diff --git a/packages/mui-base/src/useAutocomplete/useAutocomplete.js b/packages/mui-base/src/useAutocomplete/useAutocomplete.js
index 78bbfc0b11d436..13d846b468d9c5 100644
--- a/packages/mui-base/src/useAutocomplete/useAutocomplete.js
+++ b/packages/mui-base/src/useAutocomplete/useAutocomplete.js
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ export function useAutocomplete(props) {
     },
   );
 
-  const checkHighlightedOptionExists = () => {
+  const getPreviousHighlightedOptionIndex = () => {
     const isSameValue = (value1, value2) => {
       const label1 = value1 ? getOptionLabel(value1) : '';
       const label2 = value2 ? getOptionLabel(value2) : '';
@@ -498,16 +498,12 @@ export function useAutocomplete(props) {
       const previousHighlightedOption = previousProps.filteredOptions[highlightedIndexRef.current];
 
       if (previousHighlightedOption) {
-        const previousHighlightedOptionExists = filteredOptions.some((option) => {
+        return findIndex(filteredOptions, (option) => {
           return getOptionLabel(option) === getOptionLabel(previousHighlightedOption);
         });
-
-        if (previousHighlightedOptionExists) {
-          return true;
-        }
       }
     }
-    return false;
+    return -1;
   };
 
   const syncHighlightedIndex = React.useCallback(() => {
@@ -516,8 +512,10 @@ export function useAutocomplete(props) {
     }
 
     // Check if the previously highlighted option still exists in the updated filtered options list and if the value and inputValue haven't changed
-    // If it exists and the value and the inputValue haven't changed, return, otherwise continue execution
-    if (checkHighlightedOptionExists()) {
+    // If it exists and the value and the inputValue haven't changed, just update its index, otherwise continue execution
+    const previousHighlightedOptionIndex = getPreviousHighlightedOptionIndex();
+    if (previousHighlightedOptionIndex !== -1) {
+      highlightedIndexRef.current = previousHighlightedOptionIndex;
       return;
     }
 
diff --git a/packages/mui-joy/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.tsx b/packages/mui-joy/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.tsx
index 44b0ce311cb53f..17447b87ab68e4 100644
--- a/packages/mui-joy/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/mui-joy/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.tsx
@@ -1402,9 +1402,15 @@ describe('Joy <Autocomplete />', () => {
 
       checkHighlightIs(listbox, 'two');
 
-      // three option is added and autocomplete re-renders, restore the highlight
-      setProps({ options: [{ label: 'one' }, { label: 'two' }, { label: 'three' }] });
+      // zero and three options are added and autocomplete re-renders, restore the highlight
+      setProps({
+        options: [{ label: 'zero' }, { label: 'one' }, { label: 'two' }, { label: 'three' }],
+      });
       checkHighlightIs(listbox, 'two');
+
+      // check that the highlighted option is still in sync with the internal highlighted index
+      fireEvent.keyDown(textbox, { key: 'ArrowDown' }); // goes to 'three'
+      checkHighlightIs(listbox, 'three');
     });
 
     it("should reset the highlight when previously highlighted option doesn't exists in new options", () => {
diff --git a/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.js b/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.js
index c20e977925918e..a306ea4fc262c4 100644
--- a/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.js
+++ b/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.js
@@ -1836,9 +1836,15 @@ describe('<Autocomplete />', () => {
 
       checkHighlightIs(listbox, 'two');
 
-      // three option is added and autocomplete re-renders, restore the highlight
-      setProps({ options: [{ label: 'one' }, { label: 'two' }, { label: 'three' }] });
+      // zero and three options are added and autocomplete re-renders, restore the highlight
+      setProps({
+        options: [{ label: 'zero' }, { label: 'one' }, { label: 'two' }, { label: 'three' }],
+      });
       checkHighlightIs(listbox, 'two');
+
+      // check that the highlighted option is still in sync with the internal highlighted index
+      fireEvent.keyDown(textbox, { key: 'ArrowDown' }); // goes to 'three'
+      checkHighlightIs(listbox, 'three');
     });
 
     it('should reset the highlight when the input changed', () => {