diff --git a/macros/src/signature.rs b/macros/src/signature.rs
index d6e87ae..ffe531a 100644
--- a/macros/src/signature.rs
+++ b/macros/src/signature.rs
@@ -16,9 +16,18 @@ pub(crate) fn check(source: &Expr, signature: &TypeBareFn, target: &Expr) -> Tok
         .map(|i| format_ident!("__arg{i}", span = Span::mixed_site()))
         .collect();
     let target_name = format_ident!("__target", span = Span::mixed_site());
+    // A borrow of this local cannot last for 'static. `&()` would be promoted to a
+    // 'static borrow and accept every signature.
+    let local = format_ident!(
+        "borrowed_inputs_must_accept_any_lifetime",
+        span = Span::mixed_site()
+    );
     let binder = &signature.lifetimes;
     let mut probes = TokenStream::new();
-    // Probe borrowed inputs without rejecting static-only functions.
+    // Every borrowed input of the declared signature must accept a borrow of a local
+    // value, so a rule never treats a short borrow as a longer one. The probe impl is
+    // chosen by the input's type alone and the local borrow is checked afterwards, so
+    // no lifetime decides which impl applies and every trait solver agrees.
     for index in 0..args.len() {
         for mutable in [false, true] {
             let name = format_ident!("__Input{index}{}", usize::from(mutable));
@@ -30,36 +39,41 @@ pub(crate) fn check(source: &Expr, signature: &TypeBareFn, target: &Expr) -> Tok
                 .filter_map(|(i, ty)| (i != index).then_some(ty))
                 .collect();
             let mutability = mutable.then(|| quote!(mut));
-            let probe_args: Vec<_> = types
-                .iter()
-                .enumerate()
-                .map(|(i, ty)| {
-                    if i == index {
-                        quote!(&'__probe #mutability __Pointee)
-                    } else {
-                        quote!(#ty)
-                    }
-                })
-                .collect();
+            let borrowed = |lifetime: TokenStream| -> Vec<TokenStream> {
+                types
+                    .iter()
+                    .enumerate()
+                    .map(|(i, ty)| {
+                        if i == index {
+                            quote!(&#lifetime #mutability __Pointee)
+                        } else {
+                            quote!(#ty)
+                        }
+                    })
+                    .collect()
+            };
+            let shape_args = borrowed(quote!('__shape));
+            let local_args = borrowed(quote!('__local));
             probes.extend(quote! {
-                trait #name<__Pointee: ?Sized, #(#other),*> {
-                    fn #method<__Target>(&self, target: __Target)
-                    where __Target: for<'__probe> __Signature<(#(#probe_args,)*)>;
+                trait #name<'__shape, __Pointee: ?Sized, #(#other),*> {
+                    fn #method<'__local, __Target>(&self, target: __Target, local: &'__local ())
+                    where __Pointee: '__local, __Target: __Signature<(#(#local_args,)*)>;
                 }
-                impl<__Source, __Pointee: ?Sized, #(#other),*> #name<__Pointee, #(#other),*>
-                    for __SourceValue<__Source>
-                where __Source: for<'__probe> __Signature<(#(#probe_args,)*)> {
-                    fn #method<__Target>(&self, _: __Target)
-                    where __Target: for<'__probe> __Signature<(#(#probe_args,)*)> {}
+                impl<'__shape, __Shape, __Pointee: ?Sized + '__shape, #(#other),*> #name<'__shape, __Pointee, #(#other),*>
+                    for __Declared<__Shape>
+                where __Shape: __Signature<(#(#shape_args,)*)> {
+                    fn #method<'__local, __Target>(&self, _: __Target, _: &'__local ())
+                    where __Pointee: '__local, __Target: __Signature<(#(#local_args,)*)> {}
                 }
-                trait #fallback { fn #method<__Target>(&self, target: __Target); }
-                impl<__Source> #fallback for &__SourceValue<__Source> {
-                    fn #method<__Target>(&self, _: __Target) {}
+                trait #fallback { fn #method<__Target>(&self, target: __Target, local: &()); }
+                impl<__Shape> #fallback for &__Declared<__Shape> {
+                    fn #method<__Target>(&self, _: __Target, _: &()) {}
                 }
-                (&__SourceValue(#source)).#method(#target_name);
+                (&__Declared(#target_name)).#method(#target_name, &#local);
             });
         }
     }
+    let local_value = (!args.is_empty()).then(|| quote!(let #local = ();));
     quote! {
         {
             trait __Signature<__Args> { type Output; }
@@ -67,7 +81,7 @@ pub(crate) fn check(source: &Expr, signature: &TypeBareFn, target: &Expr) -> Tok
             where __Function: ::std::ops::FnOnce(#(#types),*) -> __Output {
                 type Output = __Output;
             }
-            struct __SourceValue<__Source>(__Source);
+            struct __Declared<__Shape>(__Shape);
             // Mutable references keep the input lifetimes distinct.
             fn __same_output<__Source, __Target, #(#types),*>(_: __Source, _: __Target, _: (#(&mut #types,)*))
             where __Source: __Signature<(#(#types,)*)>,
@@ -75,6 +89,7 @@ pub(crate) fn check(source: &Expr, signature: &TypeBareFn, target: &Expr) -> Tok
             #[allow(clippy::type_complexity)]
             let _: &mut dyn #binder ::std::ops::FnMut(#(#args),*) = &mut |#(mut #names),*| {
                 let #target_name: #signature = #target;
+                #local_value
                 #probes
                 __same_output(#source, #target_name, (#(&mut #names,)*));
             };
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 1299c02..6d75ed8 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -406,6 +406,10 @@ impl Drop for Session {
 /// be `Send + 'static`. Follow the same runtime safety rules as [`replace!`].
 /// Installation panics if the function cannot be patched.
 ///
+/// Borrowed inputs in a safe signature must accept any lifetime. For a function
+/// that only accepts `'static` borrows, declare an `unsafe fn` signature; it is
+/// checked only as a function pointer, so confirm the lifetimes yourself.
+///
 /// The source signature must match:
 /// ```compile_fail
 /// let mut session = shimforge::Session::new_global();
@@ -526,9 +530,10 @@ fn finish(result: Result<(), Error>, fatal: fn() -> !) {
 /// ```
 ///
 /// No `unsafe` block is needed. Follow the crate's safety rules. Lifetime checks
-/// are best effort; do not narrow lifetimes to force a type match. Closures
-/// without captures are accepted. Installation panics if the function cannot be
-/// patched.
+/// are best effort; do not narrow lifetimes to force a type match. Borrowed inputs
+/// in a safe signature must accept any lifetime; use an `unsafe fn` signature for a
+/// function that only accepts `'static` borrows. Closures without captures are
+/// accepted. Installation panics if the function cannot be patched.
 ///
 /// Incompatible signatures are rejected:
 /// ```compile_fail
diff --git a/tests/expectations.rs b/tests/expectations.rs
index cef7379..c9171a2 100644
--- a/tests/expectations.rs
+++ b/tests/expectations.rs
@@ -763,7 +763,9 @@ fn independent_input_lifetimes_keep_their_output_link() {
 fn genuine_static_inputs_and_results_stay_supported() {
     let _serial = serial_test();
     let mut session = Session::new_global();
-    let length = mock!(session, static_length, fn(&'static str) -> usize);
+    // Safe signatures require borrowed inputs that accept any lifetime, so a function
+    // that only takes 'static borrows is declared unsafe.
+    let length = mock!(session, static_length, unsafe fn(&'static str) -> usize);
     let seen = Arc::new(Mutex::new(None));
     let captured = seen.clone();
     length.expect().once().returning(move |value| {