diff --git a/tests/test_2582-merge-option-non-option.py b/tests/test_2582-merge-option-non-option.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4c9c32a88a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_2582-merge-option-non-option.py
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# BSD 3-Clause License; see https://github.com/scikit-hep/awkward-1.0/blob/main/LICENSE
+
+import numpy as np  # noqa: F401
+import pytest  # noqa: F401
+
+import awkward as ak  # noqa: F401
+
+
+def test_merge_option():
+    x = ak.layout.IndexedArray64(
+        ak.layout.Index64([0, 1]), ak.layout.NumpyArray([1, 2, 3])
+    )
+    y = ak.layout.IndexedOptionArray64(
+        ak.layout.Index64([0, 1, -1]), ak.layout.NumpyArray([1, 2, 3])
+    )
+
+    assert isinstance(ak.concatenate((y, x)).layout, ak.layout.IndexedOptionArray64)