diff --git a/django/db/models/lookups.py b/django/db/models/lookups.py
index af966723f6b..062a9a10edb 100644
--- a/django/db/models/lookups.py
+++ b/django/db/models/lookups.py
@@ -78,14 +78,25 @@ class Transform(RegisterLookupMixin):
     def get_group_by_cols(self):
         return self.lhs.get_group_by_cols()
 
+    def get_bilateral_transforms(self):
+        if hasattr(self.lhs, 'get_bilateral_transforms'):
+            bilateral_transforms = self.lhs.get_bilateral_transforms()
+        else:
+            bilateral_transforms = []
+        if self.bilateral:
+            bilateral_transforms.append((self.__class__, self.init_lookups))
+        return bilateral_transforms
+
 
 class Lookup(RegisterLookupMixin):
     lookup_name = None
 
-    def __init__(self, lhs, rhs, bilateral_transforms=None):
+    def __init__(self, lhs, rhs):
         self.lhs, self.rhs = lhs, rhs
         self.rhs = self.get_prep_lookup()
-        if bilateral_transforms is None:
+        if hasattr(self.lhs, 'get_bilateral_transforms'):
+            bilateral_transforms = self.lhs.get_bilateral_transforms()
+        else:
             bilateral_transforms = []
         if bilateral_transforms:
             # We should warn the user as soon as possible if he is trying to apply
diff --git a/django/db/models/sql/query.py b/django/db/models/sql/query.py
index a17cd62f298..ce932ddffb1 100644
--- a/django/db/models/sql/query.py
+++ b/django/db/models/sql/query.py
@@ -1077,7 +1077,6 @@ class Query(object):
         and get_transform().
         """
         lookups = lookups[:]
-        bilaterals = []
         while lookups:
             name = lookups[0]
             # If there is just one part left, try first get_lookup() so
@@ -1089,21 +1088,19 @@ class Query(object):
                     # We didn't find a lookup. We are going to interpret
                     # the name as transform, and do an Exact lookup against
                     # it.
-                    lhs = self.try_transform(lhs, name, lookups, bilaterals)
+                    lhs = self.try_transform(lhs, name, lookups)
                     final_lookup = lhs.get_lookup('exact')
-                return final_lookup(lhs, rhs, bilaterals)
-            lhs = self.try_transform(lhs, name, lookups, bilaterals)
+                return final_lookup(lhs, rhs)
+            lhs = self.try_transform(lhs, name, lookups)
             lookups = lookups[1:]
 
-    def try_transform(self, lhs, name, rest_of_lookups, bilaterals):
+    def try_transform(self, lhs, name, rest_of_lookups):
         """
         Helper method for build_lookup. Tries to fetch and initialize
         a transform for name parameter from lhs.
         """
         next = lhs.get_transform(name)
         if next:
-            if getattr(next, 'bilateral', False):
-                bilaterals.append((next, rest_of_lookups))
             return next(lhs, rest_of_lookups)
         else:
             raise FieldError(