diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/ContT.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/ContT.scala
index 9476dfd990..6aa0dd91ac 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/ContT.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/ContT.scala
@@ -96,8 +96,10 @@ object ContT {
    *   }
    * }}}
    */
-  def defer[M[_], A, B](b: => B)(implicit M: Defer[ContT[M, A, ?]]): ContT[M, A, B] =
-    M.defer(pure(b))
+  def defer[M[_], A, B](b: => B): ContT[M, A, B] =
+    apply { cb =>
+      cb(b)
+    }
 
   /**
    * Build a computation that makes use of a callback, also known as a continuation.