diff --git a/src/attr/_make.py b/src/attr/_make.py
index e5b3760c1..1c633d901 100644
--- a/src/attr/_make.py
+++ b/src/attr/_make.py
@@ -946,7 +946,17 @@ def _create_slots_class(self):
         # We only add the names of attributes that aren't inherited.
         # Setting __slots__ to inherited attributes wastes memory.
         slot_names = [name for name in names if name not in base_names]
+        original_slots = self._cls_dict.get("__slots__", ())
 
+        if isinstance(original_slots, str):
+            original_slots = (original_slots,)
+
+        for slot in original_slots:
+            if slot not in slot_names and slot not in base_names:
+                slot_names.append(slot)
+
+        for slot in original_slots:
+            cd.pop(slot, None)
         # There are slots for attributes from current class
         # that are defined in parent classes.
         # As their descriptors may be overridden by a child class,
diff --git a/tests/test_slots.py b/tests/test_slots.py
index a74c32b03..953916cb4 100644
--- a/tests/test_slots.py
+++ b/tests/test_slots.py
@@ -282,6 +282,122 @@ class C2(C1):
     assert {"x": 1, "y": 2, "z": "test"} == attr.asdict(c2)
 
 
+def test_slots_declared_on_attrs_class_are_preserved():
+    """User-defined slots are preserved on attrs classes."""
+
+    @attrs.define
+    class A:
+        __slots__ = ("another_private", "private")
+        public: str = "foo"
+
+    a = A()
+    a.private = 1
+    a.another_private = 2
+
+    assert "private" in A.__slots__
+    assert "another_private" in A.__slots__
+    assert a.private == 1
+    assert a.another_private == 2
+
+
+def test_string_slot_declared_on_attrs_class_is_preserved():
+    """String-based user-defined slots are preserved."""
+
+    @attrs.define
+    class A:
+        __slots__ = "private"  # noqa: PLC0205
+        public: str = "foo"
+
+    a = A()
+    a.private = 1
+
+    assert "private" in A.__slots__
+    assert a.private == 1
+
+
+def test_user_defined_weakref_slot_is_preserved():
+    """A user-defined __weakref__ slot is preserved."""
+
+    @attrs.define
+    class A:
+        __slots__ = ("__weakref__", "private")
+        public: str = "foo"
+
+    a = A()
+    a.private = 1
+
+    assert "__weakref__" in A.__slots__
+    assert "private" in A.__slots__
+    assert a.private == 1
+
+
+def test_user_defined_slots_are_preserved_with_inherited_slots():
+    """User-defined slots are preserved alongside inherited slots."""
+
+    class Parent:
+        __slots__ = ("parent_slot",)
+
+    @attrs.define
+    class Child(Parent):
+        __slots__ = ("another_private", "private")
+        public: str = "foo"
+
+    child = Child()
+    child.parent_slot = 1
+    child.private = 2
+    child.another_private = 3
+
+    assert "private" in Child.__slots__
+    assert "another_private" in Child.__slots__
+    assert "parent_slot" not in Child.__slots__
+    assert child.private == 2
+    assert child.another_private == 3
+    assert child.parent_slot == 1
+
+
+def test_user_defined_slots_already_exist_in_attrs_base_class():
+    """User-defined slots do not duplicate slots inherited from attrs."""
+
+    @attrs.define
+    class Parent:
+        parent_slot: int = 0
+
+    @attrs.define
+    class Child(Parent):
+        __slots__ = ("parent_slot", "private")
+        public: str = "foo"
+
+    child = Child()
+    child.parent_slot = 1
+    child.private = 2
+
+    assert "parent_slot" not in Child.__slots__
+    assert "private" in Child.__slots__
+    assert child.parent_slot == 1
+    assert child.private == 2
+
+
+def test_user_defined_slots_already_exist_in_base_class():
+    """User-defined slots already present in a base are not duplicated."""
+
+    class Parent:
+        __slots__ = ("parent_slot",)
+
+    @attrs.define
+    class Child(Parent):
+        __slots__ = ("parent_slot", "private")
+        public: str = "foo"
+
+    child = Child()
+    child.parent_slot = 1
+    child.private = 2
+
+    assert "parent_slot" not in Child.__slots__
+    assert "private" in Child.__slots__
+    assert child.parent_slot == 1
+    assert child.private == 2
+
+
 def test_inheritance_from_slots_with_attribute_override():
     """
     Inheriting from a slotted class doesn't re-create existing slots