diff --git a/src/filters.ts b/src/filters.ts
index 0ddc958..790d176 100644
--- a/src/filters.ts
+++ b/src/filters.ts
@@ -120,10 +120,18 @@ export const filter = {
    * Full control: receive the Lucid query builder and the raw value.
    * Scopes, joins and subqueries all work here.
    */
-  custom(
-    handler: (query: FilterQuery, value: unknown, context: FilterContext) => void
+  custom<Model extends LucidModel = LucidModel>(
+    handler: (
+      query: ModelQueryBuilderContract<Model>,
+      value: unknown,
+      context: FilterContext
+    ) => void
   ): FilterHandler {
-    return handler
+    // One cast here instead of one in every handler that names a
+    // relation: statics cannot reference class type parameters, so the
+    // stored FilterHandler stays wide while the declaration site gets
+    // the concrete model.
+    return handler as FilterHandler
   },
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/filters.spec.ts b/tests/unit/filters.spec.ts
index 55122f1..a5664af 100644
--- a/tests/unit/filters.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/filters.spec.ts
@@ -161,3 +161,23 @@ test.group('filter handlers receive the request context', () => {
     assert.isUndefined(captured.ctx)
   })
 })
+
+test.group('filter.custom is generic over the model', () => {
+  test('a typed handler uses relation names without casting', ({ assert }) => {
+    // The point is the typecheck: whereHas('comments') only compiles
+    // because custom<typeof Article> narrows the query builder. An
+    // untyped handler sees ModelQueryBuilderContract<LucidModel>, where
+    // relation names do not exist.
+    const handler = filter.custom<typeof Article>((query) => {
+      // compile-time proof: the narrowed builder knows Article's
+      // relation names, so 'comments' is assignable where the wide
+      // builder would reject it as never
+      type RelationName = Parameters<typeof query.whereHas>[0]
+      const relation: RelationName = 'comments'
+      void relation
+    })
+
+    // runtime: custom passes the handler through untouched
+    assert.isFunction(handler)
+  })
+})