diff --git a/benches/main.rs b/benches/main.rs
index 9d46131d1..4b8a2b106 100644
--- a/benches/main.rs
+++ b/benches/main.rs
@@ -458,6 +458,50 @@ fn complete_model(bench: &mut Bencher) {
     })
 }
 
+#[bench]
+fn nested_model_using_definitions(bench: &mut Bencher) {
+    Python::with_gil(|py| {
+        let sys_path = py.import("sys").unwrap().getattr("path").unwrap();
+        sys_path.call_method1("append", ("./tests/benchmarks/",)).unwrap();
+
+        let complete_schema = py.import("nested_schema").unwrap();
+        let mut schema = complete_schema.call_method0("schema_using_defs").unwrap();
+        schema = validate_core_schema(py, schema, None).unwrap().extract().unwrap();
+        let validator = SchemaValidator::py_new(py, schema, None).unwrap();
+
+        let input = complete_schema.call_method0("input_data_valid").unwrap();
+        let input = black_box(input);
+
+        validator.validate_python(py, input, None, None, None, None).unwrap();
+
+        bench.iter(|| {
+            black_box(validator.validate_python(py, input, None, None, None, None).unwrap());
+        })
+    })
+}
+
+#[bench]
+fn nested_model_inlined(bench: &mut Bencher) {
+    Python::with_gil(|py| {
+        let sys_path = py.import("sys").unwrap().getattr("path").unwrap();
+        sys_path.call_method1("append", ("./tests/benchmarks/",)).unwrap();
+
+        let complete_schema = py.import("nested_schema").unwrap();
+        let mut schema = complete_schema.call_method0("inlined_schema").unwrap();
+        schema = validate_core_schema(py, schema, None).unwrap().extract().unwrap();
+        let validator = SchemaValidator::py_new(py, schema, None).unwrap();
+
+        let input = complete_schema.call_method0("input_data_valid").unwrap();
+        let input = black_box(input);
+
+        validator.validate_python(py, input, None, None, None, None).unwrap();
+
+        bench.iter(|| {
+            black_box(validator.validate_python(py, input, None, None, None, None).unwrap());
+        })
+    })
+}
+
 #[bench]
 fn literal_ints_few_python(bench: &mut Bencher) {
     Python::with_gil(|py| {
diff --git a/tests/benchmarks/nested_schema.py b/tests/benchmarks/nested_schema.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0d91d1217
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/benchmarks/nested_schema.py
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from pydantic_core import core_schema as cs
+
+N = 5  # arbitrary number that takes ~0.05s per run
+
+
+class MyModel:
+    # __slots__ is not required, but it avoids __pydantic_fields_set__ falling into __dict__
+    __slots__ = '__dict__', '__pydantic_fields_set__', '__pydantic_extra__', '__pydantic_private__'
+
+
+def schema_using_defs() -> cs.CoreSchema:
+    definitions: list[cs.CoreSchema] = [
+        {'type': 'int', 'ref': 'int'},
+        {
+            'type': 'model',
+            'cls': MyModel,
+            'schema': {
+                'type': 'model-fields',
+                'fields': {
+                    str(c): {'type': 'model-field', 'schema': {'type': 'definition-ref', 'schema_ref': 'int'}}
+                    for c in range(N)
+                },
+            },
+            'ref': f'model_{N}',
+        },
+    ]
+    level = N
+    for level in reversed(range(N)):
+        definitions.append(
+            {
+                'type': 'model',
+                'cls': MyModel,
+                'schema': {
+                    'type': 'model-fields',
+                    'fields': {
+                        str(c): {
+                            'type': 'model-field',
+                            'schema': {'type': 'definition-ref', 'schema_ref': f'model_{level+1}'},
+                        }
+                        for c in range(N)
+                    },
+                },
+                'ref': f'model_{level}',
+            }
+        )
+    return {
+        'type': 'definitions',
+        'definitions': definitions,
+        'schema': {'type': 'definition-ref', 'schema_ref': 'model_0'},
+    }
+
+
+def inlined_schema() -> cs.CoreSchema:
+    level = N
+    schema: cs.CoreSchema = {
+        'type': 'model',
+        'cls': MyModel,
+        'schema': {
+            'type': 'model-fields',
+            'fields': {str(c): {'type': 'model-field', 'schema': {'type': 'int'}} for c in range(N)},
+        },
+        'ref': f'model_{N}',
+    }
+    for level in reversed(range(N)):
+        schema = {
+            'type': 'model',
+            'cls': MyModel,
+            'schema': {
+                'type': 'model-fields',
+                'fields': {str(c): {'type': 'model-field', 'schema': schema} for c in range(N)},
+            },
+            'ref': f'model_{level}',
+        }
+    return schema
+
+
+def input_data_valid(levels: int = N) -> Any:
+    data = {str(c): 1 for c in range(N)}
+    for _ in range(levels):
+        data = {str(c): data for c in range(N)}
+    return data
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    from pydantic_core import SchemaValidator
+
+    SchemaValidator(schema_using_defs()).validate_python(input_data_valid())
+    SchemaValidator(inlined_schema()).validate_python(input_data_valid())
diff --git a/tests/benchmarks/test_nested_benchmark.py b/tests/benchmarks/test_nested_benchmark.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6c8d50e83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/benchmarks/test_nested_benchmark.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+"""
+Benchmarks for nested / recursive schemas using definitions.
+"""
+
+from typing import Callable
+
+from pydantic_core import SchemaValidator
+
+from .nested_schema import inlined_schema, input_data_valid, schema_using_defs
+
+
+def test_nested_schema_using_defs(benchmark: Callable[..., None]) -> None:
+    v = SchemaValidator(schema_using_defs())
+    data = input_data_valid()
+    v.validate_python(data)
+    benchmark(v.validate_python, data)
+
+
+def test_nested_schema_inlined(benchmark: Callable[..., None]) -> None:
+    v = SchemaValidator(inlined_schema())
+    data = input_data_valid()
+    v.validate_python(data)
+    benchmark(v.validate_python, data)