diff --git a/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.js b/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.js
index f249219d26da5e..085b5b6e4f2bf7 100644
--- a/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.js
+++ b/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.js
@@ -718,6 +718,14 @@ const Autocomplete = React.forwardRef(function Autocomplete(inProps, ref) {
         {noOptionsText}
       </AutocompleteNoOptions>,
     );
+  } else if (externalForwardedProps.slots.popper || externalForwardedProps.slots.paper) {
+    autocompletePopper = (
+      <AutocompletePopper as={PopperSlot} {...popperProps}>
+        {externalForwardedProps.slots.paper ? (
+          <AutocompletePaper as={PaperSlot} {...paperProps} />
+        ) : null}
+      </AutocompletePopper>
+    );
   }
 
   return (
diff --git a/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.js b/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.js
index 97099aa953faee..d59b356f4eb5b5 100644
--- a/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.js
+++ b/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.js
@@ -2455,6 +2455,27 @@ describe('<Autocomplete />', () => {
       const popper = screen.queryByTestId('popperRoot');
       expect(popper).to.equal(null);
     });
+
+    // Test for https://github.com/mui/material-ui/issues/44048
+    it('should render popper if custom paper is passed through slots even when there are no options', () => {
+      render(
+        <Autocomplete
+          open
+          freeSolo
+          options={[]}
+          renderInput={(params) => <TextField {...params} />}
+          slots={{
+            paper: (props) => <div {...props} />,
+          }}
+          slotProps={{
+            paper: { 'data-testid': 'paperRoot' },
+          }}
+        />,
+      );
+
+      const paper = screen.queryByTestId('paperRoot');
+      expect(paper).not.to.equal(null);
+    });
   });
 
   describe('prop: onChange', () => {