diff --git a/README_smart_holder.rst b/README_smart_holder.rst
index baf7b8ff0..cae40ff12 100644
--- a/README_smart_holder.rst
+++ b/README_smart_holder.rst
@@ -164,6 +164,17 @@ of interest have made the switch, because then the code will continue to
 work in either mode.
 
 
+Using py::classh but with fallback to classic pybind11
+------------------------------------------------------
+
+This could be viewed as super-conservative mode, for situations in which
+compatibility with classic pybind11 (without smart_holder) is needed for
+some period of time. The main idea is to enable use of ``py::classh``
+and the associated ``PYBIND11_SMART_HOLDER_TYPE_CASTERS`` macro while
+still being able to build the same code with classic pybind11. Please see
+tests/test_classh_mock.cpp for an example.
+
+
 Trampolines and std::unique_ptr
 -------------------------------
 
diff --git a/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index 1a1ca45da..3a7fbffad 100644
--- a/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ set(PYBIND11_TEST_FILES
     test_class_sh_trampoline_unique_ptr.cpp
     test_class_sh_unique_ptr_member.cpp
     test_class_sh_virtual_py_cpp_mix.cpp
+    test_classh_mock.cpp
     test_constants_and_functions.cpp
     test_copy_move.cpp
     test_custom_type_casters.cpp
diff --git a/tests/test_classh_mock.cpp b/tests/test_classh_mock.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..af016c7f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_classh_mock.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+#include "pybind11_tests.h"
+
+// The main purpose of this test is to ensure the suggested BOILERPLATE code block below is
+// correct.
+
+// Copy this block of code into your project.
+// Replace FOOEXT with the name of your project.
+// BOILERPLATE BEGIN
+#ifdef FOOEXT_USING_PYBIND11_SMART_HOLDER
+#    include <pybind11/smart_holder.h>
+#else
+#    include <pybind11/pybind11.h>
+PYBIND11_NAMESPACE_BEGIN(PYBIND11_NAMESPACE)
+template <typename type_, typename... options>
+using classh = class_<type_, options...>;
+PYBIND11_NAMESPACE_END(PYBIND11_NAMESPACE)
+#    ifndef PYBIND11_SMART_HOLDER_TYPE_CASTERS
+#        define PYBIND11_SMART_HOLDER_TYPE_CASTERS(...)
+#    endif
+#    ifndef PYBIND11_TYPE_CASTER_BASE_HOLDER
+#        define PYBIND11_TYPE_CASTER_BASE_HOLDER(...)
+#    endif
+#endif
+// BOILERPLATE END
+
+namespace {
+struct Foo0 {};
+struct Foo1 {};
+struct Foo2 {};
+} // namespace
+
+PYBIND11_TYPE_CASTER_BASE_HOLDER(Foo1, std::shared_ptr<Foo1>)
+PYBIND11_SMART_HOLDER_TYPE_CASTERS(Foo2)
+
+TEST_SUBMODULE(classh_mock, m) {
+    // Uses std::unique_ptr<Foo0> as holder in conservative mode, py::smart_holder in progressive
+    // mode (if available).
+    py::class_<Foo0>(m, "Foo0").def(py::init<>());
+
+    // Always uses std::shared_ptr<Foo1> as holder.
+    py::class_<Foo1, std::shared_ptr<Foo1>>(m, "Foo1").def(py::init<>());
+
+    // Uses py::smart_holder if available, or std::unique_ptr<Foo2> if only pybind11 classic is
+    // available.
+    py::classh<Foo2>(m, "Foo2").def(py::init<>());
+}
diff --git a/tests/test_classh_mock.py b/tests/test_classh_mock.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2c1d48754
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_classh_mock.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+from pybind11_tests import classh_mock as m
+
+
+def test_foobar():
+    # Not really testing anything in particular. The main purpose of this test is to ensure the
+    # suggested BOILERPLATE code block in test_classh_mock.cpp is correct.
+    assert m.Foo0()
+    assert m.Foo1()
+    assert m.Foo2()