diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/derived/foldable.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/derived/foldable.scala
index 82f57df0..b28cc2f1 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/derived/foldable.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/derived/foldable.scala
@@ -16,114 +16,98 @@
 
 package cats.derived
 
-import cats.{ Eval, Foldable }, Eval.now
+import cats.{Eval, Foldable}
 import shapeless._
 
+import scala.annotation.implicitNotFound
+
+@implicitNotFound("Could not derive an instance of Foldable[${F}]")
 trait MkFoldable[F[_]] extends Foldable[F] {
-  def foldLeft[A, B](fa: F[A], b: B)(f: (B, A) => B): B = safeFoldLeft(fa, b){ (b, a) => now(f(b, a)) }.value
   def foldRight[A, B](fa: F[A], lb: Eval[B])(f: (A, Eval[B]) => Eval[B]): Eval[B]
   def safeFoldLeft[A, B](fa: F[A], b: B)(f: (B, A) => Eval[B]): Eval[B]
+
+  def foldLeft[A, B](fa: F[A], b: B)(f: (B, A) => B): B =
+    safeFoldLeft(fa, b)((b, a) => Eval.later(f(b, a))).value
 }
 
 object MkFoldable extends MkFoldableDerivation {
-  def apply[F[_]](implicit mff: MkFoldable[F]): MkFoldable[F] = mff
+  def apply[F[_]](implicit F: MkFoldable[F]): MkFoldable[F] = F
 }
 
-trait MkFoldableDerivation extends MkFoldable0 {
-  implicit val mkFoldableId: MkFoldable[shapeless.Id] =
-    new MkFoldable[shapeless.Id] {
-      def foldRight[A, B](fa: A, lb: Eval[B])(f: (A, Eval[B]) => Eval[B]): Eval[B] = f(fa, lb)
-      def safeFoldLeft[A, B](fa: A, b: B)(f: (B, A) => Eval[B]): Eval[B] = now(f(b, fa).value)
-    }
+private[derived] abstract class MkFoldableDerivation extends MkFoldableNested {
+  implicit val mkFoldableHNil: MkFoldable[Const[HNil]#λ] = mkFoldableConst
+  implicit val mkFoldableCNil: MkFoldable[Const[CNil]#λ] = mkFoldableConst
 
-  override implicit def mkFoldableConstFoldable[T]: MkFoldable[Const[T]#λ] =
-    super[MkFoldable0].mkFoldableConstFoldable
+  implicit def mkFoldableConst[T]: MkFoldable[Const[T]#λ] =
+    new MkFoldable[Const[T]#λ] {
+      def foldRight[A, B](fa: T, lb: Eval[B])(f: (A, Eval[B]) => Eval[B]) = lb
+      def safeFoldLeft[A, B](fa: T, b: B)(f: (B, A) => Eval[B]) = Eval.now(b)
+    }
 }
 
-trait MkFoldable0 extends MkFoldable1 {
-  // Induction step for products
-  implicit def mkFoldableHcons[F[_]](implicit ihc: IsHCons1[F, Foldable, MkFoldable]): MkFoldable[F] =
-    new MkFoldable[F] {
-      def foldRight[A, B](fa: F[A], lb: Eval[B])(f: (A, Eval[B]) => Eval[B]): Eval[B] = {
-        import ihc._
-        val (hd, tl) = unpack(fa)
-        for {
-          t <- ft.foldRight(tl, lb)(f)
-          h <- fh.foldRight(hd, now(t))(f)
-        } yield h
-      }
-
-      def safeFoldLeft[A, B](fa: F[A], b: B)(f: (B, A) => Eval[B]): Eval[B] = {
-        import ihc._
-        val (hd, tl) = unpack(fa)
-        for {
-          h <- fh.safeFoldLeft(hd, b)(f)
-          t <- ft.safeFoldLeft(tl, h)(f)
-        } yield t
-      }
-    }
+private[derived] abstract class MkFoldableNested extends MkFoldableCons {
 
-  // Induction step for coproducts
-  implicit def mkFoldableCcons[F[_]](implicit icc: IsCCons1[F, Foldable, MkFoldable]): MkFoldable[F] =
+  implicit def mkFoldableNested[F[_]](implicit F: Split1[F, FoldableOrMk, FoldableOrMk]): MkFoldable[F] =
     new MkFoldable[F] {
-      def foldRight[A, B](fa: F[A], lb: Eval[B])(f: (A, Eval[B]) => Eval[B]): Eval[B] = {
-        import icc._
-        unpack(fa) match {
-          case Left(hd)  => fh.foldRight(hd, lb)(f)
-          case Right(tl) => ft.foldRight(tl, lb)(f)
-        }
-      }
 
-      def safeFoldLeft[A, B](fa: F[A], b: B)(f: (B, A) => Eval[B]): Eval[B] = {
-        import icc._
-        unpack(fa) match {
-          case Left(hd)  => fh.safeFoldLeft(hd, b)(f)
-          case Right(tl) => ft.safeFoldLeft(tl, b)(f)
-        }
-      }
+      def foldRight[A, B](fa: F[A], lb: Eval[B])(f: (A, Eval[B]) => Eval[B]) =
+        F.fo.unify.foldRight(F.unpack(fa), lb)((fia, lb) => Eval.defer(F.fi.unify.foldRight(fia, lb)(f)))
+
+      def safeFoldLeft[A, B](fa: F[A], b: B)(f: (B, A) => Eval[B]) =
+        mkSafeFoldLeft(F.fo)(F.unpack(fa), b)((b, fia) => mkSafeFoldLeft(F.fi)(fia, b)(f))
     }
 }
 
-trait MkFoldable1 extends MkFoldable2 {
-  implicit def mkFoldableSplit[F[_]](implicit split: Split1[F, Foldable, Foldable]): MkFoldable[F] =
+private[derived] abstract class MkFoldableCons extends MkFoldableGeneric {
+
+  implicit def mkFoldableHCons[F[_]](implicit F: IsHCons1[F, FoldableOrMk, MkFoldable]): MkFoldable[F] =
     new MkFoldable[F] {
-      def foldRight[A, B](fa: F[A], lb: Eval[B])(f: (A, Eval[B]) => Eval[B]): Eval[B] = {
-        import split._
-        fo.foldRight(unpack(fa), lb) { (fai, lbi) => fi.foldRight(fai, lbi)(f) }
-      }
-
-      def safeFoldLeft[A, B](fa: F[A], b: B)(f: (B, A) => Eval[B]): Eval[B] = {
-        import split._
-        fo.safeFoldLeft(unpack(fa), b){ (lbi, fai) => fi.safeFoldLeft(fai, lbi)(f) }
-      }
+
+      def foldRight[A, B](fa: F[A], lb: Eval[B])(f: (A, Eval[B]) => Eval[B]) = for {
+        unpacked <- Eval.now(F.unpack(fa))
+        b <- F.fh.unify.foldRight(unpacked._1, F.ft.foldRight(unpacked._2, lb)(f))(f)
+      } yield b
+
+      def safeFoldLeft[A, B](fa: F[A], b: B)(f: (B, A) => Eval[B]) = for {
+        unpacked <- Eval.now(F.unpack(fa))
+        hb <- mkSafeFoldLeft(F.fh)(unpacked._1, b)(f)
+        tb <- F.ft.safeFoldLeft(unpacked._2, hb)(f)
+      } yield tb
     }
-}
 
-trait MkFoldable2 extends MkFoldable3 {
-  implicit def mkFoldableGeneric[F[_]](implicit gen: Generic1[F, MkFoldable]): MkFoldable[F] =
+  implicit def mkFoldableCCons[F[_]](implicit F: IsCCons1[F, FoldableOrMk, MkFoldable]): MkFoldable[F] =
     new MkFoldable[F] {
-      def foldRight[A, B](fa: F[A], lb: Eval[B])(f: (A, Eval[B]) => Eval[B]): Eval[B] =
-        gen.fr.foldRight(gen.to(fa), lb)(f)
 
-      def safeFoldLeft[A, B](fa: F[A], b: B)(f: (B, A) => Eval[B]): Eval[B] =
-        gen.fr.safeFoldLeft(gen.to(fa), b)(f)
+      def foldRight[A, B](fa: F[A], lb: Eval[B])(f: (A, Eval[B]) => Eval[B]) =
+        F.unpack(fa) match {
+          case Left(fha) => F.fh.unify.foldRight(fha, lb)(f)
+          case Right(fta) => F.ft.foldRight(fta, lb)(f)
+        }
+
+      def safeFoldLeft[A, B](fa: F[A], b: B)(f: (B, A) => Eval[B]) =
+        F.unpack(fa) match {
+          case Left(fha) => mkSafeFoldLeft(F.fh)(fha, b)(f)
+          case Right(fta) => F.ft.safeFoldLeft(fta, b)(f)
+        }
     }
 }
 
-trait MkFoldable3 {
+private[derived] abstract class MkFoldableGeneric {
+  protected type FoldableOrMk[F[_]] = Foldable[F] OrElse MkFoldable[F]
 
-  // For binary compatibility.
-  def mkFoldableConstFoldable[T]: MkFoldable[Const[T]#λ] =
-    new MkFoldable[Const[T]#λ] {
-      def foldRight[A, B](fa: T, lb: Eval[B])(f: (A, Eval[B]) => Eval[B]): Eval[B] = lb
-      def safeFoldLeft[A, B](fa: T, b: B)(f: (B, A) => Eval[B]): Eval[B] = now(b)
+  protected def mkSafeFoldLeft[F[_], A, B](F: FoldableOrMk[F])(fa: F[A], b: B)(f: (B, A) => Eval[B]): Eval[B] =
+    F.unify match {
+      case mk: MkFoldable[F] => mk.safeFoldLeft(fa, b)(f)
+      case other => Eval.later(other.foldLeft(fa, b)(f(_, _).value))
     }
 
-  implicit class FoldableSafeFoldLeft[F[_]](val ff: Foldable[F]) {
-    def safeFoldLeft[A, B](fa: F[A], b: B)(f: (B, A) => Eval[B]): Eval[B] =
-      ff match {
-        case mff: MkFoldable[F] => mff.safeFoldLeft(fa, b)(f)
-        case _ => now(ff.foldLeft(fa, b) { (b, a) => f(b, a).value })
-      }
-  }
+  implicit def mkFoldableGeneric[F[_]](implicit F: Generic1[F, MkFoldable]): MkFoldable[F] =
+    new MkFoldable[F] {
+
+      def foldRight[A, B](fa: F[A], lb: Eval[B])(f: (A, Eval[B]) => Eval[B]) =
+        F.fr.foldRight(F.to(fa), lb)(f)
+
+      def safeFoldLeft[A, B](fa: F[A], b: B)(f: (B, A) => Eval[B]) =
+        F.fr.safeFoldLeft(F.to(fa), b)(f)
+    }
 }
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/derived/package.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/derived/package.scala
index 6587bc18..659344af 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/derived/package.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/derived/package.scala
@@ -97,6 +97,12 @@ object auto {
     ): MonoidK[F] = ev
   }
 
+  object foldable {
+    implicit def kittensMkFoldable[F[_]](
+      implicit refute: Refute[Foldable[F]], F: Lazy[MkFoldable[F]]
+    ): Foldable[F] = F.value
+  }
+
   object traverse {
     implicit def kittensMkTraverse[F[_]](
       implicit refute: Refute[Traverse[F]], F: Lazy[MkTraverse[F]]
@@ -105,7 +111,6 @@ object auto {
 
   //todo: the regular approach doesn't work for the following instances
   object pure extends MkPureDerivation
-  object foldable extends MkFoldableDerivation
 
   object consK {
     implicit def kittensMkConsK[F[_]](
@@ -159,8 +164,8 @@ object cached {
 
   object foldable {
     implicit def kittensMkFoldable[F[_]](
-       implicit refute: Refute[Foldable[F]], ev: Cached[MkFoldable[F]])
-    : Foldable[F] = ev.value
+       implicit refute: Refute[Foldable[F]], cached: Cached[MkFoldable[F]]
+    ): Foldable[F] = cached.value
   }
 
   object traverse{
@@ -264,7 +269,7 @@ object semi {
 
   def showPretty[A](implicit ev: MkShowPretty[A]): ShowPretty[A] = ev
 
-  def foldable[F[_]](implicit F: MkFoldable[F]): Foldable[F] = F
+  def foldable[F[_]](implicit F: Lazy[MkFoldable[F]]): Foldable[F] = F.value
 
   def traverse[F[_]](implicit F: Lazy[MkTraverse[F]]): Traverse[F] = F.value
 
diff --git a/core/src/test/scala/cats/derived/foldable.scala b/core/src/test/scala/cats/derived/foldable.scala
index c910acad..bcac38ec 100644
--- a/core/src/test/scala/cats/derived/foldable.scala
+++ b/core/src/test/scala/cats/derived/foldable.scala
@@ -14,69 +14,116 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-package cats.derived
+package cats
+package derived
 
-import cats.{ Eq, Eval, Foldable }, Eval.now
+import cats.instances.all._
+import cats.laws.discipline.FoldableTests
+import org.scalacheck.Arbitrary
 
-import TestDefns._
 class FoldableSuite extends KittensSuite {
-  // disable scalatest ===
-  override def convertToEqualizer[T](left: T): Equalizer[T] = ???
+  import FoldableSuite._
+  import TestDefns._
 
-  // exists method written in terms of foldRight
-  def contains[F[_]: Foldable, A: Eq](as: F[A], goal: A): Eval[Boolean] =
-    as.foldRight(now(false)) { (a, lb) =>
-      if (a === goal) now(true) else lb
+  type OptList[A] = Option[List[A]]
+  type ListSnoc[A] = List[Snoc[A]]
+  type AndChar[A] = (A, Char)
+  type BoxNel[A] = Box[Nel[A]]
+
+  def testFoldable(context: String)(
+    implicit iList: Foldable[IList],
+    tree: Foldable[Tree],
+    genericAdt: Foldable[GenericAdt],
+    optList: Foldable[OptList],
+    listSnoc: Foldable[ListSnoc],
+    andChar: Foldable[AndChar],
+    interleaved: Foldable[Interleaved],
+    boxNel: Foldable[BoxNel]
+  ): Unit = {
+    checkAll(s"$context.Foldable[IList]", FoldableTests[IList].foldable[Int, Long])
+    checkAll(s"$context.Foldable[Tree]", FoldableTests[Tree].foldable[Int, Long])
+    checkAll(s"$context.Foldable[GenericAdt]", FoldableTests[GenericAdt].foldable[Int, Long])
+    checkAll(s"$context.Foldable[OptList]", FoldableTests[OptList].foldable[Int, Long])
+    checkAll(s"$context.Foldable[ListSnoc]", FoldableTests[ListSnoc].foldable[Int, Long])
+    checkAll(s"$context.Foldable[AndChar]", FoldableTests[AndChar].foldable[Int, Long])
+    checkAll(s"$context.Foldable[Interleaved]", FoldableTests[Interleaved].foldable[Int, Long])
+    checkAll(s"$context.Foldable[BoxNel]]", FoldableTests[BoxNel].foldable[Int, Long])
+
+    val n = 10000
+    val largeIList = IList.fromSeq(1 until n)
+    val largeSnoc = Snoc.fromSeq(1 until n) :: Nil
+
+    test(s"$context.Traverse.foldLeft is stack safe") {
+      val actualIList = largeIList.foldLeft(0)(_ + _)
+      val actualSnoc = listSnoc.foldLeft(largeSnoc, 0)(_ + _)
+      val expected = n * (n - 1) / 2
+      assert(actualIList == expected)
+      assert(actualSnoc == expected)
+    }
+
+    test(s"$context.Traverse.foldRight is stack safe") {
+      val actualIList = largeIList.foldRight(Eval.Zero)((i, sum) => sum.map(_ + i))
+      val actualSnoc = listSnoc.foldRight(largeSnoc, Eval.Zero)((i, sum) => sum.map(_ + i))
+      val expected = n * (n - 1) / 2
+      assert(actualIList.value == expected)
+      assert(actualSnoc.value == expected)
     }
 
-  import auto.foldable._
-  import cats.instances.int._
-
-  test("Foldable[IList]") {
-    val F = Foldable[IList]
-
-    // some basic sanity checks
-    val lns = (1 to 10).toList
-    val ns = IList.fromSeq(lns)
-    val total = lns.sum
-    assert(F.foldLeft(ns, 0)(_ + _) == total)
-    assert(F.foldRight(ns, now(0))((x, ly) => ly.map(x + _)).value == total)
-    assert(F.fold(ns) == total)
-
-    // more basic checks
-    val lnames = List("Aaron", "Betty", "Calvin", "Deirdra")
-    val names = IList.fromSeq(lnames)
-    assert(F.foldMap(names)(_.length) == lnames.map(_.length).sum)
-
-    // test trampolining
-    val llarge = 1 to 10000
-    val large = IList.fromSeq(llarge)
-    val largeTotal = llarge.sum
-    assert(F.foldLeft(large, 0)(_ + _) == largeTotal)
-    assert(F.fold(large) == largeTotal)
-    assert(contains(large, 10000).value)
-
-    // safely build large lists
-    val larger = F.foldRight(large, now(List.empty[Int]))((x, lxs) => lxs.map((x + 1) :: _))
-    assert(larger.value == llarge.map(_ + 1))
+    test(s"$context.Foldable respects existing instances") {
+      val tail = List.range(1, 100)
+      val sum = boxNel.fold(Box(Nel(42, tail)))
+      assert(sum == tail.sum)
+    }
+  }
+
+  {
+    import auto.foldable._
+    testFoldable("auto")
+  }
+
+  {
+    import cached.foldable._
+    testFoldable("cached")
   }
 
-  test("derives an instance for Interleaved[T]") {
-    semi.foldable[TestDefns.Interleaved]
+  semiTests.run()
+
+  object semiTests {
+    implicit val iList: Foldable[IList] = semi.foldable
+    implicit val tree: Foldable[Tree] = semi.foldable
+    implicit val genericAdt: Foldable[GenericAdt] = semi.foldable
+    implicit val optList: Foldable[OptList] = semi.foldable
+    implicit val listSnoc: Foldable[ListSnoc] = semi.foldable
+    implicit val andChar: Foldable[AndChar] = semi.foldable
+    implicit val interleaved: Foldable[Interleaved] = semi.foldable
+    implicit val boxNel: Foldable[BoxNel] = semi.foldable
+    def run(): Unit = testFoldable("semi")
   }
+}
 
-  test("foldable.semi[Tree]") {
-    val F = semi.foldable[Tree]
+object FoldableSuite {
 
-    val tree: Tree[String] =
-      Node(
-        Leaf("quux"),
-        Node(
-          Leaf("foo"),
-          Leaf("wibble")
-        )
-      )
+  final case class Nel[+A](head: A, tail: List[A])
+  object Nel {
+
+    implicit def eqv[A](implicit A: Eq[A]): Eq[Nel[A]] = {
+      val listEq = Eq[List[A]]
+      Eq.instance((x, y) => A.eqv(x.head, y.head) && listEq.eqv(x.tail, y.tail))
+    }
 
-    assert(F.foldLeft(tree, 0)(_ + _.length) == 13)
+    implicit def arbitrary[A: Arbitrary]: Arbitrary[Nel[A]] =
+      Arbitrary(for {
+        head <- Arbitrary.arbitrary[A]
+        tail <- Arbitrary.arbitrary[List[A]]
+      } yield Nel(head, tail))
+
+    implicit val foldable: Foldable[Nel] = new Foldable[Nel] {
+
+      def foldLeft[A, B](fa: Nel[A], b: B)(f: (B, A) => B) =
+        Foldable[List].foldLeft(fa.tail, b)(f)
+
+      def foldRight[A, B](fa: Nel[A], lb: Eval[B])(f: (A, Eval[B]) => Eval[B]) =
+        Foldable[List].foldRight(fa.tail, lb)(f)
+    }
   }
 }