diff --git a/hypothesis-python/RELEASE.rst b/hypothesis-python/RELEASE.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4c7dc4fd4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hypothesis-python/RELEASE.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+RELEASE_TYPE: minor
+
+This release teaches :func:`~hypothesis.strategies.builds` to use
+:func:`~hypothesis.strategies.deferred` when resolving unrecognised type hints,
+so that you can conveniently register strategies for recursive types
+with constraints on some arguments (:issue:`3026`):
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+    class RecursiveClass:
+        def __init__(self, value: int, next_node: typing.Optional["SomeClass"]):
+            assert value > 0
+            self.value = value
+            self.next_node = next_node
+
+    st.register_type_strategy(
+        RecursiveClass,
+        st.builds(RecursiveClass, value=st.integers(min_value=1))
+    )
diff --git a/hypothesis-python/src/hypothesis/strategies/_internal/core.py b/hypothesis-python/src/hypothesis/strategies/_internal/core.py
index 4f64ff75fe..c48eea72f1 100644
--- a/hypothesis-python/src/hypothesis/strategies/_internal/core.py
+++ b/hypothesis-python/src/hypothesis/strategies/_internal/core.py
@@ -886,8 +886,21 @@ def builds(
             raise InvalidArgument(
                 f"passed infer for {badargs}, but there is no type annotation"
             )
-        for kw in set(hints) & (required | to_infer):
-            kwargs[kw] = from_type(hints[kw])
+        infer_for = {k: v for k, v in hints.items() if k in (required | to_infer)}
+        if infer_for:
+            from hypothesis.strategies._internal.types import _global_type_lookup
+
+            for kw, t in infer_for.items():
+                if (
+                    getattr(t, "__module__", None) in ("builtins", "typing")
+                    or t in _global_type_lookup
+                ):
+                    kwargs[kw] = from_type(t)
+                else:
+                    # We defer resolution of these type annotations so that the obvious
+                    # approach to registering recursive types just works.  See
+                    # https://github.com/HypothesisWorks/hypothesis/issues/3026
+                    kwargs[kw] = deferred(lambda t=t: from_type(t))
     return BuildsStrategy(target, args, kwargs)
 
 
diff --git a/hypothesis-python/tests/cover/test_lookup.py b/hypothesis-python/tests/cover/test_lookup.py
index 7a03b612a2..c7248f8155 100644
--- a/hypothesis-python/tests/cover/test_lookup.py
+++ b/hypothesis-python/tests/cover/test_lookup.py
@@ -547,6 +547,24 @@ def test_resolving_recursive_type():
     assert isinstance(st.builds(Tree).example(), Tree)
 
 
+class SomeClass:
+    def __init__(self, value: int, next_node: typing.Optional["SomeClass"]) -> None:
+        assert value > 0
+        self.value = value
+        self.next_node = next_node
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return f"SomeClass({self.value}, next_node={self.next_node})"
+
+
+def test_resolving_recursive_type_with_registered_constraint():
+    with temp_registered(
+        SomeClass, st.builds(SomeClass, value=st.integers(min_value=1))
+    ):
+        find_any(st.from_type(SomeClass), lambda s: s.next_node is None)
+        find_any(st.from_type(SomeClass), lambda s: s.next_node is not None)
+
+
 @given(from_type(typing.Tuple[()]))
 def test_resolves_empty_Tuple_issue_1583_regression(ex):
     # See e.g. https://github.com/python/mypy/commit/71332d58