diff --git a/py/defs.bzl b/py/defs.bzl
index b23ded39..f7424be7 100644
--- a/py/defs.bzl
+++ b/py/defs.bzl
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ py_image_layer = _py_image_layer
 resolutions = _resolutions
 
 def _py_binary_or_test(name, rule, srcs, main, data = [], deps = [], resolutions = {}, **kwargs):
-    exec_properties = kwargs.pop("exec_properties", {})
+    exec_properties = kwargs.pop("exec_properties") or {}
     non_test_exec_properties = {k: v for k, v in exec_properties.items() if not k.startswith("test.")}
 
     # Compatibility with rules_python, see docs in py_executable.bzl
diff --git a/py/tests/605/BUILD.bazel b/py/tests/605/BUILD.bazel
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2d2c1ddd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/py/tests/605/BUILD.bazel
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+load("//py:defs.bzl", "py_test")
+
+py_binary(
+    name = "foo",
+    srcs = ["foo.py"],
+    exec_properties = None,
+)
diff --git a/py/tests/605/foo.py b/py/tests/605/foo.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..00dc1862
--- /dev/null
+++ b/py/tests/605/foo.py
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+def foo():
+    return 42