diff --git a/src/python_introspect/annotation_types.py b/src/python_introspect/annotation_types.py
index 09e09a8..919b132 100644
--- a/src/python_introspect/annotation_types.py
+++ b/src/python_introspect/annotation_types.py
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ def resolved_class_annotations(owner: type) -> dict[str, object]:
     reference is left as a ``ForwardRef``, the form ``get_type_hints`` produces
     for it on Python 3.11 and later.
     """
-    annotations = get_type_hints(owner, include_extras=True)
+    annotations = get_type_hints(
+        owner, localns={owner.__name__: owner}, include_extras=True
+    )
     unresolved = set(annotations)
     for declaration in owner.__mro__:
         class_namespace = dict(vars(declaration))
diff --git a/src/python_introspect/signature_analyzer.py b/src/python_introspect/signature_analyzer.py
index aa920e4..8f32713 100644
--- a/src/python_introspect/signature_analyzer.py
+++ b/src/python_introspect/signature_analyzer.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 
 from metaclass_registry import AutoRegisterMeta
-from .annotation_types import optional_member_type
+from .annotation_types import optional_member_type, resolved_class_annotations
 from .docstring_annotations import infer_parameter_annotation
 
 # =============================================================================
@@ -1042,48 +1042,30 @@ def _analyze_dataclass(dataclass_type: type) -> Dict[str, ParameterInfo]:
 
         logger.debug(f"❌ CACHE MISS for {dataclass_type.__name__} (id={id(dataclass_type)}), cache has {len(SignatureAnalyzer._dataclass_analysis_cache)} entries")
 
-        try:
-            # Try to get type hints, fall back to __annotations__ if resolution fails
-            try:
-                type_hints = get_type_hints(dataclass_type, include_extras=True)
-            except Exception:
-                type_hints = inspect.get_annotations(dataclass_type, eval_str=False)
-
-            parameters = {}
-
-            for field in dataclasses.fields(dataclass_type):
-                # Skip dunder fields (internal/reserved fields)
-                if field.name.startswith(CONSTANTS.DUNDER_PREFIX) and field.name.endswith(CONSTANTS.DUNDER_SUFFIX):
-                    continue
-
-                param_type = type_hints.get(field.name, str)
-
-                # Get default value
-                if field.default != dataclasses.MISSING:
-                    default_value = field.default
-                    is_required = False
-                elif field.default_factory != dataclasses.MISSING:
-                    default_value = field.default_factory()
-                    is_required = False
-                else:
-                    default_value = None
-                    is_required = True
-
-                parameters[field.name] = ParameterInfo(
-                    name=field.name,
-                    param_type=param_type,
-                    default_value=default_value,
-                    is_required=is_required,
-                    description_owner=dataclass_type,
-                )
-
-            # PERFORMANCE: Cache the result to avoid re-parsing
-            SignatureAnalyzer._dataclass_analysis_cache[cache_key] = parameters
-            return parameters
-
-        except Exception:
-            # Return empty dict on error (don't cache errors)
-            return {}
+        type_hints = resolved_class_annotations(dataclass_type)
+        parameters = {}
+        for field in dataclasses.fields(dataclass_type):
+            if field.name.startswith(CONSTANTS.DUNDER_PREFIX) and field.name.endswith(CONSTANTS.DUNDER_SUFFIX):
+                continue
+            param_type = type_hints[field.name]
+            if field.default is not dataclasses.MISSING:
+                default_value = field.default
+                is_required = False
+            elif field.default_factory is not dataclasses.MISSING:
+                default_value = field.default_factory()
+                is_required = False
+            else:
+                default_value = None
+                is_required = True
+            parameters[field.name] = ParameterInfo(
+                name=field.name,
+                param_type=param_type,
+                default_value=default_value,
+                is_required=is_required,
+                description_owner=dataclass_type,
+            )
+        SignatureAnalyzer._dataclass_analysis_cache[cache_key] = parameters
+        return parameters
 
     @staticmethod
     def _materialize_dataclass_descriptions(dataclass_type: type, requested: ParameterInfo) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/test_declaration_failures.py b/tests/test_declaration_failures.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5eaad67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_declaration_failures.py
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+"""Broken declarations fail at the existing analysis owner, not as empty forms."""
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+
+import pytest
+
+from python_introspect import UnifiedParameterAnalyzer
+from python_introspect.signature_analyzer import SignatureAnalyzer
+
+
+def test_recursive_declaration_resolves_before_module_binding():
+    @dataclass
+    class Recursive:
+        child: "Recursive | None" = None
+
+    parameters = UnifiedParameterAnalyzer.analyze(Recursive)
+    assert parameters["child"].param_type == Recursive | None
+    assert parameters["child"].default_value is None
+    assert not parameters["child"].is_required
+    assert UnifiedParameterAnalyzer.analyze(Recursive) is parameters
+
+
+def test_unknown_annotation_raises_without_caching_an_empty_form():
+    @dataclass
+    class Broken:
+        value: "MissingDeclaration"
+
+    with pytest.raises(NameError, match="MissingDeclaration"):
+        UnifiedParameterAnalyzer.analyze(Broken)
+    assert Broken not in SignatureAnalyzer._dataclass_analysis_cache
+
+
+def test_default_factory_exception_identity_is_not_hidden():
+    error = RuntimeError("declared factory failed")
+
+    def fail():
+        raise error
+
+    @dataclass
+    class BrokenFactory:
+        value: int = field(default_factory=fail)
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError) as raised:
+        UnifiedParameterAnalyzer.analyze(BrokenFactory)
+    assert raised.value is error
+    assert BrokenFactory not in SignatureAnalyzer._dataclass_analysis_cache