diff --git a/docs/CONFIGURATION.md b/docs/CONFIGURATION.md
index 68a39142..858f157b 100644
--- a/docs/CONFIGURATION.md
+++ b/docs/CONFIGURATION.md
@@ -745,8 +745,8 @@ case.
 
 The processor constructs the candidate builder name using `builderUsageSuffix`
 (or `builderSuffix` if not configured) and verifies the builder contract: a
-constructor accepting the referenced type and a no-arg `build()` method returning
-it. Any class with the expected name and a matching contract qualifies, allowing
+constructor accepting the referenced type, a no-arg constructor, and a no-arg
+`build()` method returning it. Any class with the expected name and a matching contract qualifies, allowing
 references to builders generated with custom template annotations, external tools,
 or different suffixes. If the candidate builder cannot be found, the field falls
 back to a plain setter.
@@ -1023,8 +1023,8 @@ If empty, `builderSuffix` is used instead. This allows referencing builders that
 with a different suffix (e.g. by another module using `"Factory"` as suffix) without changing
 the suffix used for own builder generation.
 
-The candidate class must provide a constructor accepting the referenced type and a no-arg
-`build()` method returning it. The contract check is annotation-agnostic, so builders
+The candidate class must provide a constructor accepting the referenced type, a no-arg
+constructor, and a no-arg `build()` method returning it. The contract check is annotation-agnostic, so builders
 generated with custom template annotations or external tools are supported. If the
 candidate class does not exist or does not satisfy this contract, the field falls back
 to a plain setter.
diff --git a/processor/src/main/java/org/javahelpers/simple/builders/processor/analysis/BuilderScopeResolver.java b/processor/src/main/java/org/javahelpers/simple/builders/processor/analysis/BuilderScopeResolver.java
index b2c96064..f8efc32c 100644
--- a/processor/src/main/java/org/javahelpers/simple/builders/processor/analysis/BuilderScopeResolver.java
+++ b/processor/src/main/java/org/javahelpers/simple/builders/processor/analysis/BuilderScopeResolver.java
@@ -86,10 +86,10 @@ public BuilderScopeResolver(ProcessingContext context) {
    *   <li>Otherwise, the candidate builder name is constructed using {@code builderUsageSuffix}
    *       (falling back to {@code builderSuffix} if not configured). The candidate is looked up on
    *       the classpath and returned if it satisfies the builder contract: a constructor accepting
-   *       the referenced type and a no-arg {@code build()} method returning it. The contract check
-   *       is annotation-agnostic, so builders generated with custom template annotations, external
-   *       tools, or different suffixes are supported. The referenced type must not be opted out
-   *       with {@code @Ignore4BuilderGeneration}.
+   *       the referenced type, a no-arg constructor, and a no-arg {@code build()} method returning
+   *       it. The contract check is annotation-agnostic, so builders generated with custom template
+   *       annotations, external tools, or different suffixes are supported. The referenced type
+   *       must not be opted out with {@code @Ignore4BuilderGeneration}.
    * </ol>
    *
    * @param referencedType the type element being referenced as a field or collection element
@@ -199,10 +199,11 @@ private Optional<TypeName> resolve(TypeElement referencedType) {
 
   /**
    * Looks up the candidate builder type on the classpath and verifies it satisfies the builder
-   * contract: a constructor accepting the referenced type and a no-arg {@code build()} method
-   * returning it. The contract check is annotation-agnostic, so builders generated with custom
-   * template annotations or from external sources are supported as long as they follow the builder
-   * contract. It also avoids false positives like {@code String} → {@code StringBuilder}.
+   * contract: a constructor accepting the referenced type, a no-arg constructor, and a no-arg
+   * {@code build()} method returning it. The contract check is annotation-agnostic, so builders
+   * generated with custom template annotations or from external sources are supported as long as
+   * they follow the builder contract. It also avoids false positives like {@code String} → {@code
+   * StringBuilder}.
    *
    * @param candidate the candidate builder type name to look up
    * @param expectedType the qualified name of the referenced type the builder must accept and
@@ -217,6 +218,9 @@ private Optional<TypeName> resolveByBuilderContract(TypeName candidate, String e
     if (!JavaLangAnalyser.hasConstructorAccepting(builderTypeElement, expectedType, context)) {
       return Optional.empty();
     }
+    if (!JavaLangAnalyser.hasEmptyConstructor(builderTypeElement, context)) {
+      return Optional.empty();
+    }
     if (!JavaLangAnalyser.hasBuildMethodReturning(builderTypeElement, expectedType, context)) {
       return Optional.empty();
     }
diff --git a/processor/src/test/java/org/javahelpers/simple/builders/processor/BuilderScopeResolverTest.java b/processor/src/test/java/org/javahelpers/simple/builders/processor/BuilderScopeResolverTest.java
index f82c557f..9d24179c 100644
--- a/processor/src/test/java/org/javahelpers/simple/builders/processor/BuilderScopeResolverTest.java
+++ b/processor/src/test/java/org/javahelpers/simple/builders/processor/BuilderScopeResolverTest.java
@@ -156,6 +156,33 @@ public LibHelperBuilder(LibHelper value) {}
         ResolverProbeProcessor.usageWithoutAnnotation.get().getFullQualifiedName());
   }
 
+  @Test
+  void resolverUsageScope_RejectsBuilderWithoutNoArgConstructor() {
+    ResolverProbeProcessor.reset();
+    Compilation compilation =
+        Compiler.javac()
+            .withProcessors(new ResolverProbeProcessor())
+            .compile(
+                ProcessorTestUtils.forSource(
+                    """
+                    package lib;
+                    public class LibHelper { public LibHelper() {} }
+                    """),
+                ProcessorTestUtils.forSource(
+                    """
+                    package lib;
+                    public class LibHelperBuilder {
+                      public LibHelperBuilder(LibHelper value) {}
+                      public LibHelper build() { return new LibHelper(); }
+                    }
+                    """));
+
+    assertThat(compilation).succeeded();
+    // ctor(T) + build() but no no-arg ctor: generated consumer code calls `new
+    // LibHelperBuilder()`, so the builder must not qualify
+    assertEquals(Optional.empty(), ResolverProbeProcessor.usageWithoutAnnotation);
+  }
+
   @Test
   void resolverUsageScope_UsesBuilderUsageSuffixWhenConfigured() {
     ResolverProbeProcessor.reset();