diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 623ea93..6dcc91d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,12 +22,30 @@ And then execute:
 
 ## Usage
 
-Require in Capfile to use the default task:
+Require in Capfile to always use `rvm:hook` task:
 
     # Capfile
     require 'capistrano/rvm'
 
-And you should be good to go!
+And you should be good to go!  All tasks will be rvm-aware.
+
+Or, If you prefer to manually manage RVM integration at the task level:
+
+    # Capfile
+    require 'capistrano/rvm/no_hook'
+
+With this approach, you must explicitly set `rvm:hook` as a prequisite for tasks
+requiring RVM support:
+
+    before TASKNAME, 'rvm:hook'
+
+You may aletnatively use the convenience method `with_rvm`:
+
+    with_rvm TASKNAME
+
+Multiple tasks may be supported in one line:
+
+    with_rvm TASKNAME1, TASKNAME2, TASKNAME3
 
 ## Configuration
 
@@ -86,10 +104,18 @@ proper ruby and create the gemset.
 
 ## How it works
 
-This gem adds a new task `rvm:hook` before `deploy` task.
-It sets the `rvm ... do ...` for capistrano when it wants to run
-`rake`, `gem`, `bundle`, or `ruby`.
+With the default configuration, this gem adds a new tasks `rvm:hook` and
+`rvm:check` after each stage-setting task (ex. 'staging', 'production', etc.).
+
+`rvm:hook` sets the `rvm ... do ...` for capistrano when it wants to run `rake`,
+`gem`, `bundle`, or `ruby`.
+
+`rvm:check` outputs the current version info for rvm plus the active rvm and
+gemset.  It only runs when :log_level is set to :debug (including when the
+`--trace` argument is passed to `cap`.)
 
+When the `no_hook` configuration is used, `rvm:hook` must be manually set as a
+prerequisite for tasks requiring RVM support (with the exception of `rvm:check`.)
 
 ## Check your configuration
 
diff --git a/lib/capistrano/rvm.rb b/lib/capistrano/rvm.rb
index 5c7bd84..42d6f9f 100644
--- a/lib/capistrano/rvm.rb
+++ b/lib/capistrano/rvm.rb
@@ -1 +1,7 @@
 load File.expand_path("../tasks/rvm.rake", __FILE__)
+
+# all stage-based tasks are supported by default
+Capistrano::DSL.stages.each do |stage|
+  after stage, 'rvm:hook'
+  after stage, 'rvm:check'
+end
diff --git a/lib/capistrano/rvm/no_hook.rb b/lib/capistrano/rvm/no_hook.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4dab4c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/capistrano/rvm/no_hook.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+load File.expand_path("../../tasks/rvm.rake", __FILE__)
+
+# ONLY rvm:check is rvm supported by default
+with_rvm 'rvm:check'
diff --git a/lib/capistrano/tasks/rvm.rake b/lib/capistrano/tasks/rvm.rake
index b2845db..8292904 100644
--- a/lib/capistrano/tasks/rvm.rake
+++ b/lib/capistrano/tasks/rvm.rake
@@ -43,9 +43,10 @@ namespace :rvm do
   end
 end
 
-Capistrano::DSL.stages.each do |stage|
-  after stage, 'rvm:hook'
-  after stage, 'rvm:check'
+def with_rvm(*tasks)
+  tasks.each do |t|
+    before t, 'rvm:hook'
+  end
 end
 
 namespace :load do