diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 6a72514..98cf545 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -53,10 +53,9 @@ luajit-src = { version = "210.0.0", optional = true }
 rustyline = "6.0"
 criterion = "0.3"
 trybuild = "1.0"
+futures = "0.3.4"
 hyper = "0.13"
 tokio = { version = "0.2.18", features = ["full"] }
-futures-executor = "0.3.4"
-futures-util = "0.3.4"
 futures-timer = "3.0"
 
 [[bench]]
diff --git a/src/function.rs b/src/function.rs
index 141fcbe..7692575 100644
--- a/src/function.rs
+++ b/src/function.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ use crate::util::{
 };
 use crate::value::{FromLuaMulti, MultiValue, ToLuaMulti};
 
+#[cfg(feature = "async")]
+use futures_core::future::LocalBoxFuture;
+
 /// Handle to an internal Lua function.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct Function<'lua>(pub(crate) LuaRef<'lua>);
@@ -86,6 +89,44 @@ impl<'lua> Function<'lua> {
         R::from_lua_multi(results, lua)
     }
 
+    /// Returns a Feature that, when polled, calls `self`, passing `args` as function arguments,
+    /// and drives the execution.
+    ///
+    /// Internaly it wraps the function to an AsyncThread.
+    ///
+    /// # Examples
+    ///
+    /// ```
+    /// use std::time::Duration;
+    /// use futures_timer::Delay;
+    /// # use mlua::{Lua, Result};
+    /// # #[tokio::main]
+    /// # async fn main() -> Result<()> {
+    /// # let lua = Lua::new();
+    /// let sleep = lua.create_async_function(move |_lua, n: u64| async move {
+    ///     Delay::new(Duration::from_millis(n)).await;
+    ///     Ok(())
+    /// })?;
+    ///
+    /// sleep.call_async(10).await?;
+    ///
+    /// # Ok(())
+    /// # }
+    /// ```
+    #[cfg(feature = "async")]
+    pub fn call_async<'fut, A, R>(&self, args: A) -> LocalBoxFuture<'fut, Result<R>>
+    where
+        'lua: 'fut,
+        A: ToLuaMulti<'lua>,
+        R: FromLuaMulti<'lua> + 'fut,
+    {
+        let lua = self.0.lua;
+        match lua.create_thread(self.clone()) {
+            Ok(t) => Box::pin(t.into_async(args)),
+            Err(e) => Box::pin(futures_util::future::err(e)),
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Returns a function that, when called, calls `self`, passing `args` as the first set of
     /// arguments.
     ///
diff --git a/src/lua.rs b/src/lua.rs
index a0ca44f..9ba6afe 100644
--- a/src/lua.rs
+++ b/src/lua.rs
@@ -482,39 +482,37 @@ impl Lua {
     /// Wraps a Rust async function or closure, creating a callable Lua function handle to it.
     ///
     /// While executing the function Rust will poll Future and if the result is not ready, call
-    /// `lua_yield()` returning internal representation of a `Poll::Pending` value.
+    /// `yield()` passing internal representation of a `Poll::Pending` value.
     ///
-    /// The function must be called inside [`Thread`] coroutine to be able to suspend its execution.
-    /// An executor could be used together with [`ThreadStream`] and mlua will use a provided Waker
+    /// The function must be called inside Lua coroutine ([`Thread`]) to be able to suspend its execution.
+    /// An executor should be used to poll [`AsyncThread`] and mlua will take a provided Waker
     /// in that case. Otherwise noop waker will be used if try to call the function outside of Rust
     /// executors.
     ///
+    /// The family of `call_async()` functions takes care about creating [`Thread`].
+    ///
     /// # Examples
     ///
     /// Non blocking sleep:
     ///
     /// ```
     /// use std::time::Duration;
-    /// use futures_executor::block_on;
     /// use futures_timer::Delay;
-    /// # use mlua::{Lua, Result, Thread};
+    /// use mlua::{Lua, Result};
     ///
     /// async fn sleep(_lua: &Lua, n: u64) -> Result<&'static str> {
-    ///     Delay::new(Duration::from_secs(n)).await;
+    ///     Delay::new(Duration::from_millis(n)).await;
     ///     Ok("done")
     /// }
     ///
-    /// # fn main() -> Result<()> {
-    /// # let lua = Lua::new();
-    /// lua.globals().set("async_sleep", lua.create_async_function(sleep)?)?;
-    /// let thr = lua.load("coroutine.create(function(n) return async_sleep(n) end)").eval::<Thread>()?;
-    /// let res: String = block_on(async {
-    ///     thr.into_async(1).await // Sleep 1 second
-    /// })?;
-    ///
-    /// assert_eq!(res, "done");
-    /// # Ok(())
-    /// # }
+    /// #[tokio::main]
+    /// async fn main() -> Result<()> {
+    ///     let lua = Lua::new();
+    ///     lua.globals().set("sleep", lua.create_async_function(sleep)?)?;
+    ///     let res: String = lua.load("return sleep(...)").call_async(100).await?; // Sleep 100ms
+    ///     assert_eq!(res, "done");
+    ///     Ok(())
+    /// }
     /// ```
     ///
     /// [`Thread`]: struct.Thread.html
@@ -1347,6 +1345,19 @@ impl<'lua, 'a> Chunk<'lua, 'a> {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    /// Asynchronously execute this chunk of code.
+    ///
+    /// See [`Chunk::exec`] for more details.
+    ///
+    /// [`Chunk::exec`]: struct.Chunk.html#method.exec
+    #[cfg(feature = "async")]
+    pub fn exec_async<'fut>(self) -> LocalBoxFuture<'fut, Result<()>>
+    where
+        'lua: 'fut,
+    {
+        self.call_async(())
+    }
+
     /// Evaluate the chunk as either an expression or block.
     ///
     /// If the chunk can be parsed as an expression, this loads and executes the chunk and returns
@@ -1356,18 +1367,39 @@ impl<'lua, 'a> Chunk<'lua, 'a> {
         // First, try interpreting the lua as an expression by adding
         // "return", then as a statement.  This is the same thing the
         // actual lua repl does.
-        let mut expression_source = b"return ".to_vec();
-        expression_source.extend(self.source);
-        if let Ok(function) =
-            self.lua
-                .load_chunk(&expression_source, self.name.as_ref(), self.env.clone())
-        {
+        if let Ok(function) = self.lua.load_chunk(
+            &self.expression_source(),
+            self.name.as_ref(),
+            self.env.clone(),
+        ) {
             function.call(())
         } else {
             self.call(())
         }
     }
 
+    /// Asynchronously evaluate the chunk as either an expression or block.
+    ///
+    /// See [`Chunk::eval`] for more details.
+    ///
+    /// [`Chunk::eval`]: struct.Chunk.html#method.eval
+    #[cfg(feature = "async")]
+    pub fn eval_async<'fut, R>(self) -> LocalBoxFuture<'fut, Result<R>>
+    where
+        'lua: 'fut,
+        R: FromLuaMulti<'lua> + 'fut,
+    {
+        if let Ok(function) = self.lua.load_chunk(
+            &self.expression_source(),
+            self.name.as_ref(),
+            self.env.clone(),
+        ) {
+            function.call_async(())
+        } else {
+            self.call_async(())
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Load the chunk function and call it with the given arguemnts.
     ///
     /// This is equivalent to `into_function` and calling the resulting function.
@@ -1375,6 +1407,24 @@ impl<'lua, 'a> Chunk<'lua, 'a> {
         self.into_function()?.call(args)
     }
 
+    /// Load the chunk function and asynchronously call it with the given arguemnts.
+    ///
+    /// See [`Chunk::call`] for more details.
+    ///
+    /// [`Chunk::call`]: struct.Chunk.html#method.call
+    #[cfg(feature = "async")]
+    pub fn call_async<'fut, A, R>(self, args: A) -> LocalBoxFuture<'fut, Result<R>>
+    where
+        'lua: 'fut,
+        A: ToLuaMulti<'lua>,
+        R: FromLuaMulti<'lua> + 'fut,
+    {
+        match self.into_function() {
+            Ok(f) => f.call_async(args),
+            Err(e) => Box::pin(futures_util::future::err(e)),
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Load this chunk into a regular `Function`.
     ///
     /// This simply compiles the chunk without actually executing it.
@@ -1382,6 +1432,13 @@ impl<'lua, 'a> Chunk<'lua, 'a> {
         self.lua
             .load_chunk(self.source, self.name.as_ref(), self.env)
     }
+
+    fn expression_source(&self) -> Vec<u8> {
+        let mut buf = Vec::with_capacity(b"return ".len() + self.source.len());
+        buf.extend(b"return ");
+        buf.extend(self.source);
+        buf
+    }
 }
 
 unsafe fn load_from_std_lib(state: *mut ffi::lua_State, libs: StdLib) {
diff --git a/src/thread.rs b/src/thread.rs
index 95bc96d..ce1dd57 100644
--- a/src/thread.rs
+++ b/src/thread.rs
@@ -183,13 +183,13 @@ impl<'lua> Thread<'lua> {
     /// # Examples
     ///
     /// ```
-    /// # use mlua::{Error, Lua, Result, Thread};
-    /// use futures_executor::block_on;
-    /// use futures_util::stream::TryStreamExt;
-    /// # fn main() -> Result<()> {
+    /// # use mlua::{Lua, Result, Thread};
+    /// use futures::stream::TryStreamExt;
+    /// # #[tokio::main]
+    /// # async fn main() -> Result<()> {
     /// # let lua = Lua::new();
     /// let thread: Thread = lua.load(r#"
-    ///     coroutine.create(function(sum)
+    ///     coroutine.create(function (sum)
     ///         for i = 1,10 do
     ///             sum = sum + i
     ///             coroutine.yield(sum)
@@ -198,16 +198,13 @@ impl<'lua> Thread<'lua> {
     ///     end)
     /// "#).eval()?;
     ///
-    /// let result = block_on(async {
-    ///     let mut s = thread.into_async::<_, i64>(1);
-    ///     let mut sum = 0;
-    ///     while let Some(n) = s.try_next().await? {
-    ///         sum += n;
-    ///     }
-    ///     Ok::<_, Error>(sum)
-    /// })?;
+    /// let mut stream = thread.into_async::<_, i64>(1);
+    /// let mut sum = 0;
+    /// while let Some(n) = stream.try_next().await? {
+    ///     sum += n;
+    /// }
     ///
-    /// assert_eq!(result, 286);
+    /// assert_eq!(sum, 286);
     ///
     /// # Ok(())
     /// # }
diff --git a/tests/async.rs b/tests/async.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e02eb12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/async.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,173 @@
+#![cfg(feature = "async")]
+
+use std::rc::Rc;
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+use futures_util::stream::TryStreamExt;
+
+use mlua::{Error, Function, Lua, Result};
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn test_async_function() -> Result<()> {
+    let lua = Lua::new();
+
+    let f = lua
+        .create_async_function(|_lua, (a, b, c): (i64, i64, i64)| async move { Ok((a + b) * c) })?;
+    lua.globals().set("f", f)?;
+
+    let res: i64 = lua.load("f(1, 2, 3)").eval_async().await?;
+    assert_eq!(res, 9);
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn test_async_sleep() -> Result<()> {
+    let lua = Lua::new();
+
+    let sleep = lua.create_async_function(move |_lua, n: u64| async move {
+        futures_timer::Delay::new(Duration::from_millis(n)).await;
+        Ok(format!("elapsed:{}ms", n))
+    })?;
+    lua.globals().set("sleep", sleep)?;
+
+    let res: String = lua.load(r"return sleep(...)").call_async(100).await?;
+    assert_eq!(res, "elapsed:100ms");
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn test_async_call() -> Result<()> {
+    let lua = Lua::new();
+
+    let sleep = lua.create_async_function(|_lua, name: String| async move {
+        futures_timer::Delay::new(Duration::from_millis(10)).await;
+        Ok(format!("hello, {}!", name))
+    })?;
+
+    match sleep.call::<_, ()>("alex") {
+        Err(Error::RuntimeError(_)) => {}
+        _ => panic!(
+            "non-async executing async function must fail on the yield stage with RuntimeError"
+        ),
+    };
+
+    assert_eq!(sleep.call_async::<_, String>("alex").await?, "hello, alex!");
+
+    // Executing non-async functions using async call is allowed
+    let sum = lua.create_function(|_lua, (a, b): (i64, i64)| return Ok(a + b))?;
+    assert_eq!(sum.call_async::<_, i64>((5, 1)).await?, 6);
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn test_async_bind_call() -> Result<()> {
+    let lua = Lua::new();
+
+    let less = lua.create_async_function(|_lua, (a, b): (i64, i64)| async move { Ok(a < b) })?;
+
+    let less_bound = less.bind(0)?;
+    lua.globals().set("f", less_bound)?;
+
+    assert_eq!(lua.load("f(-1)").eval_async::<bool>().await?, false);
+    assert_eq!(lua.load("f(1)").eval_async::<bool>().await?, true);
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn test_async_handle_yield() -> Result<()> {
+    let lua = Lua::new();
+
+    let sum = lua.create_async_function(|_lua, (a, b): (i64, i64)| async move {
+        futures_timer::Delay::new(Duration::from_millis(100)).await;
+        Ok(a + b)
+    })?;
+
+    lua.globals().set("sleep_sum", sum)?;
+
+    let res: String = lua
+        .load(
+            r#"
+        sum = sleep_sum(6, 7)
+        assert(sum == 13)
+        coroutine.yield("in progress")
+        return "done"
+    "#,
+        )
+        .call_async(())
+        .await?;
+
+    assert_eq!(res, "done");
+
+    let min = lua
+        .load(
+            r#"
+        function (a, b)
+            coroutine.yield("ignore me")
+            if a < b then return a else return b end
+        end
+    "#,
+        )
+        .eval::<Function>()?;
+    assert_eq!(min.call_async::<_, i64>((-1, 1)).await?, -1);
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn test_async_thread_stream() -> Result<()> {
+    let lua = Lua::new();
+
+    let thread = lua.create_thread(
+        lua.load(
+            r#"
+            function (sum)
+                for i = 1,10 do
+                    sum = sum + i
+                    coroutine.yield(sum)
+                end
+                return sum
+            end
+            "#,
+        )
+        .eval()?,
+    )?;
+
+    let mut stream = thread.into_async::<_, i64>(1);
+    let mut sum = 0;
+    while let Some(n) = stream.try_next().await? {
+        sum += n;
+    }
+
+    assert_eq!(sum, 286);
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn test_async_thread() -> Result<()> {
+    let lua = Lua::new();
+
+    let cnt = Rc::new(100); // sleep 100ms
+    let cnt2 = cnt.clone();
+    let f = lua.create_async_function(move |_lua, ()| {
+        let cnt3 = cnt2.clone();
+        async move {
+            futures_timer::Delay::new(Duration::from_millis(*cnt3.as_ref())).await;
+            Ok("done")
+        }
+    })?;
+
+    let res: String = lua.create_thread(f)?.into_async(()).await?;
+
+    assert_eq!(res, "done");
+
+    assert_eq!(Rc::strong_count(&cnt), 2);
+    lua.gc_collect()?; // thread_s is non-resumable and subject to garbage collection
+    assert_eq!(Rc::strong_count(&cnt), 1);
+
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/tests/function.rs b/tests/function.rs
index ef2f9fb..cc1c9ab 100644
--- a/tests/function.rs
+++ b/tests/function.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,4 @@
-#![allow(unused_imports)]
-
-use std::{string::String as StdString, time::Duration};
-
-use futures_executor::block_on;
-
-use mlua::{Error, Function, Lua, Result, String, Thread};
+use mlua::{Function, Lua, Result, String};
 
 #[test]
 fn test_function() -> Result<()> {
@@ -81,34 +75,3 @@ fn test_rust_function() -> Result<()> {
 
     Ok(())
 }
-
-#[cfg(feature = "async")]
-#[tokio::test]
-async fn test_async_function() -> Result<()> {
-    let lua = Lua::new();
-
-    let f = lua.create_async_function(move |_lua, n: u64| async move {
-        futures_timer::Delay::new(Duration::from_secs(n)).await;
-        Ok("hello")
-    })?;
-    lua.globals().set("rust_async_sleep", f)?;
-
-    let thread = lua
-        .load(
-            r#"
-            coroutine.create(function ()
-                ret = rust_async_sleep(1)
-                assert(ret == "hello")
-                coroutine.yield()
-                return "world"
-            end)
-        "#,
-        )
-        .eval::<Thread>()?;
-
-    let fut = thread.into_async(());
-    let ret: StdString = fut.await?;
-    assert_eq!(ret, "world");
-
-    Ok(())
-}
diff --git a/tests/thread.rs b/tests/thread.rs
index 985fd88..666a7e6 100644
--- a/tests/thread.rs
+++ b/tests/thread.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,4 @@
-#![allow(unused_imports)]
-
 use std::panic::catch_unwind;
-use std::rc::Rc;
-use std::time::Duration;
-
-use futures_executor::block_on;
-use futures_util::stream::TryStreamExt;
 
 use mlua::{Error, Function, Lua, Result, Thread, ThreadStatus};
 
@@ -100,38 +93,6 @@ fn test_thread() -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "async")]
-#[tokio::test]
-async fn test_thread_stream() -> Result<()> {
-    let lua = Lua::new();
-
-    let thread = lua.create_thread(
-        lua.load(
-            r#"
-            function (s)
-                local sum = s
-                for i = 1,10 do
-                    sum = sum + i
-                    coroutine.yield(sum)
-                end
-                return sum
-            end
-            "#,
-        )
-        .eval()?,
-    )?;
-
-    let mut s = thread.into_async::<_, i64>(0);
-    let mut sum = 0;
-    while let Some(n) = s.try_next().await? {
-        sum += n;
-    }
-
-    assert_eq!(sum, 275);
-
-    Ok(())
-}
-
 #[test]
 fn coroutine_from_closure() -> Result<()> {
     let lua = Lua::new();
@@ -167,30 +128,3 @@ fn coroutine_panic() {
         Err(p) => assert!(*p.downcast::<&str>().unwrap() == "test_panic"),
     }
 }
-
-#[cfg(feature = "async")]
-#[tokio::test]
-async fn test_thread_async() -> Result<()> {
-    let lua = Lua::new();
-
-    let cnt = Rc::new(1); // sleep 1 second
-    let cnt2 = cnt.clone();
-    let f = lua.create_async_function(move |_lua, ()| {
-        let cnt3 = cnt2.clone();
-        async move {
-            futures_timer::Delay::new(Duration::from_secs(*cnt3.as_ref())).await;
-            Ok("hello")
-        }
-    })?;
-
-    let mut thread_s = lua.create_thread(f)?.into_async(());
-    let val: String = thread_s.try_next().await?.unwrap_or_default();
-
-    // thread_s is non-resumable and subject to garbage collection
-
-    lua.gc_collect()?;
-    assert_eq!(Rc::strong_count(&cnt), 1);
-    assert_eq!(val, "hello");
-
-    Ok(())
-}