diff --git a/build.py b/build.py
index 85e7098a..4d9c77c1 100644
--- a/build.py
+++ b/build.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ def build(setup_kwargs):
             dict(
                 ext_modules=cythonize(
                     [
+                        "src/dbus_fast/_unpack.py",
                         "src/dbus_fast/_private/marshaller.py",
                         "src/dbus_fast/_private/unmarshaller.py",
                     ]
diff --git a/src/dbus_fast/__init__.py b/src/dbus_fast/__init__.py
index 73fa53a0..8ebade4f 100644
--- a/src/dbus_fast/__init__.py
+++ b/src/dbus_fast/__init__.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 )
 from .message import Message
 from .signature import SignatureTree, SignatureType, Variant
+from .unpack import unpack_variants
 from .validators import (
     assert_bus_name_valid,
     assert_interface_name_valid,
@@ -37,3 +38,47 @@
     is_member_name_valid,
     is_object_path_valid,
 )
+
+__all__ = [
+    "aio",
+    "glib",
+    "introspection",
+    "message_bus",
+    "proxy_object",
+    "service",
+    "ArgDirection",
+    "BusType",
+    "ErrorType",
+    "MessageFlag",
+    "MessageType",
+    "NameFlag",
+    "PropertyAccess",
+    "ReleaseNameReply",
+    "RequestNameReply",
+    "AuthError",
+    "DBusError",
+    "InterfaceNotFoundError",
+    "InvalidAddressError",
+    "InvalidBusNameError",
+    "InvalidInterfaceNameError",
+    "InvalidIntrospectionError",
+    "InvalidMemberNameError",
+    "InvalidMessageError",
+    "InvalidObjectPathError",
+    "InvalidSignatureError",
+    "SignalDisabledError",
+    "SignatureBodyMismatchError",
+    "Message",
+    "SignatureTree",
+    "SignatureType",
+    "Variant",
+    "assert_bus_name_valid",
+    "assert_interface_name_valid",
+    "assert_member_name_valid",
+    "assert_object_path_valid",
+    "is_bus_name_valid",
+    "is_interface_name_valid",
+    "is_member_name_valid",
+    "is_object_path_valid",
+    "unpack_variants",
+]
diff --git a/src/dbus_fast/aio/proxy_object.py b/src/dbus_fast/aio/proxy_object.py
index 6bef63cd..5a260b09 100644
--- a/src/dbus_fast/aio/proxy_object.py
+++ b/src/dbus_fast/aio/proxy_object.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 from ..message_bus import BaseMessageBus
 from ..proxy_object import BaseProxyInterface, BaseProxyObject
 from ..signature import Variant
-from ..signature import unpack_variants as unpack
+from ..unpack import unpack_variants as unpack
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from .message_bus import MessageBus as AioMessageBus
diff --git a/src/dbus_fast/glib/proxy_object.py b/src/dbus_fast/glib/proxy_object.py
index a5a020a2..ba9f4722 100644
--- a/src/dbus_fast/glib/proxy_object.py
+++ b/src/dbus_fast/glib/proxy_object.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from ..message_bus import BaseMessageBus
 from ..proxy_object import BaseProxyInterface, BaseProxyObject
 from ..signature import Variant
-from ..signature import unpack_variants as unpack
+from ..unpack import unpack_variants as unpack
 
 # glib is optional
 try:
diff --git a/src/dbus_fast/proxy_object.py b/src/dbus_fast/proxy_object.py
index f0130d24..71a052db 100644
--- a/src/dbus_fast/proxy_object.py
+++ b/src/dbus_fast/proxy_object.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 from .constants import ErrorType, MessageType
 from .errors import DBusError, InterfaceNotFoundError
 from .message import Message
-from .signature import unpack_variants as unpack
+from .unpack import unpack_variants as unpack
 from .validators import assert_bus_name_valid, assert_object_path_valid
 
 
diff --git a/src/dbus_fast/signature.py b/src/dbus_fast/signature.py
index fd264f81..a9081b6f 100644
--- a/src/dbus_fast/signature.py
+++ b/src/dbus_fast/signature.py
@@ -5,17 +5,6 @@
 from .validators import is_object_path_valid
 
 
-def unpack_variants(data: Any):
-    """Unpack variants and remove signature info."""
-    if isinstance(data, Variant):
-        return unpack_variants(data.value)
-    if isinstance(data, dict):
-        return {k: unpack_variants(v) for k, v in data.items()}
-    if isinstance(data, list):
-        return [unpack_variants(item) for item in data]
-    return data
-
-
 class SignatureType:
     """A class that represents a single complete type within a signature.
 
diff --git a/src/dbus_fast/unpack.pxd b/src/dbus_fast/unpack.pxd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3f996c32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dbus_fast/unpack.pxd
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+"""cdefs for unpack.py"""
+
+import cython
+
+
+cpdef unpack_variants(object data)
diff --git a/src/dbus_fast/unpack.py b/src/dbus_fast/unpack.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ac2a1401
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dbus_fast/unpack.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+from typing import Any
+
+from .signature import Variant
+
+
+def unpack_variants(data: Any) -> Any:
+    """Unpack variants and remove signature info."""
+    if isinstance(data, Variant):
+        return unpack_variants(data.value)
+    if isinstance(data, dict):
+        return {k: unpack_variants(v) for k, v in data.items()}
+    if isinstance(data, list):
+        return [unpack_variants(item) for item in data]
+    return data
diff --git a/tests/test_unpack_variants.py b/tests/test_unpack_variants.py
index 0c832990..61f46d66 100644
--- a/tests/test_unpack_variants.py
+++ b/tests/test_unpack_variants.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 """Test unpack variants."""
 import pytest
 
-from dbus_fast.signature import Variant, unpack_variants
+from dbus_fast.signature import Variant
+from dbus_fast.unpack import unpack_variants
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio