diff --git a/core/jvm/src/main/scala/cats/effect/Selector.scala b/core/jvm/src/main/scala/cats/effect/Selector.scala
index da39e74d90..1777ea58b8 100644
--- a/core/jvm/src/main/scala/cats/effect/Selector.scala
+++ b/core/jvm/src/main/scala/cats/effect/Selector.scala
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 
 package cats.effect
 
+import cats.syntax.all._
+
 import java.nio.channels.SelectableChannel
 import java.nio.channels.spi.SelectorProvider
 
@@ -34,3 +36,12 @@ trait Selector {
   def select(ch: SelectableChannel, ops: Int): IO[Int]
 
 }
+
+object Selector {
+  def find: IO[Option[Selector]] =
+    IO.pollers.map(_.collectFirst { case selector: Selector => selector })
+
+  def get = find.flatMap(
+    _.liftTo[IO](new RuntimeException("No Selector installed in this IORuntime"))
+  )
+}
diff --git a/tests/jvm/src/test/scala/cats/effect/SelectorSpec.scala b/tests/jvm/src/test/scala/cats/effect/SelectorSpec.scala
index 78ea55d4aa..3fb0341c30 100644
--- a/tests/jvm/src/test/scala/cats/effect/SelectorSpec.scala
+++ b/tests/jvm/src/test/scala/cats/effect/SelectorSpec.scala
@@ -26,12 +26,9 @@ import java.nio.channels.SelectionKey._
 
 class SelectorSpec extends BaseSpec {
 
-  def getSelector: IO[Selector] =
-    IO.pollers.map(_.collectFirst { case selector: Selector => selector }).map(_.get)
-
   def mkPipe: Resource[IO, Pipe] =
     Resource
-      .eval(getSelector)
+      .eval(Selector.get)
       .flatMap { selector =>
         Resource.make(IO(selector.provider.openPipe())) { pipe =>
           IO(pipe.sink().close()).guarantee(IO(pipe.source().close()))
@@ -49,7 +46,7 @@ class SelectorSpec extends BaseSpec {
     "notify read-ready events" in real {
       mkPipe.use { pipe =>
         for {
-          selector <- getSelector
+          selector <- Selector.get
           buf <- IO(ByteBuffer.allocate(4))
           _ <- IO(pipe.sink.write(ByteBuffer.wrap(Array(1, 2, 3)))).background.surround {
             selector.select(pipe.source, OP_READ) *> IO(pipe.source.read(buf))
@@ -64,7 +61,7 @@ class SelectorSpec extends BaseSpec {
     "setup multiple callbacks" in real {
       mkPipe.use { pipe =>
         for {
-          selector <- getSelector
+          selector <- Selector.get
           _ <- selector.select(pipe.source, OP_READ).parReplicateA_(10) <&
             IO(pipe.sink.write(ByteBuffer.wrap(Array(1, 2, 3))))
         } yield ok
@@ -74,7 +71,7 @@ class SelectorSpec extends BaseSpec {
     "works after blocking" in real {
       mkPipe.use { pipe =>
         for {
-          selector <- getSelector
+          selector <- Selector.get
           _ <- IO.blocking(())
           _ <- selector.select(pipe.sink, OP_WRITE)
         } yield ok
@@ -84,7 +81,7 @@ class SelectorSpec extends BaseSpec {
     "gracefully handles illegal ops" in real {
       mkPipe.use { pipe =>
         // get off the wstp to test async codepaths
-        IO.blocking(()) *> getSelector.flatMap { selector =>
+        IO.blocking(()) *> Selector.get.flatMap { selector =>
           selector.select(pipe.sink, OP_READ).attempt.map {
             case Left(_: IllegalArgumentException) => true
             case _ => false
@@ -99,7 +96,8 @@ class SelectorSpec extends BaseSpec {
         IORuntime.builder().setCompute(pool, shutdown).addPoller(poller, () => ()).build()
 
       try {
-        val test = getSelector
+        val test = Selector
+          .get
           .flatMap { selector =>
             mkPipe.allocated.flatMap {
               case (pipe, close) =>