUB = c.TypeTag[ReturnLUB](c.universe.lub(out))
-    if (isFuture)
-      if (unwrapped <:< typeOf[ChannelList])
-        reify(askFutureWrapped[WrappedMessage[ReturnChannels, ReturnLUB]](
-          c.prefix.splice.actorRef, msg.splice.asInstanceOf[Future[WrappedMessage[TNil, Any]]])(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
-      else
-        reify(askFuture[WrappedMessage[ReturnChannels, ReturnLUB]](
-          c.prefix.splice.actorRef, msg.splice.asInstanceOf[Future[Any]])(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
-    else
-      reify(askOps[WrappedMessage[ReturnChannels, ReturnLUB]](
-        c.prefix.splice.actorRef, toMsg(c)(msg, tpeMsg).splice)(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
+    implicit lazy val ttReturn = c.TypeTag[ReturnT](out.head)
+    implicit lazy val ttReturnChannels = c.TypeTag[ReturnChannels](toChannels(c.universe)(out, weakTypeOf[Nothing]))
+    implicit lazy val ttReturnLUB = c.TypeTag[ReturnLUB](c.universe.lub(out))
+
+    out match {
+      case x :: Nil if isFuture ⇒
+        if (unwrapped <:< typeOf[ChannelList])
+          reify(askFutureWrappedNoWrap[ReturnT](
+            c.prefix.splice.actorRef, msg.splice.asInstanceOf[Future[WrappedMessage[TNil, Any]]])(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
+        else
+          reify(askFutureNoWrap[ReturnT](
+            c.prefix.splice.actorRef, msg.splice.asInstanceOf[Future[Any]])(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
+      case x :: Nil ⇒
+        reify(askOpsNoWrap[ReturnT](
+          c.prefix.splice.actorRef, toMsg(c)(msg, tpeMsg).splice)(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
+      case _ if isFuture ⇒
+        if (unwrapped <:< typeOf[ChannelList])
+          reify(askFutureWrapped[WrappedMessage[ReturnChannels, ReturnLUB]](
+            c.prefix.splice.actorRef, msg.splice.asInstanceOf[Future[WrappedMessage[TNil, Any]]])(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
+        else
+          reify(askFuture[WrappedMessage[ReturnChannels, ReturnLUB]](
+            c.prefix.splice.actorRef, msg.splice.asInstanceOf[Future[Any]])(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
+      case _ ⇒
+        reify(askOps[WrappedMessage[ReturnChannels, ReturnLUB]](
+          c.prefix.splice.actorRef, toMsg(c)(msg, tpeMsg).splice)(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
+    }
   }
 
   def opsImpl[ //
@@ -62,7 +77,7 @@ object Ask {
   Msg: c.WeakTypeTag // the message being sent down the channel
   ](c: Context {
       type PrefixType = AnyOps[Msg]
-    })(channel: c.Expr[ChannelRef[Channel]]): c.Expr[Future[WrappedMessage[ReturnChannels, ReturnLUB]]] = {
+    })(channel: c.Expr[ChannelRef[Channel]]): c.Expr[Future[_]] = {
     import c.universe._
 
     val tpeChannel = weakTypeOf[Channel]
@@ -72,11 +87,18 @@ object Ask {
 
     Tell.verify(c)(null, unwrapped, typeOf[(Any, Nothing) :+: TNil], tpeChannel)
 
-    implicit val ttReturnChannels = c.TypeTag[ReturnChannels](toChannels(c.universe)(out, weakTypeOf[Nothing]))
-    implicit val ttReturnLUB = c.TypeTag[ReturnLUB](c.universe.lub(out))
     val msg = reify(c.prefix.splice.value)
-    reify(askOps[WrappedMessage[ReturnChannels, ReturnLUB]](
-      channel.splice.actorRef, toMsg(c)(msg, tpeMsg).splice)(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
+    out match {
+      case x :: Nil ⇒
+        implicit val ttReturnLUB = c.TypeTag[ReturnLUB](x)
+        reify(askOpsNoWrap[ReturnLUB](
+          channel.splice.actorRef, toMsg(c)(msg, tpeMsg).splice)(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
+      case _ ⇒
+        implicit val ttReturnChannels = c.TypeTag[ReturnChannels](toChannels(c.universe)(out, weakTypeOf[Nothing]))
+        implicit val ttReturnLUB = c.TypeTag[ReturnLUB](c.universe.lub(out))
+        reify(askOps[WrappedMessage[ReturnChannels, ReturnLUB]](
+          channel.splice.actorRef, toMsg(c)(msg, tpeMsg).splice)(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
+    }
   }
 
   // this is the implementation for Future[_] -?-> ChannelRef[_]
@@ -87,7 +109,7 @@ object Ask {
   Msg: c.WeakTypeTag // the message being sent down the channel
   ](c: Context {
       type PrefixType = FutureOps[Msg]
-    })(channel: c.Expr[ChannelRef[Channel]]): c.Expr[Future[WrappedMessage[ReturnChannels, ReturnLUB]]] = {
+    })(channel: c.Expr[ChannelRef[Channel]]): c.Expr[Future[_]] = {
     import c.universe._
 
     val tpeChannel = weakTypeOf[Channel]
@@ -97,19 +119,30 @@ object Ask {
 
     Tell.verify(c)(null, unwrapped, typeOf[(Any, Nothing) :+: TNil], tpeChannel)
 
-    implicit val ttReturnChannels = c.TypeTag[ReturnChannels](toChannels(c.universe)(out, weakTypeOf[Nothing]))
-    implicit val ttReturnLUB = c.TypeTag[ReturnLUB](c.universe.lub(out))
-    if (tpeMsg <:< typeOf[WrappedMessage[_, _]])
-      reify(askFutureWrapped[WrappedMessage[ReturnChannels, ReturnLUB]](
-        channel.splice.actorRef, c.prefix.splice.future.asInstanceOf[Future[WrappedMessage[TNil, Any]]])(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
-    else
-      reify(askFuture[WrappedMessage[ReturnChannels, ReturnLUB]](
-        channel.splice.actorRef, c.prefix.splice.future)(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
+    out match {
+      case x :: Nil ⇒
+        implicit val ttReturnLUB = c.TypeTag[ReturnLUB](x)
+        if (tpeMsg <:< typeOf[WrappedMessage[_, _]])
+          reify(askFutureWrappedNoWrap[ReturnLUB](
+            channel.splice.actorRef, c.prefix.splice.future.asInstanceOf[Future[WrappedMessage[TNil, Any]]])(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
+        else
+          reify(askFutureNoWrap[ReturnLUB](
+            channel.splice.actorRef, c.prefix.splice.future)(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
+      case _ ⇒
+        implicit val ttReturnChannels = c.TypeTag[ReturnChannels](toChannels(c.universe)(out, weakTypeOf[Nothing]))
+        implicit val ttReturnLUB = c.TypeTag[ReturnLUB](c.universe.lub(out))
+        if (tpeMsg <:< typeOf[WrappedMessage[_, _]])
+          reify(askFutureWrapped[WrappedMessage[ReturnChannels, ReturnLUB]](
+            channel.splice.actorRef, c.prefix.splice.future.asInstanceOf[Future[WrappedMessage[TNil, Any]]])(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
+        else
+          reify(askFuture[WrappedMessage[ReturnChannels, ReturnLUB]](
+            channel.splice.actorRef, c.prefix.splice.future)(imp[Timeout](c).splice))
+    }
   }
 
   val wrapMessage = (m: Any) ⇒ (new WrappedMessage[TNil, Any](m): Any)
 
-  @inline def askOps[T <: WrappedMessage[_, _]](target: ActorRef, msg: Any)(implicit t: Timeout): Future[T] = {
+  def askOps[T <: WrappedMessage[_, _]](target: ActorRef, msg: Any)(implicit t: Timeout): Future[T] = {
     implicit val ec = ExecutionContexts.sameThreadExecutionContext
     akka.pattern.ask(target, msg).map(wrapMessage).asInstanceOf[Future[T]]
   }
@@ -124,4 +157,17 @@ object Ask {
     future flatMap (w ⇒ akka.pattern.ask(target, w.value).map(wrapMessage).asInstanceOf[Future[T]])
   }
 
+  def askOpsNoWrap[T](target: ActorRef, msg: Any)(implicit t: Timeout): Future[T] =
+    akka.pattern.ask(target, msg).asInstanceOf[Future[T]]
+
+  def askFutureNoWrap[T](target: ActorRef, future: Future[_])(implicit t: Timeout): Future[T] = {
+    implicit val ec = ExecutionContexts.sameThreadExecutionContext
+    future flatMap (m ⇒ akka.pattern.ask(target, m).asInstanceOf[Future[T]])
+  }
+
+  def askFutureWrappedNoWrap[T](target: ActorRef, future: Future[WrappedMessage[_, _]])(implicit t: Timeout): Future[T] = {
+    implicit val ec = ExecutionContexts.sameThreadExecutionContext
+    future flatMap (w ⇒ akka.pattern.ask(target, w.value).asInstanceOf[Future[T]])
+  }
+
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/akka-docs/rst/scala/code/docs/channels/ChannelDocSpec.scala b/akka-docs/rst/scala/code/docs/channels/ChannelDocSpec.scala
index f45247c8ad..c0e0bede9e 100644
--- a/akka-docs/rst/scala/code/docs/channels/ChannelDocSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-docs/rst/scala/code/docs/channels/ChannelDocSpec.scala
@@ -57,10 +57,12 @@ class ChannelDocSpec extends AkkaSpec {
 
   import ChannelDocSpec._
 
-  class MsgA
-  class MsgB
-  class MsgC
-  class MsgD
+  trait Msg
+
+  class MsgA extends Msg
+  class MsgB extends Msg
+  class MsgC extends Msg
+  class MsgD extends Msg
 
   "demonstrate why Typed Channels" in {
     def someActor = testActor
@@ -115,6 +117,7 @@ class ChannelDocSpec extends AkkaSpec {
     implicit val timeout: Timeout = ??? // for the ask operations
 
     val channelA: ChannelRef[(MsgA, MsgB) :+: TNil] = ???
+    val channelA2: ChannelRef[(MsgA, MsgB) :+: (MsgA, MsgC) :+: TNil] = ???
     val channelB: ChannelRef[(MsgB, MsgC) :+: TNil] = ???
     val channelC: ChannelRef[(MsgC, MsgD) :+: TNil] = ???
 
@@ -127,12 +130,15 @@ class ChannelDocSpec extends AkkaSpec {
     channelA <-!- fA // eventually send the future’s value to channelA
     fA -!-> channelA // same thing as above
 
-    // ask the actor; return type given in full for illustration
-    val fB: Future[WrappedMessage[(MsgB, Nothing) :+: TNil, MsgB]] = channelA <-?- a
-    val fBunwrapped: Future[MsgB] = fB.lub
-
+    val fB: Future[MsgB] = channelA <-?- a // ask the actor
     a -?-> channelA // same thing as above
 
+    // ask the actor with multiple reply types
+    // return type given in full for illustration
+    val fM: Future[WrappedMessage[ //
+    (MsgB, Nothing) :+: (MsgC, Nothing) :+: TNil, Msg]] = channelA2 <-?- a
+    val fMunwrapped: Future[Msg] = fM.lub
+
     channelA <-?- fA // eventually ask the actor, return the future
     fA -?-> channelA // same thing as above
 
diff --git a/akka-docs/rst/scala/typed-channels.rst b/akka-docs/rst/scala/typed-channels.rst
index 0ea47bdfc0..e2a300791a 100644
--- a/akka-docs/rst/scala/typed-channels.rst
+++ b/akka-docs/rst/scala/typed-channels.rst
@@ -169,10 +169,10 @@ Operations on typed channels are composable and obey a few simple rules:
 * the operators are fully symmetric, i.e. ``-!->`` and ``<-!-`` do the same
   thing provided the arguments also switch places
 
-* sending with ``-?->`` or ``<-?-`` always returns a
-  ``Future[WrappedMessage[_, _]]`` representing all possible reply channels,
-  even if there is only one (use ``.lub`` to get a :class:`Future[_]` with the
-  most precise single type for the value)
+* sending with ``-?->`` or ``<-?-`` returns a ``Future[WrappedMessage[_, _]]``
+  representing all possible reply channels if there is more than one (use
+  ``.lub`` to get a :class:`Future[_]` with the most precise single type for
+  the value)
 
 * sending a :class:`Future[_]` with ``-!->`` or ``<-!-`` returns a new
   :class:`Future[_]` which will be completed with the value after it has been