diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/byte-opt.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/byte-opt.el
index d7a0d851e01..039cebedb44 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/byte-opt.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/byte-opt.el
@@ -1380,6 +1380,9 @@ See Info node `(elisp) Integer Basics'."
            ;; (apply F ... (list X Y ...)) -> (funcall F ... X Y ...)
            ((eq (car-safe last) 'list)
             `(funcall ,fn ,@(butlast (cddr form)) ,@(cdr last)))
+           ;; (apply F ... (cons X Y)) -> (apply F ... X Y)
+           ((eq (car-safe last) 'cons)
+            (append (butlast form) (cdr last)))
            (t form)))
       form)))