diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/Alternative.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/Alternative.scala
index 4531153299..126436115d 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/Alternative.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/Alternative.scala
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ import simulacrum.typeclass
    * }}}
    */
   def guard(condition: Boolean): F[Unit] =
-    if (condition) pure(()) else empty
+    if (condition) unit else empty
 
   override def compose[G[_]: Applicative]: Alternative[λ[α => F[G[α]]]] =
     new ComposedAlternative[F, G] {
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/Applicative.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/Applicative.scala
index 0a6a3fa937..fd9d0c6b0c 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/Applicative.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/Applicative.scala
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ import simulacrum.typeclass
    * }}}
    */
   def unlessA[A](cond: Boolean)(f: => F[A]): F[Unit] =
-    if (cond) pure(()) else void(f)
+    if (cond) unit else void(f)
 
   /**
    * Returns the given argument (mapped to Unit) if `cond` is `true`, otherwise,
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ import simulacrum.typeclass
    * }}}
    */
   def whenA[A](cond: Boolean)(f: => F[A]): F[Unit] =
-    if (cond) void(f) else pure(())
+    if (cond) void(f) else unit
 
 }