diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index d1c10a6..e8e2ccc 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ async-task = "1.0.0"
 cfg-if = "0.1.9"
 crossbeam-channel = "0.3.9"
 crossbeam-deque = "0.7.1"
+crossbeam-utils = "0.6.6"
 futures-core-preview = "=0.3.0-alpha.19"
 futures-io-preview = "=0.3.0-alpha.19"
 futures-timer = "1.0.2"
diff --git a/src/task/block_on.rs b/src/task/block_on.rs
index db46f02..032bf02 100644
--- a/src/task/block_on.rs
+++ b/src/task/block_on.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
-use std::cell::UnsafeCell;
+use std::cell::{Cell, UnsafeCell};
 use std::mem::{self, ManuallyDrop};
 use std::panic::{self, AssertUnwindSafe, UnwindSafe};
 use std::pin::Pin;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::task::{RawWaker, RawWakerVTable};
-use std::thread::{self, Thread};
+use std::thread;
+
+use crossbeam_utils::sync::Parker;
 
 use super::task;
 use super::task_local;
@@ -119,13 +121,21 @@ where
     F: Future<Output = T>,
 {
     thread_local! {
-        static ARC_THREAD: Arc<Thread> = Arc::new(thread::current());
+        // May hold a pre-allocated parker that can be reused for efficiency.
+        //
+        // Note that each invocation of `block` needs its own parker. In particular, if `block`
+        // recursively calls itself, we must make sure that each recursive call uses a distinct
+        // parker instance.
+        static CACHE: Cell<Option<Arc<Parker>>> = Cell::new(None);
     }
 
     pin_utils::pin_mut!(f);
 
-    ARC_THREAD.with(|arc_thread: &Arc<Thread>| {
-        let ptr = (&**arc_thread as *const Thread) as *const ();
+    CACHE.with(|cache| {
+        // Reuse a cached parker or create a new one for this invocation of `block`.
+        let arc_parker: Arc<Parker> = cache.take().unwrap_or_else(|| Arc::new(Parker::new()));
+
+        let ptr = (&*arc_parker as *const Parker) as *const ();
         let vt = vtable();
 
         let waker = unsafe { ManuallyDrop::new(Waker::from_raw(RawWaker::new(ptr, vt))) };
@@ -133,32 +143,34 @@ where
 
         loop {
             if let Poll::Ready(t) = f.as_mut().poll(cx) {
+                // Save the parker for the next invocation of `block`.
+                cache.set(Some(arc_parker));
                 return t;
             }
-            thread::park();
+            arc_parker.park();
         }
     })
 }
 
 fn vtable() -> &'static RawWakerVTable {
     unsafe fn clone_raw(ptr: *const ()) -> RawWaker {
-        let arc = ManuallyDrop::new(Arc::from_raw(ptr as *const Thread));
+        let arc = ManuallyDrop::new(Arc::from_raw(ptr as *const Parker));
         mem::forget(arc.clone());
         RawWaker::new(ptr, vtable())
     }
 
     unsafe fn wake_raw(ptr: *const ()) {
-        let arc = Arc::from_raw(ptr as *const Thread);
-        arc.unpark();
+        let arc = Arc::from_raw(ptr as *const Parker);
+        arc.unparker().unpark();
     }
 
     unsafe fn wake_by_ref_raw(ptr: *const ()) {
-        let arc = ManuallyDrop::new(Arc::from_raw(ptr as *const Thread));
-        arc.unpark();
+        let arc = ManuallyDrop::new(Arc::from_raw(ptr as *const Parker));
+        arc.unparker().unpark();
     }
 
     unsafe fn drop_raw(ptr: *const ()) {
-        drop(Arc::from_raw(ptr as *const Thread))
+        drop(Arc::from_raw(ptr as *const Parker))
     }
 
     &RawWakerVTable::new(clone_raw, wake_raw, wake_by_ref_raw, drop_raw)