diff --git a/toolz/itertoolz.py b/toolz/itertoolz.py
index 941b9a9f..e07bb765 100644
--- a/toolz/itertoolz.py
+++ b/toolz/itertoolz.py
@@ -816,6 +816,8 @@ def join(leftkey, leftseq, rightkey, rightseq,
     This is a semi-streaming operation.  The LEFT sequence is fully evaluated
     and placed into memory.  The RIGHT sequence is evaluated lazily and so can
     be arbitrarily large.
+    (Note: If right_default is defined, then unique keys of rightseq
+        will also be stored in memory.)
 
     >>> friends = [('Alice', 'Edith'),
     ...            ('Alice', 'Zhao'),
@@ -858,7 +860,10 @@ def join(leftkey, leftseq, rightkey, rightseq,
 
     Usually the key arguments are callables to be applied to the sequences.  If
     the keys are not obviously callable then it is assumed that indexing was
-    intended, e.g. the following is a legal change
+    intended, e.g. the following is a legal change.
+    The join is implemented as a hash join and the keys of leftseq must be
+    hashable. Additionally, if right_default is defined, then keys of rightseq
+    must also be hashable.
 
     >>> # result = join(second, friends, first, cities)
     >>> result = join(1, friends, 0, cities)  # doctest: +SKIP
@@ -869,22 +874,47 @@ def join(leftkey, leftseq, rightkey, rightseq,
         rightkey = getter(rightkey)
 
     d = groupby(leftkey, leftseq)
-    seen_keys = set()
 
-    left_default_is_no_default = (left_default == no_default)
-    for item in rightseq:
-        key = rightkey(item)
-        seen_keys.add(key)
-        try:
-            left_matches = d[key]
-            for match in left_matches:
-                yield (match, item)
-        except KeyError:
-            if not left_default_is_no_default:
+    if left_default == no_default and right_default == no_default:
+        # Inner Join
+        for item in rightseq:
+            key = rightkey(item)
+            if key in d:
+                for left_match in d[key]:
+                    yield (left_match, item)
+    elif left_default != no_default and right_default == no_default:
+        # Right Join
+        for item in rightseq:
+            key = rightkey(item)
+            if key in d:
+                for left_match in d[key]:
+                    yield (left_match, item)
+            else:
                 yield (left_default, item)
+    elif right_default != no_default:
+        seen_keys = set()
+        seen = seen_keys.add
+
+        if left_default == no_default:
+            # Left Join
+            for item in rightseq:
+                key = rightkey(item)
+                seen(key)
+                if key in d:
+                    for left_match in d[key]:
+                        yield (left_match, item)
+        else:
+            # Full Join
+            for item in rightseq:
+                key = rightkey(item)
+                seen(key)
+                if key in d:
+                    for left_match in d[key]:
+                        yield (left_match, item)
+                else:
+                    yield (left_default, item)
 
-    if right_default != no_default:
-        for key, matches in d.items():
+        for key, matches in iteritems(d):
             if key not in seen_keys:
                 for match in matches:
                     yield (match, right_default)