diff --git a/Include/bytearrayobject.h b/Include/bytearrayobject.h
index 265b4bb..8702e5a 100644
--- a/Include/bytearrayobject.h
+++ b/Include/bytearrayobject.h
@@ -44,9 +44,13 @@
 PyAPI_FUNC(int) PyByteArray_Resize(PyObject *, Py_ssize_t);
 
 /* Macros, trading safety for speed */
-#define PyByteArray_AS_STRING(self) (assert(PyByteArray_Check(self)),((PyByteArrayObject *)(self))->ob_bytes)
+#define PyByteArray_AS_STRING(self) \
+    (assert(PyByteArray_Check(self)), \
+     Py_SIZE(self) ? ((PyByteArrayObject *)(self))->ob_bytes : _PyByteArray_empty_string)
 #define PyByteArray_GET_SIZE(self)  (assert(PyByteArray_Check(self)),Py_SIZE(self))
 
+extern char _PyByteArray_empty_string[];
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif