diff --git a/Tests/test_image.py b/Tests/test_image.py
index 83b027aa2..4b8ef02cd 100644
--- a/Tests/test_image.py
+++ b/Tests/test_image.py
@@ -1076,6 +1076,12 @@ class TestImage:
             assert im.palette is not None
             assert im.palette.colors[(27, 35, 6, 214)] == 24
 
+    def test_merge_pa(self) -> None:
+        p = hopper("P")
+        a = Image.new("L", p.size)
+        pa = Image.merge("PA", (p, a))
+        assert p.getpalette() == pa.getpalette()
+
     def test_constants(self) -> None:
         for enum in (
             Image.Transpose,
diff --git a/src/_imaging.c b/src/_imaging.c
index fbfc0e41a..6ab8e010d 100644
--- a/src/_imaging.c
+++ b/src/_imaging.c
@@ -2419,7 +2419,12 @@ _merge(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
         bands[3] = band3->image;
     }
 
-    return PyImagingNew(ImagingMerge(mode, bands));
+    Imaging imOut = ImagingMerge(mode, bands);
+    if (!imOut) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    ImagingCopyPalette(imOut, bands[0]);
+    return PyImagingNew(imOut);
 }
 
 static PyObject *