diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/ApplicativeError.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/ApplicativeError.scala
index b289782ff8..5b0dc72b08 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/ApplicativeError.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/ApplicativeError.scala
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ object ApplicativeError {
   def apply[F[_], E](implicit F: ApplicativeError[F, E]): ApplicativeError[F, E] = F
 
   private[cats] final class LiftFromOptionPartially[F[_]](val dummy: Boolean = true) extends AnyVal {
-    def apply[E, A](oa: Option[A], ifEmpty: => E)(implicit F: ApplicativeError[F, E]): F[A] =
+    def apply[E, A](oa: Option[A], ifEmpty: => E)(implicit F: ApplicativeError[F, _ >: E]): F[A] =
       oa match {
         case Some(a) => F.pure(a)
         case None => F.raiseError(ifEmpty)
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/either.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/either.scala
index 78fcfc7863..a59676ac5b 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/either.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/either.scala
@@ -277,11 +277,11 @@ final class EitherOps[A, B](val eab: Either[A, B]) extends AnyVal {
     * scala> import cats.implicits._
     * scala> import cats.data.EitherT
     * scala> val e: Either[String, Int] = Right(3)
-    * scala> e.liftTo[EitherT[Option, String, ?]]
-    * res0: cats.data.EitherT[Option, String, Int] = EitherT(Some(Right(3)))
+    * scala> e.liftTo[EitherT[Option, CharSequence, ?]]
+    * res0: cats.data.EitherT[Option, CharSequence, Int] = EitherT(Some(Right(3)))
     * }}}
     */
-  def liftTo[F[_]](implicit F: ApplicativeError[F, A]): F[B] = F.fromEither(eab)
+  def liftTo[F[_]](implicit F: ApplicativeError[F, _ >: A]): F[B] = F.fromEither(eab)
 }
 
 
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/option.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/option.scala
index 0052aa6cbc..155fee3686 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/option.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/option.scala
@@ -178,12 +178,11 @@ final class OptionOps[A](val oa: Option[A]) extends AnyVal {
     * Example:
     * {{{
     * scala> import cats.implicits._
+    * scala> Some(1).liftTo[Either[CharSequence, ?]]("Empty")
+    * res0: scala.Either[CharSequence, Int] = Right(1)
     *
-    * scala> Some(1).liftTo[Either[String, ?]]("Empty")
-    * res0: scala.Either[String, Int] = Right(1)
-    *
-    * scala> Option.empty[Int].liftTo[Either[String, ?]]("Empty")
-    * res1: scala.Either[String, Int] = Left(Empty)
+    * scala> Option.empty[Int].liftTo[Either[CharSequence, ?]]("Empty")
+    * res1: scala.Either[CharSequence, Int] = Left(Empty)
     * }}}
     */
   def liftTo[F[_]]: LiftToPartiallyApplied[F, A] = new LiftToPartiallyApplied(oa)
@@ -203,7 +202,7 @@ final class OptionOps[A](val oa: Option[A]) extends AnyVal {
 
 object OptionOps {
   private[syntax] final class LiftToPartiallyApplied[F[_], A](oa: Option[A]) {
-    def apply[E](ifEmpty: => E)(implicit F: ApplicativeError[F, E]): F[A] =
+    def apply[E](ifEmpty: => E)(implicit F: ApplicativeError[F, _ >: E]): F[A] =
       ApplicativeError.liftFromOption(oa, ifEmpty)
   }
 }