diff --git a/include/pybind11/critical_section.h b/include/pybind11/critical_section.h
index e94ca765cb..2d26412047 100644
--- a/include/pybind11/critical_section.h
+++ b/include/pybind11/critical_section.h
@@ -13,24 +13,30 @@ PYBIND11_NAMESPACE_BEGIN(PYBIND11_NAMESPACE)
 class scoped_critical_section {
 public:
 #ifdef Py_GIL_DISABLED
-    explicit scoped_critical_section(handle obj) : has2(false) {
-        PyCriticalSection_Begin(&section, obj.ptr());
-    }
-
-    scoped_critical_section(handle obj1, handle obj2) : has2(true) {
-        PyCriticalSection2_Begin(&section2, obj1.ptr(), obj2.ptr());
+    explicit scoped_critical_section(handle obj1, handle obj2 = handle{}) {
+        if (obj1) {
+            if (obj2) {
+                PyCriticalSection2_Begin(&section2, obj1.ptr(), obj2.ptr());
+                rank = 2;
+            } else {
+                PyCriticalSection_Begin(&section, obj1.ptr());
+                rank = 1;
+            }
+        } else if (obj2) {
+            PyCriticalSection_Begin(&section, obj2.ptr());
+            rank = 1;
+        }
     }
 
     ~scoped_critical_section() {
-        if (has2) {
-            PyCriticalSection2_End(&section2);
-        } else {
+        if (rank == 1) {
             PyCriticalSection_End(&section);
+        } else if (rank == 2) {
+            PyCriticalSection2_End(&section2);
         }
     }
 #else
-    explicit scoped_critical_section(handle) {};
-    scoped_critical_section(handle, handle) {};
+    explicit scoped_critical_section(handle, handle = handle{}) {};
     ~scoped_critical_section() = default;
 #endif
 
@@ -39,7 +45,7 @@ class scoped_critical_section {
 
 private:
 #ifdef Py_GIL_DISABLED
-    bool has2;
+    int rank{0};
     union {
         PyCriticalSection section;
         PyCriticalSection2 section2;
diff --git a/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index 0e76e68786..2cf18c3547 100644
--- a/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ set(PYBIND11_TEST_FILES
     test_potentially_slicing_weak_ptr
     test_python_multiple_inheritance
     test_pytypes
+    test_scoped_critical_section
     test_sequences_and_iterators
     test_smart_ptr
     test_stl
diff --git a/tests/test_scoped_critical_section.cpp b/tests/test_scoped_critical_section.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dc9a69e039
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_scoped_critical_section.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,275 @@
+#include <pybind11/critical_section.h>
+
+#include "pybind11_tests.h"
+
+#include <atomic>
+#include <chrono>
+#include <thread>
+#include <utility>
+
+#if defined(PYBIND11_CPP20) && defined(__has_include) && __has_include(<barrier>)
+#    define PYBIND11_HAS_BARRIER 1
+#    include <barrier>
+#endif
+
+namespace test_scoped_critical_section_ns {
+
+void test_one_nullptr() { py::scoped_critical_section lock{py::handle{}}; }
+
+void test_two_nullptrs() { py::scoped_critical_section lock{py::handle{}, py::handle{}}; }
+
+void test_first_nullptr() {
+    py::dict d;
+    py::scoped_critical_section lock{py::handle{}, d};
+}
+
+void test_second_nullptr() {
+    py::dict d;
+    py::scoped_critical_section lock{d, py::handle{}};
+}
+
+// Referenced test implementation: https://github.com/PyO3/pyo3/blob/v0.25.0/src/sync.rs#L874
+class BoolWrapper {
+public:
+    explicit BoolWrapper(bool value) : value_{value} {}
+    bool get() const { return value_.load(std::memory_order_acquire); }
+    void set(bool value) { value_.store(value, std::memory_order_release); }
+
+private:
+    std::atomic_bool value_{false};
+};
+
+#if defined(PYBIND11_HAS_BARRIER)
+
+// Modifying the C/C++ members of a Python object from multiple threads requires a critical section
+// to ensure thread safety and data integrity.
+// These tests use a scoped critical section to ensure that the Python object is accessed in a
+// thread-safe manner.
+
+void test_scoped_critical_section(const py::handle &cls) {
+    auto barrier = std::barrier(2);
+    auto bool_wrapper = cls(false);
+    bool output = false;
+
+    {
+        // Release the GIL to allow run threads in parallel.
+        py::gil_scoped_release gil_release{};
+
+        std::thread t1([&]() {
+            // Use gil_scoped_acquire to ensure we have a valid Python thread state
+            // before entering the critical section. Otherwise, the critical section
+            // will cause a segmentation fault.
+            py::gil_scoped_acquire ensure_tstate{};
+            // Enter the critical section with the same object as the second thread.
+            py::scoped_critical_section lock{bool_wrapper};
+            // At this point, the object is locked by this thread via the scoped_critical_section.
+            // This barrier will ensure that the second thread waits until this thread has released
+            // the critical section before proceeding.
+            barrier.arrive_and_wait();
+            // Sleep for a short time to simulate some work in the critical section.
+            // This sleep is necessary to test the locking mechanism properly.
+            std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(10));
+            auto *bw = bool_wrapper.cast<BoolWrapper *>();
+            bw->set(true);
+        });
+
+        std::thread t2([&]() {
+            // This thread will wait until the first thread has entered the critical section due to
+            // the barrier.
+            barrier.arrive_and_wait();
+            {
+                // Use gil_scoped_acquire to ensure we have a valid Python thread state
+                // before entering the critical section. Otherwise, the critical section
+                // will cause a segmentation fault.
+                py::gil_scoped_acquire ensure_tstate{};
+                // Enter the critical section with the same object as the first thread.
+                py::scoped_critical_section lock{bool_wrapper};
+                // At this point, the critical section is released by the first thread, the value
+                // is set to true.
+                auto *bw = bool_wrapper.cast<BoolWrapper *>();
+                output = bw->get();
+            }
+        });
+
+        t1.join();
+        t2.join();
+    }
+
+    if (!output) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("Scoped critical section test failed: output is false");
+    }
+}
+
+void test_scoped_critical_section2(const py::handle &cls) {
+    auto barrier = std::barrier(3);
+    auto bool_wrapper1 = cls(false);
+    auto bool_wrapper2 = cls(false);
+    std::pair<bool, bool> output{false, false};
+
+    {
+        // Release the GIL to allow run threads in parallel.
+        py::gil_scoped_release gil_release{};
+
+        std::thread t1([&]() {
+            // Use gil_scoped_acquire to ensure we have a valid Python thread state
+            // before entering the critical section. Otherwise, the critical section
+            // will cause a segmentation fault.
+            py::gil_scoped_acquire ensure_tstate{};
+            // Enter the critical section with two different objects.
+            // This will ensure that the critical section is locked for both objects.
+            py::scoped_critical_section lock{bool_wrapper1, bool_wrapper2};
+            // At this point, objects are locked by this thread via the scoped_critical_section.
+            // This barrier will ensure that other threads wait until this thread has released
+            // the critical section before proceeding.
+            barrier.arrive_and_wait();
+            // Sleep for a short time to simulate some work in the critical section.
+            // This sleep is necessary to test the locking mechanism properly.
+            std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(10));
+            auto *bw1 = bool_wrapper1.cast<BoolWrapper *>();
+            auto *bw2 = bool_wrapper2.cast<BoolWrapper *>();
+            bw1->set(true);
+            bw2->set(true);
+        });
+
+        std::thread t2([&]() {
+            // This thread will wait until the first thread has entered the critical section due to
+            // the barrier.
+            barrier.arrive_and_wait();
+            {
+                // Use gil_scoped_acquire to ensure we have a valid Python thread state
+                // before entering the critical section. Otherwise, the critical section
+                // will cause a segmentation fault.
+                py::gil_scoped_acquire ensure_tstate{};
+                // Enter the critical section with the same object as the first thread.
+                py::scoped_critical_section lock{bool_wrapper1};
+                // At this point, the critical section is released by the first thread, the value
+                // is set to true.
+                auto *bw1 = bool_wrapper1.cast<BoolWrapper *>();
+                output.first = bw1->get();
+            }
+        });
+
+        std::thread t3([&]() {
+            // This thread will wait until the first thread has entered the critical section due to
+            // the barrier.
+            barrier.arrive_and_wait();
+            {
+                // Use gil_scoped_acquire to ensure we have a valid Python thread state
+                // before entering the critical section. Otherwise, the critical section
+                // will cause a segmentation fault.
+                py::gil_scoped_acquire ensure_tstate{};
+                // Enter the critical section with the same object as the first thread.
+                py::scoped_critical_section lock{bool_wrapper2};
+                // At this point, the critical section is released by the first thread, the value
+                // is set to true.
+                auto *bw2 = bool_wrapper2.cast<BoolWrapper *>();
+                output.second = bw2->get();
+            }
+        });
+
+        t1.join();
+        t2.join();
+        t3.join();
+    }
+
+    if (!output.first || !output.second) {
+        throw std::runtime_error(
+            "Scoped critical section test with two objects failed: output is false");
+    }
+}
+
+void test_scoped_critical_section2_same_object_no_deadlock(const py::handle &cls) {
+    auto barrier = std::barrier(2);
+    auto bool_wrapper = cls(false);
+    bool output = false;
+
+    {
+        // Release the GIL to allow run threads in parallel.
+        py::gil_scoped_release gil_release{};
+
+        std::thread t1([&]() {
+            // Use gil_scoped_acquire to ensure we have a valid Python thread state
+            // before entering the critical section. Otherwise, the critical section
+            // will cause a segmentation fault.
+            py::gil_scoped_acquire ensure_tstate{};
+            // Enter the critical section with the same object as the second thread.
+            py::scoped_critical_section lock{bool_wrapper, bool_wrapper}; // same object used here
+            // At this point, the object is locked by this thread via the scoped_critical_section.
+            // This barrier will ensure that the second thread waits until this thread has released
+            // the critical section before proceeding.
+            barrier.arrive_and_wait();
+            // Sleep for a short time to simulate some work in the critical section.
+            // This sleep is necessary to test the locking mechanism properly.
+            std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(10));
+            auto *bw = bool_wrapper.cast<BoolWrapper *>();
+            bw->set(true);
+        });
+
+        std::thread t2([&]() {
+            // This thread will wait until the first thread has entered the critical section due to
+            // the barrier.
+            barrier.arrive_and_wait();
+            {
+                // Use gil_scoped_acquire to ensure we have a valid Python thread state
+                // before entering the critical section. Otherwise, the critical section
+                // will cause a segmentation fault.
+                py::gil_scoped_acquire ensure_tstate{};
+                // Enter the critical section with the same object as the first thread.
+                py::scoped_critical_section lock{bool_wrapper};
+                // At this point, the critical section is released by the first thread, the value
+                // is set to true.
+                auto *bw = bool_wrapper.cast<BoolWrapper *>();
+                output = bw->get();
+            }
+        });
+
+        t1.join();
+        t2.join();
+    }
+
+    if (!output) {
+        throw std::runtime_error(
+            "Scoped critical section test with same object failed: output is false");
+    }
+}
+
+#else
+
+void test_scoped_critical_section(const py::handle &) {}
+void test_scoped_critical_section2(const py::handle &) {}
+void test_scoped_critical_section2_same_object_no_deadlock(const py::handle &) {}
+
+#endif
+
+} // namespace test_scoped_critical_section_ns
+
+TEST_SUBMODULE(scoped_critical_section, m) {
+    using namespace test_scoped_critical_section_ns;
+
+    m.def("test_one_nullptr", test_one_nullptr);
+    m.def("test_two_nullptrs", test_two_nullptrs);
+    m.def("test_first_nullptr", test_first_nullptr);
+    m.def("test_second_nullptr", test_second_nullptr);
+
+    auto BoolWrapperClass = py::class_<BoolWrapper>(m, "BoolWrapper")
+                                .def(py::init<bool>())
+                                .def("get", &BoolWrapper::get)
+                                .def("set", &BoolWrapper::set);
+    auto BoolWrapperHandle = py::handle(BoolWrapperClass);
+    (void) BoolWrapperHandle.ptr(); // suppress unused variable warning
+
+    m.attr("has_barrier") =
+#ifdef PYBIND11_HAS_BARRIER
+        true;
+#else
+        false;
+#endif
+
+    m.def("test_scoped_critical_section",
+          [BoolWrapperHandle]() -> void { test_scoped_critical_section(BoolWrapperHandle); });
+    m.def("test_scoped_critical_section2",
+          [BoolWrapperHandle]() -> void { test_scoped_critical_section2(BoolWrapperHandle); });
+    m.def("test_scoped_critical_section2_same_object_no_deadlock", [BoolWrapperHandle]() -> void {
+        test_scoped_critical_section2_same_object_no_deadlock(BoolWrapperHandle);
+    });
+}
diff --git a/tests/test_scoped_critical_section.py b/tests/test_scoped_critical_section.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5703e3d51c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_scoped_critical_section.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import pytest
+
+from pybind11_tests import scoped_critical_section as m
+
+
+def test_nullptr_combinations():
+    m.test_one_nullptr()
+    m.test_two_nullptrs()
+    m.test_first_nullptr()
+    m.test_second_nullptr()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(not m.has_barrier, reason="no <barrier>")
+def test_scoped_critical_section() -> None:
+    for _ in range(64):
+        m.test_scoped_critical_section()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(not m.has_barrier, reason="no <barrier>")
+def test_scoped_critical_section2() -> None:
+    for _ in range(64):
+        m.test_scoped_critical_section2()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(not m.has_barrier, reason="no <barrier>")
+def test_scoped_critical_section2_same_object_no_deadlock() -> None:
+    for _ in range(64):
+        m.test_scoped_critical_section2_same_object_no_deadlock()