diff --git a/serio/src/channel.rs b/serio/src/channel.rs
index 9d56cbff..53d63bcd 100644
--- a/serio/src/channel.rs
+++ b/serio/src/channel.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use futures_channel::mpsc;
 use futures_core::Stream as _;
 use futures_sink::Sink as _;
 
-use crate::{Deserialize, Serialize, Sink, Stream};
+use crate::{Message, Sink, Stream};
 
 type Item = Box<dyn Any + Send + Sync + 'static>;
 
@@ -30,10 +30,7 @@ impl Sink for MemorySink {
             .map_err(|e| Error::new(ErrorKind::ConnectionAborted, e))
     }
 
-    fn start_send<Item: Serialize>(
-        mut self: Pin<&mut Self>,
-        item: Item,
-    ) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
+    fn start_send<Item: Message>(mut self: Pin<&mut Self>, item: Item) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
         Pin::new(&mut self.0)
             .start_send(Box::new(item))
             .map_err(|e| Error::new(ErrorKind::ConnectionAborted, e))
@@ -60,7 +57,7 @@ pub struct MemoryStream(mpsc::Receiver<Item>);
 impl Stream for MemoryStream {
     type Error = Error;
 
-    fn poll_next<Item: Deserialize>(
+    fn poll_next<Item: Message>(
         mut self: Pin<&mut Self>,
         cx: &mut Context<'_>,
     ) -> Poll<Option<Result<Item, Self::Error>>> {
@@ -94,10 +91,7 @@ impl Sink for UnboundedMemorySink {
             .map_err(|e| Error::new(ErrorKind::ConnectionAborted, e))
     }
 
-    fn start_send<Item: Serialize>(
-        mut self: Pin<&mut Self>,
-        item: Item,
-    ) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
+    fn start_send<Item: Message>(mut self: Pin<&mut Self>, item: Item) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
         Pin::new(&mut self.0)
             .start_send(Box::new(item))
             .map_err(|e| Error::new(ErrorKind::ConnectionAborted, e))
@@ -124,7 +118,7 @@ pub struct UnboundedMemoryStream(mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<Item>);
 impl Stream for UnboundedMemoryStream {
     type Error = Error;
 
-    fn poll_next<Item: Deserialize>(
+    fn poll_next<Item: Message>(
         mut self: Pin<&mut Self>,
         cx: &mut Context<'_>,
     ) -> Poll<Option<Result<Item, Self::Error>>> {
@@ -175,10 +169,7 @@ impl Sink for MemoryDuplex {
         Pin::new(&mut self.sink).poll_ready(cx)
     }
 
-    fn start_send<Item: Serialize>(
-        mut self: Pin<&mut Self>,
-        item: Item,
-    ) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
+    fn start_send<Item: Message>(mut self: Pin<&mut Self>, item: Item) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
         Pin::new(&mut self.sink).start_send(item)
     }
 
@@ -194,7 +185,7 @@ impl Sink for MemoryDuplex {
 impl Stream for MemoryDuplex {
     type Error = Error;
 
-    fn poll_next<Item: Deserialize>(
+    fn poll_next<Item: Message>(
         mut self: Pin<&mut Self>,
         cx: &mut Context<'_>,
     ) -> Poll<Option<Result<Item, Self::Error>>> {
@@ -244,10 +235,7 @@ impl Sink for UnboundedMemoryDuplex {
         Pin::new(&mut self.sink).poll_ready(cx)
     }
 
-    fn start_send<Item: Serialize>(
-        mut self: Pin<&mut Self>,
-        item: Item,
-    ) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
+    fn start_send<Item: Message>(mut self: Pin<&mut Self>, item: Item) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
         Pin::new(&mut self.sink).start_send(item)
     }
 
@@ -263,7 +251,7 @@ impl Sink for UnboundedMemoryDuplex {
 impl Stream for UnboundedMemoryDuplex {
     type Error = Error;
 
-    fn poll_next<Item: Deserialize>(
+    fn poll_next<Item: Message>(
         mut self: Pin<&mut Self>,
         cx: &mut Context<'_>,
     ) -> Poll<Option<Result<Item, Self::Error>>> {
diff --git a/serio/src/codec.rs b/serio/src/codec.rs
index bc07f847..f45231f0 100644
--- a/serio/src/codec.rs
+++ b/serio/src/codec.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use bytes::{Bytes, BytesMut};
 use futures_core::stream::TryStream;
 use futures_io::{AsyncRead, AsyncWrite};
 
-use crate::{Deserialize, IoDuplex, Serialize, Sink, Stream};
+use crate::{Deserialize, Message, IoDuplex, Serialize, Sink, Stream};
 
 /// A codec.
 pub trait Codec<Io> {
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ where
 {
     type Error = Error;
 
-    fn poll_next<Item: Deserialize>(
+    fn poll_next<Item: Message>(
         mut self: Pin<&mut Self>,
         cx: &mut Context<'_>,
     ) -> Poll<Option<Result<Item, Error>>> {
diff --git a/serio/src/compat.rs b/serio/src/compat.rs
index 2ee6d5b2..3718ca58 100644
--- a/serio/src/compat.rs
+++ b/serio/src/compat.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use std::{
     task::{Context, Poll},
 };
 
-use crate::{Deserialize, Stream};
+use crate::Stream;
 
 use super::*;
 
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ impl<T, Item> FuturesCompat<T, Item> {
 impl<T, Item> futures_sink::Sink<Item> for FuturesCompat<T, Item>
 where
     T: Sink,
-    Item: Serialize,
+    Item: Message,
 {
     type Error = T::Error;
 
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ where
 impl<T, Item> futures_core::Stream for FuturesCompat<T, Item>
 where
     T: Stream,
-    Item: Deserialize,
+    Item: Message,
 {
     type Item = Result<Item, T::Error>;
 
diff --git a/serio/src/lib.rs b/serio/src/lib.rs
index 32cb8c01..b4d01840 100644
--- a/serio/src/lib.rs
+++ b/serio/src/lib.rs
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ pub trait Deserialize: serde::de::DeserializeOwned + Send + Sync + 'static {}
 
 impl<T> Deserialize for T where T: serde::de::DeserializeOwned + Send + Sync + 'static {}
 
+/// A type that can be both serialized and deserialized.
+pub trait Message: Serialize + Deserialize {}
+
+impl<T> Message for T where T: Serialize + Deserialize {}
+
 /// A duplex.
 pub trait Duplex: Sink + Stream {}
 
diff --git a/serio/src/sink.rs b/serio/src/sink.rs
index c66520d5..0d27cc27 100644
--- a/serio/src/sink.rs
+++ b/serio/src/sink.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use std::{
 
 #[cfg(feature = "compat")]
 use crate::FuturesCompat;
-use crate::{Serialize, future::assert_future};
+use crate::{Message, future::assert_future};
 
 /// A sink with an error type of `std::io::Error`.
 pub trait IoSink: Sink<Error = std::io::Error> {}
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ pub trait Sink {
     ///
     /// In most cases, if the sink encounters an error, the sink will
     /// permanently be unable to receive items.
-    fn start_send<Item: Serialize>(self: Pin<&mut Self>, item: Item) -> Result<(), Self::Error>;
+    fn start_send<Item: Message>(self: Pin<&mut Self>, item: Item) -> Result<(), Self::Error>;
 
     /// Flush any remaining output from this sink.
     ///
@@ -95,10 +95,7 @@ impl<S: ?Sized + Sink + Unpin> Sink for &mut S {
         Pin::new(&mut **self).poll_ready(cx)
     }
 
-    fn start_send<Item: Serialize>(
-        mut self: Pin<&mut Self>,
-        item: Item,
-    ) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
+    fn start_send<Item: Message>(mut self: Pin<&mut Self>, item: Item) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
         Pin::new(&mut **self).start_send(item)
     }
 
@@ -122,7 +119,7 @@ where
         self.get_mut().as_mut().poll_ready(cx)
     }
 
-    fn start_send<Item: Serialize>(self: Pin<&mut Self>, item: Item) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
+    fn start_send<Item: Message>(self: Pin<&mut Self>, item: Item) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
         self.get_mut().as_mut().start_send(item)
     }
 
@@ -152,7 +149,7 @@ pub trait SinkExt: Sink {
     /// Note that, **because of the flushing requirement, it is usually better
     /// to batch together items to send via `feed` or `send_all`,
     /// rather than flushing between each item.**
-    fn send<Item: Serialize>(&mut self, item: Item) -> Send<'_, Self, Item>
+    fn send<Item: Message>(&mut self, item: Item) -> Send<'_, Self, Item>
     where
         Self: Unpin,
     {
@@ -165,7 +162,7 @@ pub trait SinkExt: Sink {
     /// Unlike `send`, the returned future does not flush the sink.
     /// It is the caller's responsibility to ensure all pending items
     /// are processed, which can be done via `flush` or `close`.
-    fn feed<Item: Serialize>(&mut self, item: Item) -> Feed<'_, Self, Item>
+    fn feed<Item: Message>(&mut self, item: Item) -> Feed<'_, Self, Item>
     where
         Self: Unpin,
     {
@@ -183,7 +180,7 @@ pub trait SinkExt: Sink {
     /// Wraps the sink in a compatibility layer that allows it to be used as a
     /// futures 0.3 sink.
     #[cfg(feature = "compat")]
-    fn compat_sink<Item: Serialize>(self) -> FuturesCompat<Self, Item>
+    fn compat_sink<Item: Message>(self) -> FuturesCompat<Self, Item>
     where
         Self: Sized,
     {
@@ -237,7 +234,7 @@ impl<'a, Si: Sink + Unpin + ?Sized, Item> Send<'a, Si, Item> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<Si: Sink + Unpin + ?Sized, Item: Serialize> Future for Send<'_, Si, Item> {
+impl<Si: Sink + Unpin + ?Sized, Item: Message> Future for Send<'_, Si, Item> {
     type Output = Result<(), Si::Error>;
 
     fn poll(mut self: Pin<&mut Self>, cx: &mut Context<'_>) -> Poll<Self::Output> {
@@ -284,7 +281,7 @@ impl<'a, Si: Sink + Unpin + ?Sized, Item> Feed<'a, Si, Item> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<Si: Sink + Unpin + ?Sized, Item: Serialize> Future for Feed<'_, Si, Item> {
+impl<Si: Sink + Unpin + ?Sized, Item: Message> Future for Feed<'_, Si, Item> {
     type Output = Result<(), Si::Error>;
 
     fn poll(self: Pin<&mut Self>, cx: &mut Context<'_>) -> Poll<Self::Output> {
diff --git a/serio/src/stream.rs b/serio/src/stream.rs
index 206c7f7b..7781093c 100644
--- a/serio/src/stream.rs
+++ b/serio/src/stream.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use futures_core::FusedFuture;
 
 #[cfg(feature = "compat")]
 use crate::FuturesCompat;
-use crate::{Deserialize, future::assert_future};
+use crate::{Message, future::assert_future};
 
 /// A stream with an error type of `std::io::Error`.
 pub trait IoStream: Stream<Error = std::io::Error> {}
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ pub trait Stream {
     ///
     /// - `Poll::Ready(None)` means that the stream has terminated, and
     ///   `poll_next` should not be invoked again.
-    fn poll_next<Item: Deserialize>(
+    fn poll_next<Item: Message>(
         self: Pin<&mut Self>,
         cx: &mut Context<'_>,
     ) -> Poll<Option<Result<Item, Self::Error>>>;
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ pub trait Stream {
 impl<S: ?Sized + Stream + Unpin> Stream for &mut S {
     type Error = S::Error;
 
-    fn poll_next<Item: Deserialize>(
+    fn poll_next<Item: Message>(
         mut self: Pin<&mut Self>,
         cx: &mut Context<'_>,
     ) -> Poll<Option<Result<Item, Self::Error>>> {
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ where
 {
     type Error = <P::Target as Stream>::Error;
 
-    fn poll_next<Item: Deserialize>(
+    fn poll_next<Item: Message>(
         self: Pin<&mut Self>,
         cx: &mut Context<'_>,
     ) -> Poll<Option<Result<Item, Self::Error>>> {
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ pub trait StreamExt: Stream {
     /// assert_eq!(stream.next().await, None);
     /// # });
     /// ```
-    fn next<Item: Deserialize>(&mut self) -> Next<'_, Self, Item>
+    fn next<Item: Message>(&mut self) -> Next<'_, Self, Item>
     where
         Self: Unpin,
     {
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ pub trait StreamExt: Stream {
     /// Wraps the stream in a compatibility layer that allows it to be used as a
     /// futures 0.3 stream.
     #[cfg(feature = "compat")]
-    fn compat_stream<Item: Deserialize>(self) -> FuturesCompat<Self, Item>
+    fn compat_stream<Item: Message>(self) -> FuturesCompat<Self, Item>
     where
         Self: Sized,
     {
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ pub trait StreamExt: Stream {
 
     /// A convenience method for calling [`Stream::poll_next`] on [`Unpin`]
     /// stream types.
-    fn poll_next_unpin<Item: Deserialize>(
+    fn poll_next_unpin<Item: Message>(
         &mut self,
         cx: &mut Context<'_>,
     ) -> Poll<Option<Result<Item, Self::Error>>>
@@ -226,13 +226,13 @@ impl<'a, St: ?Sized + Stream + Unpin, Item> Next<'a, St, Item> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<St: ?Sized + FusedStream + Unpin, Item: Deserialize> FusedFuture for Next<'_, St, Item> {
+impl<St: ?Sized + FusedStream + Unpin, Item: Message> FusedFuture for Next<'_, St, Item> {
     fn is_terminated(&self) -> bool {
         self.stream.is_terminated()
     }
 }
 
-impl<St: ?Sized + Stream + Unpin, Item: Deserialize> Future for Next<'_, St, Item> {
+impl<St: ?Sized + Stream + Unpin, Item: Message> Future for Next<'_, St, Item> {
     type Output = Option<Result<Item, St::Error>>;
 
     fn poll(mut self: Pin<&mut Self>, cx: &mut Context<'_>) -> Poll<Self::Output> {
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ impl<St: ?Sized + Stream + Unpin, Item: Deserialize> Future for Next<'_, St, Ite
 pub trait IoStreamExt: IoStream {
     /// Creates a future that resolves to the next item in the stream, returning
     /// an error if the stream is exhausted.
-    fn expect_next<Item: Deserialize>(&mut self) -> ExpectNext<'_, Self, Item>
+    fn expect_next<Item: Message>(&mut self) -> ExpectNext<'_, Self, Item>
     where
         Self: Unpin,
     {
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ pub struct ExpectNext<'a, St: ?Sized, Item> {
 
 impl<St: ?Sized + Unpin, Item> Unpin for ExpectNext<'_, St, Item> {}
 
-impl<St: ?Sized + IoStream + Unpin, Item: Deserialize> Future for ExpectNext<'_, St, Item> {
+impl<St: ?Sized + IoStream + Unpin, Item: Message> Future for ExpectNext<'_, St, Item> {
     type Output = Result<Item, St::Error>;
 
     fn poll(mut self: Pin<&mut Self>, cx: &mut Context<'_>) -> Poll<Self::Output> {