diff --git a/core/jvm/src/main/scala/cats/effect/IOLocalPlatform.scala b/core/jvm/src/main/scala/cats/effect/IOLocalPlatform.scala
index 6b03d041bc..4a66d31b23 100644
--- a/core/jvm/src/main/scala/cats/effect/IOLocalPlatform.scala
+++ b/core/jvm/src/main/scala/cats/effect/IOLocalPlatform.scala
@@ -21,11 +21,12 @@ import IOFiberConstants.ioLocalPropagation
 private[effect] trait IOLocalPlatform[A] { self: IOLocal[A] =>
 
   /**
-   * Returns a [[java.lang.ThreadLocal]] that allows to unsafely get, set, and remove (aka
-   * reset) the value. The system property `cats.effect.ioLocalPropagation` must be `true`,
-   * otherwise throws an [[java.lang.UnsupportedOperationException]].
+   * Returns a [[java.lang.ThreadLocal]] view of this [[IOLocal]] that allows to unsafely get,
+   * set, and remove (aka reset) the value in the currently running fiber. The system property
+   * `cats.effect.ioLocalPropagation` must be `true`, otherwise throws an
+   * [[java.lang.UnsupportedOperationException]].
    */
-  def unsafeToThreadLocal(): ThreadLocal[A] = if (ioLocalPropagation)
+  def unsafeThreadLocal(): ThreadLocal[A] = if (ioLocalPropagation)
     new ThreadLocal[A] {
       override def get(): A = {
         val fiber = IOFiber.currentIOFiber()
diff --git a/tests/jvm/src/test/scala/cats/effect/unsafe/IOLocalsSpec.scala b/tests/jvm/src/test/scala/cats/effect/unsafe/IOLocalsSpec.scala
index 97c06e7047..f425e67fa2 100644
--- a/tests/jvm/src/test/scala/cats/effect/unsafe/IOLocalsSpec.scala
+++ b/tests/jvm/src/test/scala/cats/effect/unsafe/IOLocalsSpec.scala
@@ -22,14 +22,14 @@ class IOLocalsSpec extends BaseSpec {
   "IOLocals" should {
     "return a default value" in real {
       IOLocal(42)
-        .flatMap(local => IO(local.unsafeToThreadLocal().get()))
+        .flatMap(local => IO(local.unsafeThreadLocal().get()))
         .map(_ must beEqualTo(42))
     }
 
     "return a set value" in real {
       for {
         local <- IOLocal(42)
-        threadLocal <- IO(local.unsafeToThreadLocal())
+        threadLocal <- IO(local.unsafeThreadLocal())
         _ <- local.set(24)
         got <- IO(threadLocal.get())
       } yield got must beEqualTo(24)
@@ -37,13 +37,13 @@ class IOLocalsSpec extends BaseSpec {
 
     "unsafely set" in real {
       IOLocal(42).flatMap(local =>
-        IO(local.unsafeToThreadLocal().set(24)) *> local.get.map(_ must beEqualTo(24)))
+        IO(local.unsafeThreadLocal().set(24)) *> local.get.map(_ must beEqualTo(24)))
     }
 
     "unsafely reset" in real {
       for {
         local <- IOLocal(42)
-        threadLocal <- IO(local.unsafeToThreadLocal())
+        threadLocal <- IO(local.unsafeThreadLocal())
         _ <- local.set(24)
         _ <- IO(threadLocal.remove())
         got <- local.get