diff --git a/artiq/compiler/builtins.py b/artiq/compiler/builtins.py
index a64129dcc..77e102d3b 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/builtins.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/builtins.py
@@ -71,6 +71,10 @@ class TBytes(types.TMono):
     def __init__(self):
         super().__init__("bytes")
 
+class TByteArray(types.TMono):
+    def __init__(self):
+        super().__init__("bytearray")
+
 class TList(types.TMono):
     def __init__(self, elt=None):
         if elt is None:
@@ -144,6 +148,9 @@ def fn_str():
 def fn_bytes():
     return types.TConstructor(TBytes())
 
+def fn_bytearray():
+    return types.TConstructor(TByteArray())
+
 def fn_list():
     return types.TConstructor(TList())
 
@@ -246,6 +253,9 @@ def is_str(typ):
 def is_bytes(typ):
     return types.is_mono(typ, "bytes")
 
+def is_bytearray(typ):
+    return types.is_mono(typ, "bytearray")
+
 def is_numeric(typ):
     typ = typ.find()
     return isinstance(typ, types.TMono) and \
@@ -267,7 +277,7 @@ def is_listish(typ, elt=None):
     if is_list(typ, elt) or is_array(typ, elt):
         return True
     elif elt is None:
-        return is_str(typ) or is_bytes(typ)
+        return is_str(typ) or is_bytes(typ) or is_bytearray(typ)
     else:
         return False
 
@@ -288,7 +298,7 @@ def is_iterable(typ):
     return is_listish(typ) or is_range(typ)
 
 def get_iterable_elt(typ):
-    if is_str(typ) or is_bytes(typ):
+    if is_str(typ) or is_bytes(typ) or is_bytearray(typ):
         return TInt(types.TValue(8))
     elif is_iterable(typ):
         return typ.find()["elt"].find()
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/embedding.py b/artiq/compiler/embedding.py
index 052a5d737..6cee76bf9 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/embedding.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/embedding.py
@@ -203,6 +203,13 @@ class ASTSynthesizer:
         elif isinstance(value, bytes):
             return asttyped.StrT(s=value, ctx=None, type=builtins.TBytes(),
                                  loc=self._add(repr(value)))
+        elif isinstance(value, bytearray):
+            quote_loc   = self._add('`')
+            repr_loc    = self._add(repr(value))
+            unquote_loc = self._add('`')
+            loc         = quote_loc.join(unquote_loc)
+
+            return asttyped.QuoteT(value=value, type=builtins.TByteArray(), loc=loc)
         elif isinstance(value, list):
             begin_loc = self._add("[")
             elts = []
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/prelude.py b/artiq/compiler/prelude.py
index f451b8a62..24a7bd1fa 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/prelude.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/prelude.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ def globals():
         "float":                builtins.fn_float(),
         "str":                  builtins.fn_str(),
         "bytes":                builtins.fn_bytes(),
+        "bytearray":            builtins.fn_bytearray(),
         "list":                 builtins.fn_list(),
         "array":                builtins.fn_array(),
         "range":                builtins.fn_range(),
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py b/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py
index 0d1d9c76d..1d2f6cbba 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py
@@ -1620,7 +1620,8 @@ class ARTIQIRGenerator(algorithm.Visitor):
                 return self.append(ir.Coerce(arg, node.type))
             else:
                 assert False
-        elif types.is_builtin(typ, "list") or types.is_builtin(typ, "array"):
+        elif (types.is_builtin(typ, "list") or types.is_builtin(typ, "array") or
+              types.is_builtin(typ, "bytearray")):
             if len(node.args) == 0 and len(node.keywords) == 0:
                 length = ir.Constant(0, builtins.TInt32())
                 return self.append(ir.Alloc([length], node.type))
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/transforms/inferencer.py b/artiq/compiler/transforms/inferencer.py
index d6a23a36e..0003f214e 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/transforms/inferencer.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/transforms/inferencer.py
@@ -180,8 +180,8 @@ class Inferencer(algorithm.Visitor):
                 self.engine.process(diag)
 
     def _unify_iterable(self, element, collection):
-        if builtins.is_bytes(collection.type):
-            self._unify(element.type, builtins.TInt(),
+        if builtins.is_bytes(collection.type) or builtins.is_bytearray(collection.type):
+            self._unify(element.type, builtins.get_iterable_elt(collection.type),
                         element.loc, None)
         elif builtins.is_iterable(collection.type):
             rhs_type = collection.type.find()
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/transforms/llvm_ir_generator.py b/artiq/compiler/transforms/llvm_ir_generator.py
index 84eddfc88..cbcd45e85 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/transforms/llvm_ir_generator.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/transforms/llvm_ir_generator.py
@@ -1436,8 +1436,8 @@ class LLVMIRGenerator:
         elif builtins.is_float(typ):
             assert isinstance(value, float), fail_msg
             return ll.Constant(llty, value)
-        elif builtins.is_str(typ) or builtins.is_bytes(typ):
-            assert isinstance(value, (str, bytes)), fail_msg
+        elif builtins.is_str(typ) or builtins.is_bytes(typ) or builtins.is_bytearray(typ):
+            assert isinstance(value, (str, bytes, bytearray)), fail_msg
             if isinstance(value, str):
                 as_bytes = value.encode("utf-8")
             else:
diff --git a/artiq/test/lit/inferencer/unify.py b/artiq/test/lit/inferencer/unify.py
index 5ccbc6b70..e4fea57fe 100644
--- a/artiq/test/lit/inferencer/unify.py
+++ b/artiq/test/lit/inferencer/unify.py
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ k = "x"
 ka = b"x"
 # CHECK-L: ka:bytes
 
+kb = bytearray(b"x")
+# CHECK-L: kb:bytearray
+
 l = array([1])
 # CHECK-L: l:numpy.array(elt=numpy.int?)
 
diff --git a/artiq/test/lit/integration/subscript.py b/artiq/test/lit/integration/subscript.py
index f0398be4c..db50809e6 100644
--- a/artiq/test/lit/integration/subscript.py
+++ b/artiq/test/lit/integration/subscript.py
@@ -21,3 +21,7 @@ assert lst == [1, 0, 2, 0, 3]
 byt = b"abc"
 assert byt[0] == 97
 assert byt[1] == 98
+
+barr = bytearray(b"abc")
+assert barr[0] == 97
+assert barr[1] == 98