diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ace51ae..1fc3d42 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@
 
  * deprecated old aasm_* class methods (old-style DSL), in preparation for AASM v4.0.0
 
+## 3.4.0
+
+ * allow retrieving the current event (`aasm.current_event`) (see [issue #159](https://github.com/aasm/aasm/issues/159) and [issue #168](https://github.com/aasm/aasm/issues/168))
+
 ## 3.3.3
 
  * bugfix: support reloading development environment in Rails (see [issue #148](https://github.com/aasm/aasm/issues/148))
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 320252a..979811e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -175,6 +175,31 @@ originating state (the from-state) and the target state (the to state), like thi
   end
 ```
 
+#### The current event triggered
+
+While running the callbacks you can easily retrieve the name of the event triggered
+by using `aasm.current_event`:
+
+```ruby
+  # taken the example callback from above
+  def do_something
+    puts "triggered #{aasm.current_event}"
+  end
+```
+
+and then
+
+```ruby
+  job = Job.new
+
+  # without bang
+  job.sleep # => triggered :sleep
+
+  # with bang
+  job.sleep! # => triggered :sleep!
+```
+
+
 ### Guards
 
 Let's assume you want to allow particular transitions only if a defined condition is
diff --git a/lib/aasm/base.rb b/lib/aasm/base.rb
index 625c244..9198f09 100644
--- a/lib/aasm/base.rb
+++ b/lib/aasm/base.rb
@@ -65,10 +65,12 @@ module AASM
       end
 
       @klass.send(:define_method, "#{name.to_s}!") do |*args, &block|
+        aasm.current_event = "#{name.to_s}!".to_sym
         aasm_fire_event(name, {:persist => true}, *args, &block)
       end
 
       @klass.send(:define_method, "#{name.to_s}") do |*args, &block|
+        aasm.current_event = name.to_sym
         aasm_fire_event(name, {:persist => false}, *args, &block)
       end
     end
diff --git a/lib/aasm/instance_base.rb b/lib/aasm/instance_base.rb
index deaf33f..b0ee17e 100644
--- a/lib/aasm/instance_base.rb
+++ b/lib/aasm/instance_base.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 module AASM
   class InstanceBase
 
-    attr_accessor :from_state, :to_state
+    attr_accessor :from_state, :to_state, :current_event
 
     def initialize(instance)
       @instance = instance
diff --git a/lib/aasm/version.rb b/lib/aasm/version.rb
index b5df3af..5e55fd7 100644
--- a/lib/aasm/version.rb
+++ b/lib/aasm/version.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 module AASM
-  VERSION = "3.3.3"
+  VERSION = "3.4.0"
 end
diff --git a/spec/unit/event_spec.rb b/spec/unit/event_spec.rb
index e8b3f73..939596b 100644
--- a/spec/unit/event_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/event_spec.rb
@@ -244,6 +244,24 @@ describe 'should fire callbacks' do
   end
 end
 
+describe 'current event' do
+  let(:pe) {ParametrisedEvent.new}
+
+  it 'if no event has been triggered' do
+    expect(pe.aasm.current_event).to be_nil
+  end
+
+  it 'if a event has been triggered' do
+    pe.wakeup
+    expect(pe.aasm.current_event).to eql :wakeup
+  end
+
+  it 'if no event has been triggered' do
+    pe.wakeup!
+    expect(pe.aasm.current_event).to eql :wakeup!
+  end
+end
+
 describe 'parametrised events' do
   let(:pe) {ParametrisedEvent.new}