diff --git a/src/reactor/mod.rs b/src/reactor/mod.rs
index 23d93bc45..c2d80de7a 100644
--- a/src/reactor/mod.rs
+++ b/src/reactor/mod.rs
@@ -137,6 +137,13 @@ enum Message {
     Run(Box<FnBox>),
 }
 
+#[repr(usize)]
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq)]
+enum Readiness {
+    Readable = 1,
+    Writable = 2,
+}
+
 const TOKEN_MESSAGES: mio::Token = mio::Token(0);
 const TOKEN_FUTURE: mio::Token = mio::Token(1);
 const TOKEN_START: usize = 2;
@@ -321,11 +328,13 @@ impl Core {
         if let Some(io) = inner.io_dispatch.get_mut(token) {
             if ready.is_readable() || ready.is_hup() {
                 reader = io.reader.take();
-                io.readiness.fetch_or(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                io.readiness.fetch_or(Readiness::Readable as usize,
+                    Ordering::Relaxed);
             }
             if ready.is_writable() {
                 writer = io.writer.take();
-                io.readiness.fetch_or(2, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                io.readiness.fetch_or(Readiness::Writable as usize,
+                    Ordering::Relaxed);
             }
         }
         drop(inner);
@@ -480,8 +489,8 @@ impl Inner {
         debug!("scheduling direction for: {}", token);
         let sched = self.io_dispatch.get_mut(token).unwrap();
         let (slot, bit) = match dir {
-            Direction::Read => (&mut sched.reader, 1),
-            Direction::Write => (&mut sched.writer, 2),
+            Direction::Read => (&mut sched.reader, Readiness::Readable as usize),
+            Direction::Write => (&mut sched.writer, Readiness::Writable as usize),
         };
         if sched.readiness.load(Ordering::SeqCst) & bit != 0 {
             *slot = None;
diff --git a/src/reactor/poll_evented.rs b/src/reactor/poll_evented.rs
index c92ce5812..a957d824a 100644
--- a/src/reactor/poll_evented.rs
+++ b/src/reactor/poll_evented.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ use mio;
 
 use io::Io;
 use reactor::{Handle, Remote};
+use reactor::Readiness::*;
 use reactor::io_token::IoToken;
 
 /// A concrete implementation of a stream of readiness notifications for I/O
@@ -98,11 +99,11 @@ impl<E> PollEvented<E> {
     /// to call from within the context of a future's task, typically done in a
     /// `Future::poll` method.
     pub fn poll_read(&self) -> Async<()> {
-        if self.readiness.load(Ordering::SeqCst) & 1 != 0 {
+        if self.readiness.load(Ordering::SeqCst) & Readable as usize != 0 {
             return Async::Ready(())
         }
         self.readiness.fetch_or(self.token.take_readiness(), Ordering::SeqCst);
-        if self.readiness.load(Ordering::SeqCst) & 1 != 0 {
+        if self.readiness.load(Ordering::SeqCst) & Readable as usize != 0 {
             Async::Ready(())
         } else {
             self.token.schedule_read(&self.handle);
@@ -118,11 +119,11 @@ impl<E> PollEvented<E> {
     /// to call from within the context of a future's task, typically done in a
     /// `Future::poll` method.
     pub fn poll_write(&self) -> Async<()> {
-        if self.readiness.load(Ordering::SeqCst) & 2 != 0 {
+        if self.readiness.load(Ordering::SeqCst) & Writable as usize != 0 {
             return Async::Ready(())
         }
         self.readiness.fetch_or(self.token.take_readiness(), Ordering::SeqCst);
-        if self.readiness.load(Ordering::SeqCst) & 2 != 0 {
+        if self.readiness.load(Ordering::SeqCst) & Writable as usize != 0 {
             Async::Ready(())
         } else {
             self.token.schedule_write(&self.handle);
@@ -146,7 +147,7 @@ impl<E> PollEvented<E> {
     /// previously indicated that the object is readable. That is, this function
     /// must always be paired with calls to `poll_read` previously.
     pub fn need_read(&self) {
-        self.readiness.fetch_and(!1, Ordering::SeqCst);
+        self.readiness.fetch_and(!(Readable as usize), Ordering::SeqCst);
         self.token.schedule_read(&self.handle)
     }
 
@@ -166,7 +167,7 @@ impl<E> PollEvented<E> {
     /// previously indicated that the object is writable. That is, this function
     /// must always be paired with calls to `poll_write` previously.
     pub fn need_write(&self) {
-        self.readiness.fetch_and(!2, Ordering::SeqCst);
+        self.readiness.fetch_and(!(Writable as usize), Ordering::SeqCst);
         self.token.schedule_write(&self.handle)
     }