diff --git a/sentry_sdk/envelope.py b/sentry_sdk/envelope.py
index 44cce52410..6bb1eb22c7 100644
--- a/sentry_sdk/envelope.py
+++ b/sentry_sdk/envelope.py
@@ -189,9 +189,7 @@ def get_bytes(self):
                         self.bytes = f.read()
             elif self.json is not None:
                 self.bytes = json_dumps(self.json)
-            else:
-                self.bytes = b""
-        return self.bytes
+        return self.bytes or b""
 
     @property
     def inferred_content_type(self):
diff --git a/tests/test_basics.py b/tests/test_basics.py
index 3a801c5785..e1e84340a5 100644
--- a/tests/test_basics.py
+++ b/tests/test_basics.py
@@ -459,6 +459,22 @@ def test_attachments(sentry_init, capture_envelopes):
         assert pyfile.payload.get_bytes() == f.read()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.tests_internal_exceptions
+def test_attachments_graceful_failure(
+    sentry_init, capture_envelopes, internal_exceptions
+):
+    sentry_init()
+    envelopes = capture_envelopes()
+
+    with configure_scope() as scope:
+        scope.add_attachment(path="non_existent")
+    capture_exception(ValueError())
+
+    (envelope,) = envelopes
+    assert len(envelope.items) == 2
+    assert envelope.items[1].payload.get_bytes() == b""
+
+
 def test_integration_scoping(sentry_init, capture_events):
     logger = logging.getLogger("test_basics")