diff --git a/crates/vm/src/builtins/bytearray.rs b/crates/vm/src/builtins/bytearray.rs
index c463489df..d6d424799 100644
--- a/crates/vm/src/builtins/bytearray.rs
+++ b/crates/vm/src/builtins/bytearray.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ use crate::{
         },
     },
     convert::{ToPyObject, ToPyResult},
-    function::{ArgBytesLike, FuncArgs, PyComparisonValue, PySsize},
+    function::{ArgBytesLike, FuncArgs, OptionalArg, PyComparisonValue, PySsize},
     protocol::{
         BufferDescriptor, BufferFlags, BufferMethods, BufferResizeGuard, PyBuffer, PyIterReturn,
         PyMappingMethods, PyNumberMethods, PySequenceMethods,
@@ -924,15 +924,17 @@ impl Initializer for PyByteArray {
     type Args = ByteInnerNewOptions;
 
     fn init(zelf: &Py<Self>, options: Self::Args, vm: &VirtualMachine) -> PyResult<()> {
+        let source_is_missing = matches!(&options.source, OptionalArg::Missing);
         // Reject exports and clear existing contents before converting source.
         zelf.try_resizable(vm)?.elements = Vec::new();
         // Conversion can call Python, so do not hold the lock across it and
         // check again for exports acquired by a callback or another thread.
         let (mut inner, zero_count) =
             options.get_inner_with_zero_count(bytearray_from_object, vm)?;
-        // A zero integer count performs no further writes, including when its
-        // __index__ callback changed this bytearray or acquired an export.
-        if zero_count {
+        // Missing sources and zero integer counts perform no further writes.
+        // Argument validation above still rejects encoding/errors without a
+        // source; a zero __index__ callback may have changed or exported self.
+        if source_is_missing || zero_count {
             return Ok(());
         }
         core::mem::swap(&mut *zelf.try_resizable(vm)?, &mut inner);
diff --git a/extra_tests/snippets/builtin_bytearray.py b/extra_tests/snippets/builtin_bytearray.py
index 2f2793a76..6b397b12f 100644
--- a/extra_tests/snippets/builtin_bytearray.py
+++ b/extra_tests/snippets/builtin_bytearray.py
@@ -1504,3 +1504,52 @@ def test_bytearray_callback_exports():
 
 
 test_bytearray_callback_exports()
+
+
+def test_bytearray_missing_source_init():
+    from testutils import assert_raises
+
+    for initial in (b"", b"previous contents"):
+        value = bytearray(initial)
+        assert value.__init__() is None
+        assert value == b""
+        assert value.__alloc__() == 0
+
+        for kwargs, message in (
+            ({"encoding": "utf-8"}, "encoding without a string argument"),
+            ({"errors": "strict"}, "errors without a string argument"),
+            (
+                {"encoding": "utf-8", "errors": "strict"},
+                "encoding without a string argument",
+            ),
+        ):
+            value = bytearray(initial)
+            with assert_raises(TypeError) as caught:
+                value.__init__(**kwargs)
+            assert str(caught.exception) == message
+            assert value == b""
+            assert value.__alloc__() == 0
+
+        for kwargs in (
+            {},
+            {"encoding": "utf-8"},
+            {"errors": "strict"},
+            {"encoding": "utf-8", "errors": "strict"},
+        ):
+            value = bytearray(initial)
+            with memoryview(value) as view:
+                with assert_raises(BufferError):
+                    value.__init__(**kwargs)
+                assert value == initial
+                assert view.tobytes() == initial
+            assert value.__init__() is None
+            assert value == b""
+
+        # Explicit None is a source and must still go through conversion.
+        value = bytearray(initial)
+        with assert_raises(TypeError):
+            value.__init__(None)
+        assert value == b""
+
+
+test_bytearray_missing_source_init()