diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/ref/alter_type.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/ref/alter_type.sgml
index 67be1dd..3465d3f 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/ref/alter_type.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/ref/alter_type.sgml
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ ALTER TYPE <replaceable class="parameter">name</replaceable> RENAME TO <replacea
 ALTER TYPE <replaceable class="parameter">name</replaceable> SET SCHEMA <replaceable class="parameter">new_schema</replaceable>
 ALTER TYPE <replaceable class="parameter">name</replaceable> ADD VALUE [ IF NOT EXISTS ] <replaceable class="parameter">new_enum_value</replaceable> [ { BEFORE | AFTER } <replaceable class="parameter">neighbor_enum_value</replaceable> ]
 ALTER TYPE <replaceable class="parameter">name</replaceable> RENAME VALUE <replaceable class="parameter">existing_enum_value</replaceable> TO <replaceable class="parameter">new_enum_value</replaceable>
+ALTER TYPE <replaceable class="parameter">name</replaceable> SET ( <replaceable class="parameter">property</replaceable> = <replaceable class="parameter">value</replaceable> [, ... ] )
 
 <phrase>where <replaceable class="parameter">action</replaceable> is one of:</phrase>
 
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ ALTER TYPE <replaceable class="parameter">name</replaceable> RENAME VALUE <repla
    </varlistentry>
 
    <varlistentry>
-    <term><literal>SET DATA TYPE</literal></term>
+    <term><literal>ALTER ATTRIBUTE ... SET DATA TYPE</literal></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       This form changes the type of an attribute of a composite type.
@@ -135,6 +136,58 @@ ALTER TYPE <replaceable class="parameter">name</replaceable> RENAME VALUE <repla
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
+
+   <varlistentry>
+    <term>
+     <literal>SET ( <replaceable class="parameter">property</replaceable> = <replaceable class="parameter">value</replaceable> [, ... ] )</literal>
+    </term>
+    <listitem>
+     <para>
+      This form is only applicable to base types.  It allows adjustment of a
+      subset of the base-type properties that can be set in <command>CREATE
+      TYPE</command>.  Specifically, these properties can be changed:
+      <itemizedlist>
+       <listitem>
+        <para>
+         <literal>RECEIVE</literal> can be set to the name of a binary input
+         function, or <literal>NONE</literal> to remove the type's binary
+         input function.  Using this option requires superuser privilege.
+        </para>
+       </listitem>
+       <listitem>
+        <para>
+         <literal>SEND</literal> can be set to the name of a binary output
+         function, or <literal>NONE</literal> to remove the type's binary
+         output function.  Using this option requires superuser privilege.
+        </para>
+       </listitem>
+       <listitem>
+        <para>
+         <literal>STORAGE</literal><indexterm>
+          <primary>TOAST</primary>
+          <secondary>per-type storage settings</secondary>
+         </indexterm>
+         can be set to <literal>plain</literal>,
+         <literal>extended</literal>, <literal>external</literal>,
+         or <literal>main</literal> (see <xref linkend="storage-toast"/> for
+         more information about what these mean).  However, changing
+         from <literal>plain</literal> to another setting requires superuser
+         privilege (because it requires that the type's C functions all be
+         TOAST-ready), and changing to <literal>plain</literal> from another
+         setting is not allowed at all (since the type may already have
+         TOASTed values present in the database).  Note that changing this
+         option doesn't by itself change any stored data, it just sets the
+         default TOAST strategy to be used for table columns created in the
+         future.  See <xref linkend="sql-altertable"/> to change the TOAST
+         strategy for existing table columns.
+        </para>
+       </listitem>
+      </itemizedlist>
+      See <xref linkend="sql-createtype"/> for more details about these
+      type properties.
+     </para>
+    </listitem>
+   </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
   </para>
 
@@ -156,7 +209,7 @@ ALTER TYPE <replaceable class="parameter">name</replaceable> RENAME VALUE <repla
    doesn't do anything you couldn't do by dropping and recreating the type.
    However, a superuser can alter ownership of any type anyway.)
    To add an attribute or alter an attribute type, you must also
-   have <literal>USAGE</literal> privilege on the data type.
+   have <literal>USAGE</literal> privilege on the attribute's data type.
   </para>
  </refsect1>
 
@@ -353,7 +406,20 @@ ALTER TYPE colors ADD VALUE 'orange' AFTER 'red';
    To rename an enum value:
 <programlisting>
 ALTER TYPE colors RENAME VALUE 'purple' TO 'mauve';
-</programlisting></para>
+</programlisting>
+  </para>
+
+  <para>
+   To create binary I/O functions for an existing base type:
+<programlisting>
+CREATE FUNCTION mytypesend(mytype) RETURNS bytea ...;
+CREATE FUNCTION mytyperecv(internal, oid, integer) RETURNS mytype ...;
+ALTER TYPE mytype SET (
+    send = mytypesend,
+    receive = mytyperecv
+);
+</programlisting>
+  </para>
  </refsect1>
 
  <refsect1>
diff --git a/src/backend/catalog/pg_type.c b/src/backend/catalog/pg_type.c
index 8d7572d..99398d2 100644
--- a/src/backend/catalog/pg_type.c
+++ b/src/backend/catalog/pg_type.c
@@ -155,8 +155,8 @@ TypeShellMake(const char *typeName, Oid typeNamespace, Oid ownerId)
 	 * Create dependencies.  We can/must skip this in bootstrap mode.
 	 */
 	if (!IsBootstrapProcessingMode())
-		GenerateTypeDependencies(typoid,
-								 (Form_pg_type) GETSTRUCT(tup),
+		GenerateTypeDependencies(tup,
+								 pg_type_desc,
 								 NULL,
 								 NULL,
 								 0,
@@ -487,8 +487,8 @@ TypeCreate(Oid newTypeOid,
 	 * Create dependencies.  We can/must skip this in bootstrap mode.
 	 */
 	if (!IsBootstrapProcessingMode())
-		GenerateTypeDependencies(typeObjectId,
-								 (Form_pg_type) GETSTRUCT(tup),
+		GenerateTypeDependencies(tup,
+								 pg_type_desc,
 								 (defaultTypeBin ?
 								  stringToNode(defaultTypeBin) :
 								  NULL),
@@ -515,12 +515,16 @@ TypeCreate(Oid newTypeOid,
  * GenerateTypeDependencies: build the dependencies needed for a type
  *
  * Most of what this function needs to know about the type is passed as the
- * new pg_type row, typeForm.  But we can't get at the varlena fields through
- * that, so defaultExpr and typacl are passed separately.  (typacl is really
+ * new pg_type row, typeTuple.  We make callers pass the pg_type Relation
+ * as well, so that we have easy access to a tuple descriptor for the row.
+ *
+ * While this is able to extract the defaultExpr and typacl from the tuple,
+ * doing so is relatively expensive, and callers may have those values at
+ * hand already.  Pass those if handy, otherwise pass NULL.  (typacl is really
  * "Acl *", but we declare it "void *" to avoid including acl.h in pg_type.h.)
  *
- * relationKind and isImplicitArray aren't visible in the pg_type row either,
- * so they're also passed separately.
+ * relationKind and isImplicitArray are likewise somewhat expensive to deduce
+ * from the tuple, so we make callers pass those (they're not optional).
  *
  * isDependentType is true if this is an implicit array or relation rowtype;
  * that means it doesn't need its own dependencies on owner etc.
@@ -534,8 +538,8 @@ TypeCreate(Oid newTypeOid,
  * that type will become a member of the extension.)
  */
 void
-GenerateTypeDependencies(Oid typeObjectId,
-						 Form_pg_type typeForm,
+GenerateTypeDependencies(HeapTuple typeTuple,
+						 Relation typeCatalog,
 						 Node *defaultExpr,
 						 void *typacl,
 						 char relationKind, /* only for relation rowtypes */
@@ -543,9 +547,30 @@ GenerateTypeDependencies(Oid typeObjectId,
 						 bool isDependentType,
 						 bool rebuild)
 {
+	Form_pg_type typeForm = (Form_pg_type) GETSTRUCT(typeTuple);
+	Oid			typeObjectId = typeForm->oid;
+	Datum		datum;
+	bool		isNull;
 	ObjectAddress myself,
 				referenced;
 
+	/* Extract defaultExpr if caller didn't pass it */
+	if (defaultExpr == NULL)
+	{
+		datum = heap_getattr(typeTuple, Anum_pg_type_typdefaultbin,
+							 RelationGetDescr(typeCatalog), &isNull);
+		if (!isNull)
+			defaultExpr = stringToNode(TextDatumGetCString(datum));
+	}
+	/* Extract typacl if caller didn't pass it */
+	if (typacl == NULL)
+	{
+		datum = heap_getattr(typeTuple, Anum_pg_type_typacl,
+							 RelationGetDescr(typeCatalog), &isNull);
+		if (!isNull)
+			typacl = DatumGetAclPCopy(datum);
+	}
+
 	/* If rebuild, first flush old dependencies, except extension deps */
 	if (rebuild)
 	{
diff --git a/src/backend/commands/typecmds.c b/src/backend/commands/typecmds.c
index 5209736..65f4b49 100644
--- a/src/backend/commands/typecmds.c
+++ b/src/backend/commands/typecmds.c
@@ -482,24 +482,6 @@ DefineType(ParseState *pstate, List *names, List *parameters)
 					 errmsg("type output function %s must return type %s",
 							NameListToString(outputName), "cstring")));
 	}
-	if (receiveOid)
-	{
-		resulttype = get_func_rettype(receiveOid);
-		if (resulttype != typoid)
-			ereport(ERROR,
-					(errcode(ERRCODE_INVALID_OBJECT_DEFINITION),
-					 errmsg("type receive function %s must return type %s",
-							NameListToString(receiveName), typeName)));
-	}
-	if (sendOid)
-	{
-		resulttype = get_func_rettype(sendOid);
-		if (resulttype != BYTEAOID)
-			ereport(ERROR,
-					(errcode(ERRCODE_INVALID_OBJECT_DEFINITION),
-					 errmsg("type send function %s must return type %s",
-							NameListToString(sendName), "bytea")));
-	}
 
 	/*
 	 * Convert typmodin/out function proc names to OIDs.
@@ -523,9 +505,12 @@ DefineType(ParseState *pstate, List *names, List *parameters)
 	 * minimum sane check would be for execute-with-grant-option.  But we
 	 * don't have a way to make the type go away if the grant option is
 	 * revoked, so ownership seems better.
+	 *
+	 * XXX For now, this is all unnecessary given the superuser check above.
+	 * If we ever relax that, these calls likely should be moved into
+	 * findTypeInputFunction et al, where they could be shared by AlterType.
 	 */
 #ifdef NOT_USED
-	/* XXX this is unnecessary given the superuser check above */
 	if (inputOid && !pg_proc_ownercheck(inputOid, GetUserId()))
 		aclcheck_error(ACLCHECK_NOT_OWNER, OBJECT_FUNCTION,
 					   NameListToString(inputName));
@@ -558,6 +543,8 @@ DefineType(ParseState *pstate, List *names, List *parameters)
 	 * volatility marking might be just an error-of-omission and not a true
 	 * indication of how the function behaves, we'll let it pass as a warning
 	 * for now.
+	 *
+	 * XXX move these into findTypeInputFunction et al?
 	 */
 	if (inputOid && func_volatile(inputOid) == PROVOLATILE_VOLATILE)
 		ereport(WARNING,
@@ -1813,27 +1800,33 @@ findTypeReceiveFunction(List *procname, Oid typeOid)
 
 	/*
 	 * Receive functions can take a single argument of type INTERNAL, or three
-	 * arguments (internal, typioparam OID, typmod).
+	 * arguments (internal, typioparam OID, typmod).  They must return the
+	 * expected type.
 	 */
 	argList[0] = INTERNALOID;
 
 	procOid = LookupFuncName(procname, 1, argList, true);
-	if (OidIsValid(procOid))
-		return procOid;
+	if (!OidIsValid(procOid))
+	{
+		argList[1] = OIDOID;
+		argList[2] = INT4OID;
 
-	argList[1] = OIDOID;
-	argList[2] = INT4OID;
+		procOid = LookupFuncName(procname, 3, argList, true);
+	}
 
-	procOid = LookupFuncName(procname, 3, argList, true);
-	if (OidIsValid(procOid))
-		return procOid;
+	if (!OidIsValid(procOid))
+		ereport(ERROR,
+				(errcode(ERRCODE_UNDEFINED_FUNCTION),
+				 errmsg("function %s does not exist",
+						func_signature_string(procname, 1, NIL, argList))));
 
-	ereport(ERROR,
-			(errcode(ERRCODE_UNDEFINED_FUNCTION),
-			 errmsg("function %s does not exist",
-					func_signature_string(procname, 1, NIL, argList))));
+	if (get_func_rettype(procOid) != typeOid)
+		ereport(ERROR,
+				(errcode(ERRCODE_INVALID_OBJECT_DEFINITION),
+				 errmsg("type receive function %s must return type %s",
+						NameListToString(procname), format_type_be(typeOid))));
 
-	return InvalidOid;			/* keep compiler quiet */
+	return procOid;
 }
 
 static Oid
@@ -1843,20 +1836,24 @@ findTypeSendFunction(List *procname, Oid typeOid)
 	Oid			procOid;
 
 	/*
-	 * Send functions can take a single argument of the type.
+	 * Send functions take a single argument of the type and return bytea.
 	 */
 	argList[0] = typeOid;
 
 	procOid = LookupFuncName(procname, 1, argList, true);
-	if (OidIsValid(procOid))
-		return procOid;
+	if (!OidIsValid(procOid))
+		ereport(ERROR,
+				(errcode(ERRCODE_UNDEFINED_FUNCTION),
+				 errmsg("function %s does not exist",
+						func_signature_string(procname, 1, NIL, argList))));
 
-	ereport(ERROR,
-			(errcode(ERRCODE_UNDEFINED_FUNCTION),
-			 errmsg("function %s does not exist",
-					func_signature_string(procname, 1, NIL, argList))));
+	if (get_func_rettype(procOid) != BYTEAOID)
+		ereport(ERROR,
+				(errcode(ERRCODE_INVALID_OBJECT_DEFINITION),
+				 errmsg("type send function %s must return type %s",
+						NameListToString(procname), "bytea")));
 
-	return InvalidOid;			/* keep compiler quiet */
+	return procOid;
 }
 
 static Oid
@@ -2186,9 +2183,6 @@ AlterDomainDefault(List *names, Node *defaultRaw)
 	Relation	rel;
 	char	   *defaultValue;
 	Node	   *defaultExpr = NULL; /* NULL if no default specified */
-	Acl		   *typacl;
-	Datum		aclDatum;
-	bool		isNull;
 	Datum		new_record[Natts_pg_type];
 	bool		new_record_nulls[Natts_pg_type];
 	bool		new_record_repl[Natts_pg_type];
@@ -2241,6 +2235,7 @@ AlterDomainDefault(List *names, Node *defaultRaw)
 			(IsA(defaultExpr, Const) &&((Const *) defaultExpr)->constisnull))
 		{
 			/* Default is NULL, drop it */
+			defaultExpr = NULL;
 			new_record_nulls[Anum_pg_type_typdefaultbin - 1] = true;
 			new_record_repl[Anum_pg_type_typdefaultbin - 1] = true;
 			new_record_nulls[Anum_pg_type_typdefault - 1] = true;
@@ -2281,19 +2276,11 @@ AlterDomainDefault(List *names, Node *defaultRaw)
 
 	CatalogTupleUpdate(rel, &tup->t_self, newtuple);
 
-	/* Must extract ACL for use of GenerateTypeDependencies */
-	aclDatum = heap_getattr(newtuple, Anum_pg_type_typacl,
-							RelationGetDescr(rel), &isNull);
-	if (isNull)
-		typacl = NULL;
-	else
-		typacl = DatumGetAclPCopy(aclDatum);
-
 	/* Rebuild dependencies */
-	GenerateTypeDependencies(domainoid,
-							 (Form_pg_type) GETSTRUCT(newtuple),
+	GenerateTypeDependencies(newtuple,
+							 rel,
 							 defaultExpr,
-							 typacl,
+							 NULL,	/* don't have typacl handy */
 							 0, /* relation kind is n/a */
 							 false, /* a domain isn't an implicit array */
 							 false, /* nor is it any kind of dependent type */
@@ -3709,3 +3696,249 @@ AlterTypeNamespaceInternal(Oid typeOid, Oid nspOid,
 
 	return oldNspOid;
 }
+
+/*
+ * AlterType
+ *		routine implementing ALTER TYPE <type> SET (option = ...).
+ *
+ * Currently, only STORAGE option and binary I/O functions can be changed.
+ */
+ObjectAddress
+AlterType(AlterTypeStmt *stmt)
+{
+	ObjectAddress address;
+	Relation	catalog;
+	TypeName   *typename;
+	HeapTuple	tup;
+	HeapTuple	newtup;
+	Oid			typeOid;
+	Form_pg_type typForm;
+	Datum		values[Natts_pg_type];
+	bool		nulls[Natts_pg_type];
+	bool		replaces[Natts_pg_type];
+	bool		requireSuper = false;
+	char		storage = '\0';
+	bool		updateStorage = false;
+	List	   *receiveName = NIL;
+	bool		updateReceive = false;
+	Oid			receiveOid;
+	List	   *sendName = NIL;
+	bool		updateSend = false;
+	Oid			sendOid;
+	ListCell   *pl;
+
+	catalog = table_open(TypeRelationId, RowExclusiveLock);
+
+	/* Make a TypeName so we can use standard type lookup machinery */
+	typename = makeTypeNameFromNameList(stmt->typeName);
+	tup = typenameType(NULL, typename, NULL);
+
+	typeOid = typeTypeId(tup);
+	typForm = (Form_pg_type) GETSTRUCT(tup);
+
+	/* Process options */
+	foreach(pl, stmt->options)
+	{
+		DefElem    *defel = (DefElem *) lfirst(pl);
+
+		if (strcmp(defel->defname, "storage") == 0)
+		{
+			char	   *a = defGetString(defel);
+
+			if (pg_strcasecmp(a, "plain") == 0)
+				storage = 'p';
+			else if (pg_strcasecmp(a, "external") == 0)
+				storage = 'e';
+			else if (pg_strcasecmp(a, "extended") == 0)
+				storage = 'x';
+			else if (pg_strcasecmp(a, "main") == 0)
+				storage = 'm';
+			else
+				ereport(ERROR,
+						(errcode(ERRCODE_INVALID_PARAMETER_VALUE),
+						 errmsg("storage \"%s\" not recognized", a)));
+
+			/*
+			 * Validate the storage request.  If the type isn't varlena, it
+			 * certainly doesn't support non-PLAIN storage.
+			 */
+			if (storage != 'p' && typForm->typlen != -1)
+				ereport(ERROR,
+						(errcode(ERRCODE_INVALID_OBJECT_DEFINITION),
+						 errmsg("fixed-size types must have storage PLAIN")));
+
+			/*
+			 * Switching from PLAIN to non-PLAIN is allowed, but it requires
+			 * superuser, since we can't validate that the type's C functions
+			 * will support it.  Switching from non-PLAIN to PLAIN is
+			 * disallowed outright, because it's not practical to ensure that
+			 * no tables have toasted values of the type.  Switching among
+			 * different non-PLAIN settings is OK, since it just constitutes a
+			 * change in the strategy requested for columns created in the
+			 * future.
+			 */
+			if (storage != 'p' && typForm->typstorage == 'p')
+				requireSuper = true;
+			else if (storage == 'p' && typForm->typstorage != 'p')
+				ereport(ERROR,
+						(errcode(ERRCODE_INVALID_OBJECT_DEFINITION),
+						 errmsg("cannot change type's storage to PLAIN")));
+
+			updateStorage = true;
+		}
+		else if (strcmp(defel->defname, "receive") == 0)
+		{
+			if (defel->arg == NULL)
+				receiveName = NIL;	/* NONE, removes the function */
+			else
+				receiveName = defGetQualifiedName(defel);
+			updateReceive = true;
+			/* Replacing an I/O function requires superuser. */
+			requireSuper = true;
+		}
+		else if (strcmp(defel->defname, "send") == 0)
+		{
+			if (defel->arg == NULL)
+				sendName = NIL; /* NONE, removes the function */
+			else
+				sendName = defGetQualifiedName(defel);
+			updateSend = true;
+			/* Replacing an I/O function requires superuser. */
+			requireSuper = true;
+		}
+
+		/*
+		 * The rest of the options that CREATE accepts cannot be changed.
+		 * Check for them so that we can give a meaningful error message.
+		 */
+		else if (strcmp(defel->defname, "input") == 0 ||
+				 strcmp(defel->defname, "output") == 0 ||
+				 strcmp(defel->defname, "typmod_in") == 0 ||
+				 strcmp(defel->defname, "typmod_out") == 0 ||
+				 strcmp(defel->defname, "analyze") == 0 ||
+				 strcmp(defel->defname, "internallength") == 0 ||
+				 strcmp(defel->defname, "passedbyvalue") == 0 ||
+				 strcmp(defel->defname, "alignment") == 0 ||
+				 strcmp(defel->defname, "like") == 0 ||
+				 strcmp(defel->defname, "category") == 0 ||
+				 strcmp(defel->defname, "preferred") == 0 ||
+				 strcmp(defel->defname, "default") == 0 ||
+				 strcmp(defel->defname, "element") == 0 ||
+				 strcmp(defel->defname, "delimiter") == 0 ||
+				 strcmp(defel->defname, "collatable") == 0)
+			ereport(ERROR,
+					(errcode(ERRCODE_SYNTAX_ERROR),
+					 errmsg("type attribute \"%s\" cannot be changed",
+							defel->defname)));
+		else
+			ereport(ERROR,
+					(errcode(ERRCODE_SYNTAX_ERROR),
+					 errmsg("type attribute \"%s\" not recognized",
+							defel->defname)));
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * Permissions check.  Require superuser if we decided the command
+	 * requires that, else must own the type.
+	 */
+	if (requireSuper)
+	{
+		if (!superuser())
+			ereport(ERROR,
+					(errcode(ERRCODE_INSUFFICIENT_PRIVILEGE),
+					 errmsg("must be superuser to alter a type")));
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		if (!pg_type_ownercheck(typeOid, GetUserId()))
+			aclcheck_error_type(ACLCHECK_NOT_OWNER, typeOid);
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * We disallow all forms of ALTER TYPE SET on types that aren't plain base
+	 * types.  It would for example be highly unsafe, not to mention
+	 * pointless, to change the send/receive functions for a composite type.
+	 * Moreover, pg_dump has no support for changing these properties on
+	 * non-base types.  We might weaken this someday, but not now.
+	 *
+	 * Note: if you weaken this enough to allow composite types, be sure to
+	 * adjust the GenerateTypeDependencies call below.
+	 */
+	if (typForm->typtype != TYPTYPE_BASE)
+		ereport(ERROR,
+				(errcode(ERRCODE_WRONG_OBJECT_TYPE),
+				 errmsg("%s is not a base type",
+						format_type_be(typeOid))));
+
+	/*
+	 * For the same reasons, don't allow direct alteration of array types.
+	 */
+	if (OidIsValid(typForm->typelem) &&
+		get_array_type(typForm->typelem) == typeOid)
+		ereport(ERROR,
+				(errcode(ERRCODE_WRONG_OBJECT_TYPE),
+				 errmsg("%s is not a base type",
+						format_type_be(typeOid))));
+
+	/*
+	 * Look up receive and send functions if specified.
+	 *
+	 * As in DefineType, we needn't do any permissions check on the I/O
+	 * functions, since we already insisted on superuser.
+	 */
+	if (receiveName)
+		receiveOid = findTypeReceiveFunction(receiveName, typeOid);
+	else
+		receiveOid = InvalidOid;
+	if (sendName)
+		sendOid = findTypeSendFunction(sendName, typeOid);
+	else
+		sendOid = InvalidOid;
+
+	/* Update the tuple */
+	memset(values, 0, sizeof(values));
+	memset(nulls, 0, sizeof(nulls));
+	memset(replaces, 0, sizeof(replaces));
+
+	if (updateStorage)
+	{
+		replaces[Anum_pg_type_typstorage - 1] = true;
+		values[Anum_pg_type_typstorage - 1] = CharGetDatum(storage);
+	}
+	if (updateReceive)
+	{
+		replaces[Anum_pg_type_typreceive - 1] = true;
+		values[Anum_pg_type_typreceive - 1] = ObjectIdGetDatum(receiveOid);
+	}
+	if (updateSend)
+	{
+		replaces[Anum_pg_type_typsend - 1] = true;
+		values[Anum_pg_type_typsend - 1] = ObjectIdGetDatum(sendOid);
+	}
+
+	newtup = heap_modify_tuple(tup, RelationGetDescr(catalog),
+							   values, nulls, replaces);
+
+	CatalogTupleUpdate(catalog, &newtup->t_self, newtup);
+
+	/* Rebuild dependencies */
+	GenerateTypeDependencies(newtup,
+							 catalog,
+							 NULL,	/* don't have defaultExpr handy */
+							 NULL,	/* don't have typacl handy */
+							 0, /* we rejected composite types above */
+							 false, /* we rejected implicit arrays above */
+							 false, /* so it can't be a dependent type */
+							 true);
+
+	InvokeObjectPostAlterHook(TypeRelationId, typeOid, 0);
+
+	ObjectAddressSet(address, TypeRelationId, typeOid);
+
+	/* Clean up */
+	ReleaseSysCache(tup);
+
+	table_close(catalog, RowExclusiveLock);
+
+	return address;
+}
diff --git a/src/backend/nodes/copyfuncs.c b/src/backend/nodes/copyfuncs.c
index e04c33e..eaab97f 100644
--- a/src/backend/nodes/copyfuncs.c
+++ b/src/backend/nodes/copyfuncs.c
@@ -3636,6 +3636,17 @@ _copyAlterOperatorStmt(const AlterOperatorStmt *from)
 	return newnode;
 }
 
+static AlterTypeStmt *
+_copyAlterTypeStmt(const AlterTypeStmt *from)
+{
+	AlterTypeStmt *newnode = makeNode(AlterTypeStmt);
+
+	COPY_NODE_FIELD(typeName);
+	COPY_NODE_FIELD(options);
+
+	return newnode;
+}
+
 static RuleStmt *
 _copyRuleStmt(const RuleStmt *from)
 {
@@ -5263,6 +5274,9 @@ copyObjectImpl(const void *from)
 		case T_AlterOperatorStmt:
 			retval = _copyAlterOperatorStmt(from);
 			break;
+		case T_AlterTypeStmt:
+			retval = _copyAlterTypeStmt(from);
+			break;
 		case T_RuleStmt:
 			retval = _copyRuleStmt(from);
 			break;
diff --git a/src/backend/nodes/equalfuncs.c b/src/backend/nodes/equalfuncs.c
index 5b1ba14..88b9129 100644
--- a/src/backend/nodes/equalfuncs.c
+++ b/src/backend/nodes/equalfuncs.c
@@ -1482,6 +1482,15 @@ _equalAlterOperatorStmt(const AlterOperatorStmt *a, const AlterOperatorStmt *b)
 }
 
 static bool
+_equalAlterTypeStmt(const AlterTypeStmt *a, const AlterTypeStmt *b)
+{
+	COMPARE_NODE_FIELD(typeName);
+	COMPARE_NODE_FIELD(options);
+
+	return true;
+}
+
+static bool
 _equalRuleStmt(const RuleStmt *a, const RuleStmt *b)
 {
 	COMPARE_NODE_FIELD(relation);
@@ -3359,6 +3368,9 @@ equal(const void *a, const void *b)
 		case T_AlterOperatorStmt:
 			retval = _equalAlterOperatorStmt(a, b);
 			break;
+		case T_AlterTypeStmt:
+			retval = _equalAlterTypeStmt(a, b);
+			break;
 		case T_RuleStmt:
 			retval = _equalRuleStmt(a, b);
 			break;
diff --git a/src/backend/parser/gram.y b/src/backend/parser/gram.y
index 96e7fdb..7e384f9 100644
--- a/src/backend/parser/gram.y
+++ b/src/backend/parser/gram.y
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ static Node *makeRecursiveViewSelect(char *relname, List *aliases, Node *query);
 		AlterDatabaseStmt AlterDatabaseSetStmt AlterDomainStmt AlterEnumStmt
 		AlterFdwStmt AlterForeignServerStmt AlterGroupStmt
 		AlterObjectDependsStmt AlterObjectSchemaStmt AlterOwnerStmt
-		AlterOperatorStmt AlterSeqStmt AlterSystemStmt AlterTableStmt
+		AlterOperatorStmt AlterTypeStmt AlterSeqStmt AlterSystemStmt AlterTableStmt
 		AlterTblSpcStmt AlterExtensionStmt AlterExtensionContentsStmt AlterForeignTableStmt
 		AlterCompositeTypeStmt AlterUserMappingStmt
 		AlterRoleStmt AlterRoleSetStmt AlterPolicyStmt AlterStatsStmt
@@ -847,6 +847,7 @@ stmt :
 			| AlterObjectSchemaStmt
 			| AlterOwnerStmt
 			| AlterOperatorStmt
+			| AlterTypeStmt
 			| AlterPolicyStmt
 			| AlterSeqStmt
 			| AlterSystemStmt
@@ -9367,6 +9368,24 @@ operator_def_arg:
 
 /*****************************************************************************
  *
+ * ALTER TYPE name SET define
+ *
+ * We repurpose ALTER OPERATOR's version of "definition" here
+ *
+ *****************************************************************************/
+
+AlterTypeStmt:
+			ALTER TYPE_P any_name SET '(' operator_def_list ')'
+				{
+					AlterTypeStmt *n = makeNode(AlterTypeStmt);
+					n->typeName = $3;
+					n->options = $6;
+					$$ = (Node *)n;
+				}
+		;
+
+/*****************************************************************************
+ *
  * ALTER THING name OWNER TO newname
  *
  *****************************************************************************/
diff --git a/src/backend/tcop/utility.c b/src/backend/tcop/utility.c
index bb85b5e..b9389c2 100644
--- a/src/backend/tcop/utility.c
+++ b/src/backend/tcop/utility.c
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ ClassifyUtilityCommandAsReadOnly(Node *parsetree)
 		case T_AlterTableMoveAllStmt:
 		case T_AlterTableSpaceOptionsStmt:
 		case T_AlterTableStmt:
+		case T_AlterTypeStmt:
 		case T_AlterUserMappingStmt:
 		case T_CommentStmt:
 		case T_CompositeTypeStmt:
@@ -1723,6 +1724,10 @@ ProcessUtilitySlow(ParseState *pstate,
 				address = AlterOperator((AlterOperatorStmt *) parsetree);
 				break;
 
+			case T_AlterTypeStmt:
+				address = AlterType((AlterTypeStmt *) parsetree);
+				break;
+
 			case T_CommentStmt:
 				address = CommentObject((CommentStmt *) parsetree);
 				break;
@@ -2908,6 +2913,10 @@ CreateCommandTag(Node *parsetree)
 			tag = "ALTER OPERATOR";
 			break;
 
+		case T_AlterTypeStmt:
+			tag = "ALTER TYPE";
+			break;
+
 		case T_AlterTSDictionaryStmt:
 			tag = "ALTER TEXT SEARCH DICTIONARY";
 			break;
@@ -3264,6 +3273,10 @@ GetCommandLogLevel(Node *parsetree)
 			lev = LOGSTMT_DDL;
 			break;
 
+		case T_AlterTypeStmt:
+			lev = LOGSTMT_DDL;
+			break;
+
 		case T_AlterTableMoveAllStmt:
 		case T_AlterTableStmt:
 			lev = LOGSTMT_DDL;
diff --git a/src/bin/psql/tab-complete.c b/src/bin/psql/tab-complete.c
index b6b08d0..54d0317 100644
--- a/src/bin/psql/tab-complete.c
+++ b/src/bin/psql/tab-complete.c
@@ -2150,7 +2150,7 @@ psql_completion(const char *text, int start, int end)
 	else if (Matches("ALTER", "TYPE", MatchAny))
 		COMPLETE_WITH("ADD ATTRIBUTE", "ADD VALUE", "ALTER ATTRIBUTE",
 					  "DROP ATTRIBUTE",
-					  "OWNER TO", "RENAME", "SET SCHEMA");
+					  "OWNER TO", "RENAME", "SET SCHEMA", "SET (");
 	/* complete ALTER TYPE <foo> ADD with actions */
 	else if (Matches("ALTER", "TYPE", MatchAny, "ADD"))
 		COMPLETE_WITH("ATTRIBUTE", "VALUE");
diff --git a/src/include/catalog/pg_type.h b/src/include/catalog/pg_type.h
index e1a5ab3..0c73555 100644
--- a/src/include/catalog/pg_type.h
+++ b/src/include/catalog/pg_type.h
@@ -325,8 +325,8 @@ extern ObjectAddress TypeCreate(Oid newTypeOid,
 								bool typeNotNull,
 								Oid typeCollation);
 
-extern void GenerateTypeDependencies(Oid typeObjectId,
-									 Form_pg_type typeForm,
+extern void GenerateTypeDependencies(HeapTuple typeTuple,
+									 Relation typeCatalog,
 									 Node *defaultExpr,
 									 void *typacl,
 									 char relationKind, /* only for relation
diff --git a/src/include/commands/typecmds.h b/src/include/commands/typecmds.h
index fc18d64..0162bc2 100644
--- a/src/include/commands/typecmds.h
+++ b/src/include/commands/typecmds.h
@@ -54,4 +54,6 @@ extern Oid	AlterTypeNamespaceInternal(Oid typeOid, Oid nspOid,
 									   bool errorOnTableType,
 									   ObjectAddresses *objsMoved);
 
+extern ObjectAddress AlterType(AlterTypeStmt *stmt);
+
 #endif							/* TYPECMDS_H */
diff --git a/src/include/nodes/nodes.h b/src/include/nodes/nodes.h
index baced7e..8a76afe 100644
--- a/src/include/nodes/nodes.h
+++ b/src/include/nodes/nodes.h
@@ -380,6 +380,7 @@ typedef enum NodeTag
 	T_AlterObjectSchemaStmt,
 	T_AlterOwnerStmt,
 	T_AlterOperatorStmt,
+	T_AlterTypeStmt,
 	T_DropOwnedStmt,
 	T_ReassignOwnedStmt,
 	T_CompositeTypeStmt,
diff --git a/src/include/nodes/parsenodes.h b/src/include/nodes/parsenodes.h
index da0706a..2039b42 100644
--- a/src/include/nodes/parsenodes.h
+++ b/src/include/nodes/parsenodes.h
@@ -2959,9 +2959,8 @@ typedef struct AlterOwnerStmt
 	RoleSpec   *newowner;		/* the new owner */
 } AlterOwnerStmt;
 
-
 /* ----------------------
- *		Alter Operator Set Restrict, Join
+ *		Alter Operator Set ( this-n-that )
  * ----------------------
  */
 typedef struct AlterOperatorStmt
@@ -2971,6 +2970,16 @@ typedef struct AlterOperatorStmt
 	List	   *options;		/* List of DefElem nodes */
 } AlterOperatorStmt;
 
+/* ------------------------
+ *		Alter Type Set ( this-n-that )
+ * ------------------------
+ */
+typedef struct AlterTypeStmt
+{
+	NodeTag		type;
+	List	   *typeName;		/* type name (possibly qualified) */
+	List	   *options;		/* List of DefElem nodes */
+} AlterTypeStmt;
 
 /* ----------------------
  *		Create Rule Statement
diff --git a/src/test/regress/expected/create_type.out b/src/test/regress/expected/create_type.out
index 8309756..99e6bad 100644
--- a/src/test/regress/expected/create_type.out
+++ b/src/test/regress/expected/create_type.out
@@ -211,3 +211,64 @@ select format_type('bpchar'::regtype, -1);
  bpchar
 (1 row)
 
+--
+-- Test CREATE/ALTER TYPE using a type that's compatible with varchar,
+-- so we can re-use those support functions
+--
+CREATE TYPE myvarchar;
+CREATE FUNCTION myvarcharin(cstring, oid, integer) RETURNS myvarchar
+LANGUAGE internal IMMUTABLE PARALLEL SAFE STRICT AS 'varcharin';
+NOTICE:  return type myvarchar is only a shell
+CREATE FUNCTION myvarcharout(myvarchar) RETURNS cstring
+LANGUAGE internal IMMUTABLE PARALLEL SAFE STRICT AS 'varcharout';
+NOTICE:  argument type myvarchar is only a shell
+CREATE FUNCTION myvarcharsend(myvarchar) RETURNS bytea
+LANGUAGE internal STABLE PARALLEL SAFE STRICT AS 'varcharsend';
+NOTICE:  argument type myvarchar is only a shell
+CREATE FUNCTION myvarcharrecv(internal, oid, integer) RETURNS myvarchar
+LANGUAGE internal STABLE PARALLEL SAFE STRICT AS 'varcharrecv';
+NOTICE:  return type myvarchar is only a shell
+-- fail, it's still a shell:
+ALTER TYPE myvarchar SET (storage = extended);
+ERROR:  type "myvarchar" is only a shell
+CREATE TYPE myvarchar (
+    input = myvarcharin,
+    output = myvarcharout,
+    alignment = integer,
+    storage = main
+);
+ALTER TYPE myvarchar SET (storage = plain);  -- not allowed
+ERROR:  cannot change type's storage to PLAIN
+ALTER TYPE myvarchar SET (storage = extended);
+ALTER TYPE myvarchar SET (
+    send = myvarcharsend,
+    receive = myvarcharrecv
+);
+SELECT typinput, typoutput, typreceive, typsend, typstorage
+FROM pg_type WHERE typname = 'myvarchar';
+  typinput   |  typoutput   |  typreceive   |    typsend    | typstorage 
+-------------+--------------+---------------+---------------+------------
+ myvarcharin | myvarcharout | myvarcharrecv | myvarcharsend | x
+(1 row)
+
+-- ensure dependencies are straight
+DROP FUNCTION myvarcharsend(myvarchar);  -- fail
+ERROR:  cannot drop function myvarcharsend(myvarchar) because other objects depend on it
+DETAIL:  type myvarchar depends on function myvarcharsend(myvarchar)
+function myvarcharin(cstring,oid,integer) depends on type myvarchar
+function myvarcharout(myvarchar) depends on type myvarchar
+function myvarcharrecv(internal,oid,integer) depends on type myvarchar
+HINT:  Use DROP ... CASCADE to drop the dependent objects too.
+DROP TYPE myvarchar;  -- fail
+ERROR:  cannot drop type myvarchar because other objects depend on it
+DETAIL:  function myvarcharin(cstring,oid,integer) depends on type myvarchar
+function myvarcharout(myvarchar) depends on type myvarchar
+function myvarcharsend(myvarchar) depends on type myvarchar
+function myvarcharrecv(internal,oid,integer) depends on type myvarchar
+HINT:  Use DROP ... CASCADE to drop the dependent objects too.
+DROP TYPE myvarchar CASCADE;
+NOTICE:  drop cascades to 4 other objects
+DETAIL:  drop cascades to function myvarcharin(cstring,oid,integer)
+drop cascades to function myvarcharout(myvarchar)
+drop cascades to function myvarcharsend(myvarchar)
+drop cascades to function myvarcharrecv(internal,oid,integer)
diff --git a/src/test/regress/sql/create_type.sql b/src/test/regress/sql/create_type.sql
index 3d1deba..f00b848 100644
--- a/src/test/regress/sql/create_type.sql
+++ b/src/test/regress/sql/create_type.sql
@@ -154,3 +154,49 @@ select format_type('varchar'::regtype, 42);
 select format_type('bpchar'::regtype, null);
 -- this behavior difference is intentional
 select format_type('bpchar'::regtype, -1);
+
+--
+-- Test CREATE/ALTER TYPE using a type that's compatible with varchar,
+-- so we can re-use those support functions
+--
+CREATE TYPE myvarchar;
+
+CREATE FUNCTION myvarcharin(cstring, oid, integer) RETURNS myvarchar
+LANGUAGE internal IMMUTABLE PARALLEL SAFE STRICT AS 'varcharin';
+
+CREATE FUNCTION myvarcharout(myvarchar) RETURNS cstring
+LANGUAGE internal IMMUTABLE PARALLEL SAFE STRICT AS 'varcharout';
+
+CREATE FUNCTION myvarcharsend(myvarchar) RETURNS bytea
+LANGUAGE internal STABLE PARALLEL SAFE STRICT AS 'varcharsend';
+
+CREATE FUNCTION myvarcharrecv(internal, oid, integer) RETURNS myvarchar
+LANGUAGE internal STABLE PARALLEL SAFE STRICT AS 'varcharrecv';
+
+-- fail, it's still a shell:
+ALTER TYPE myvarchar SET (storage = extended);
+
+CREATE TYPE myvarchar (
+    input = myvarcharin,
+    output = myvarcharout,
+    alignment = integer,
+    storage = main
+);
+
+ALTER TYPE myvarchar SET (storage = plain);  -- not allowed
+
+ALTER TYPE myvarchar SET (storage = extended);
+
+ALTER TYPE myvarchar SET (
+    send = myvarcharsend,
+    receive = myvarcharrecv
+);
+
+SELECT typinput, typoutput, typreceive, typsend, typstorage
+FROM pg_type WHERE typname = 'myvarchar';
+
+-- ensure dependencies are straight
+DROP FUNCTION myvarcharsend(myvarchar);  -- fail
+DROP TYPE myvarchar;  -- fail
+
+DROP TYPE myvarchar CASCADE;
