diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.js.snapshot/aws-stepfunctions-custom-state-integ.assets.json b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.js.snapshot/aws-stepfunctions-custom-state-integ.assets.json
index 3454b8b875b21..05b3c392f0c6d 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.js.snapshot/aws-stepfunctions-custom-state-integ.assets.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.js.snapshot/aws-stepfunctions-custom-state-integ.assets.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "version": "36.0.0",
   "files": {
-    "71bbec51055d157bf20b5d4967405c92dfbeb3ed29cc17b9d9bb976120c48d1c": {
+    "d69f65db580786444054b9064fa98c75f899eca808bd6a50efdcb9a27ecf5bdf": {
       "source": {
         "path": "aws-stepfunctions-custom-state-integ.template.json",
         "packaging": "file"
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
       "destinations": {
         "current_account-current_region": {
           "bucketName": "cdk-hnb659fds-assets-${AWS::AccountId}-${AWS::Region}",
-          "objectKey": "71bbec51055d157bf20b5d4967405c92dfbeb3ed29cc17b9d9bb976120c48d1c.json",
+          "objectKey": "d69f65db580786444054b9064fa98c75f899eca808bd6a50efdcb9a27ecf5bdf.json",
           "assumeRoleArn": "arn:${AWS::Partition}:iam::${AWS::AccountId}:role/cdk-hnb659fds-file-publishing-role-${AWS::AccountId}-${AWS::Region}"
         }
       }
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.js.snapshot/aws-stepfunctions-custom-state-integ.template.json b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.js.snapshot/aws-stepfunctions-custom-state-integ.template.json
index d01f5b47541fd..e350c49d15925 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.js.snapshot/aws-stepfunctions-custom-state-integ.template.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.js.snapshot/aws-stepfunctions-custom-state-integ.template.json
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   "StateMachine2E01A3A5": {
    "Type": "AWS::StepFunctions::StateMachine",
    "Properties": {
-    "DefinitionString": "{\"StartAt\":\"my custom task\",\"States\":{\"my custom task\":{\"Next\":\"final step\",\"Type\":\"Task\",\"Resource\":\"arn:aws:states:::dynamodb:putItem\",\"Parameters\":{\"TableName\":\"my-cool-table\",\"Item\":{\"id\":{\"S\":\"my-entry\"}}},\"ResultPath\":null,\"Retry\":[{\"ErrorEquals\":[\"States.Timeout\"],\"IntervalSeconds\":10,\"MaxAttempts\":5},{\"ErrorEquals\":[\"States.Permissions\"],\"IntervalSeconds\":20,\"MaxAttempts\":2}],\"Catch\":[{\"ErrorEquals\":[\"States.ALL\"],\"Next\":\"failed\"}]},\"final step\":{\"Type\":\"Pass\",\"End\":true},\"failed\":{\"Type\":\"Fail\",\"Error\":\"DidNotWork\",\"Cause\":\"We got stuck\"}},\"TimeoutSeconds\":30}",
+    "DefinitionString": "{\"StartAt\":\"my custom task\",\"States\":{\"my custom task\":{\"Next\":\"my custom task with inline Retriers\",\"Type\":\"Task\",\"Resource\":\"arn:aws:states:::dynamodb:putItem\",\"Parameters\":{\"TableName\":\"my-cool-table\",\"Item\":{\"id\":{\"S\":\"my-entry\"}}},\"ResultPath\":null,\"Retry\":[{\"ErrorEquals\":[\"States.Timeout\"],\"IntervalSeconds\":10,\"MaxAttempts\":5},{\"ErrorEquals\":[\"States.Permissions\"],\"IntervalSeconds\":20,\"MaxAttempts\":2}],\"Catch\":[{\"ErrorEquals\":[\"States.ALL\"],\"Next\":\"failed\"}]},\"my custom task with inline Retriers\":{\"Next\":\"final step\",\"Type\":\"Task\",\"Resource\":\"arn:aws:states:::dynamodb:putItem\",\"Parameters\":{\"TableName\":\"my-cool-table\",\"Item\":{\"id\":{\"S\":\"my-entry\"}}},\"ResultPath\":null,\"Retry\":[{\"ErrorEquals\":[\"States.Permissions\"],\"IntervalSeconds\":20,\"MaxAttempts\":2}]},\"final step\":{\"Type\":\"Pass\",\"End\":true},\"failed\":{\"Type\":\"Fail\",\"Error\":\"DidNotWork\",\"Cause\":\"We got stuck\"}},\"TimeoutSeconds\":30}",
     "RoleArn": {
      "Fn::GetAtt": [
       "StateMachineRoleB840431D",
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.js.snapshot/manifest.json b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.js.snapshot/manifest.json
index a244339d85089..dcd9a742e3a48 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.js.snapshot/manifest.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.js.snapshot/manifest.json
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
         "validateOnSynth": false,
         "assumeRoleArn": "arn:${AWS::Partition}:iam::${AWS::AccountId}:role/cdk-hnb659fds-deploy-role-${AWS::AccountId}-${AWS::Region}",
         "cloudFormationExecutionRoleArn": "arn:${AWS::Partition}:iam::${AWS::AccountId}:role/cdk-hnb659fds-cfn-exec-role-${AWS::AccountId}-${AWS::Region}",
-        "stackTemplateAssetObjectUrl": "s3://cdk-hnb659fds-assets-${AWS::AccountId}-${AWS::Region}/71bbec51055d157bf20b5d4967405c92dfbeb3ed29cc17b9d9bb976120c48d1c.json",
+        "stackTemplateAssetObjectUrl": "s3://cdk-hnb659fds-assets-${AWS::AccountId}-${AWS::Region}/d69f65db580786444054b9064fa98c75f899eca808bd6a50efdcb9a27ecf5bdf.json",
         "requiresBootstrapStackVersion": 6,
         "bootstrapStackVersionSsmParameter": "/cdk-bootstrap/hnb659fds/version",
         "additionalDependencies": [
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.js.snapshot/tree.json b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.js.snapshot/tree.json
index cb3e3dafba612..76e337ccedcba 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.js.snapshot/tree.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.js.snapshot/tree.json
@@ -32,6 +32,14 @@
               "version": "0.0.0"
             }
           },
+          "my custom task with inline Retriers": {
+            "id": "my custom task with inline Retriers",
+            "path": "aws-stepfunctions-custom-state-integ/my custom task with inline Retriers",
+            "constructInfo": {
+              "fqn": "aws-cdk-lib.aws_stepfunctions.CustomState",
+              "version": "0.0.0"
+            }
+          },
           "StateMachine": {
             "id": "StateMachine",
             "path": "aws-stepfunctions-custom-state-integ/StateMachine",
@@ -85,7 +93,7 @@
                 "attributes": {
                   "aws:cdk:cloudformation:type": "AWS::StepFunctions::StateMachine",
                   "aws:cdk:cloudformation:props": {
-                    "definitionString": "{\"StartAt\":\"my custom task\",\"States\":{\"my custom task\":{\"Next\":\"final step\",\"Type\":\"Task\",\"Resource\":\"arn:aws:states:::dynamodb:putItem\",\"Parameters\":{\"TableName\":\"my-cool-table\",\"Item\":{\"id\":{\"S\":\"my-entry\"}}},\"ResultPath\":null,\"Retry\":[{\"ErrorEquals\":[\"States.Timeout\"],\"IntervalSeconds\":10,\"MaxAttempts\":5},{\"ErrorEquals\":[\"States.Permissions\"],\"IntervalSeconds\":20,\"MaxAttempts\":2}],\"Catch\":[{\"ErrorEquals\":[\"States.ALL\"],\"Next\":\"failed\"}]},\"final step\":{\"Type\":\"Pass\",\"End\":true},\"failed\":{\"Type\":\"Fail\",\"Error\":\"DidNotWork\",\"Cause\":\"We got stuck\"}},\"TimeoutSeconds\":30}",
+                    "definitionString": "{\"StartAt\":\"my custom task\",\"States\":{\"my custom task\":{\"Next\":\"my custom task with inline Retriers\",\"Type\":\"Task\",\"Resource\":\"arn:aws:states:::dynamodb:putItem\",\"Parameters\":{\"TableName\":\"my-cool-table\",\"Item\":{\"id\":{\"S\":\"my-entry\"}}},\"ResultPath\":null,\"Retry\":[{\"ErrorEquals\":[\"States.Timeout\"],\"IntervalSeconds\":10,\"MaxAttempts\":5},{\"ErrorEquals\":[\"States.Permissions\"],\"IntervalSeconds\":20,\"MaxAttempts\":2}],\"Catch\":[{\"ErrorEquals\":[\"States.ALL\"],\"Next\":\"failed\"}]},\"my custom task with inline Retriers\":{\"Next\":\"final step\",\"Type\":\"Task\",\"Resource\":\"arn:aws:states:::dynamodb:putItem\",\"Parameters\":{\"TableName\":\"my-cool-table\",\"Item\":{\"id\":{\"S\":\"my-entry\"}}},\"ResultPath\":null,\"Retry\":[{\"ErrorEquals\":[\"States.Permissions\"],\"IntervalSeconds\":20,\"MaxAttempts\":2}]},\"final step\":{\"Type\":\"Pass\",\"End\":true},\"failed\":{\"Type\":\"Fail\",\"Error\":\"DidNotWork\",\"Cause\":\"We got stuck\"}},\"TimeoutSeconds\":30}",
                     "roleArn": {
                       "Fn::GetAtt": [
                         "StateMachineRoleB840431D",
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.ts
index 4beae53782d81..a3bd05c8de318 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.custom-state.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ const custom = new sfn.CustomState(stack, 'my custom task', {
   stateJson,
 });
 
+const customWithInlineRetry = new sfn.CustomState(stack, 'my custom task with inline Retriers', {
+  stateJson,
+});
+
 custom.addCatch(failure);
 custom.addRetry({
   errors: [sfn.Errors.TIMEOUT],
@@ -46,7 +50,7 @@ custom.addRetry({
   maxAttempts: 5,
 });
 
-const chain = sfn.Chain.start(custom).next(finalStatus);
+const chain = sfn.Chain.start(custom).next(customWithInlineRetry).next(finalStatus);
 
 const sm = new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
   definition: chain,
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/lib/states/custom-state.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/lib/states/custom-state.ts
index 4f79376c0cded..63744f75e9433 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/lib/states/custom-state.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/lib/states/custom-state.ts
@@ -74,9 +74,9 @@ export class CustomState extends State implements IChainable, INextable {
       ...this.renderRetryCatch(),
     };
 
-    // merge the Retry filed defined in the stateJson into the state
+    // merge the Retry field defined in the stateJson into the state
     if (Array.isArray(this.stateJson.Retry)) {
-      state.Retry = [...state.Retry, ...this.stateJson.Retry];
+      state.Retry = Array.isArray(state.Retry) ? [...state.Retry, ...this.stateJson.Retry] : [...this.stateJson.Retry];
     }
 
     return state;
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/custom-state.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/custom-state.test.ts
index 1d5d868ad96ea..610e25b425ad9 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/custom-state.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/custom-state.test.ts
@@ -242,4 +242,71 @@ describe('Custom State', () => {
       },
     );
   });
+
+  test('expect retry to not fail when specifying strategy inline', () => {
+    // GIVEN
+    const custom = new sfn.CustomState(stack, 'Custom', {
+      stateJson: {
+        Type: 'Task',
+        Resource: 'arn:aws:states:::dynamodb:putItem',
+        Parameters: {
+          TableName: 'MyTable',
+          Item: {
+            id: {
+              S: 'MyEntry',
+            },
+          },
+        },
+        ResultPath: null,
+        Retry: [
+          {
+            ErrorEquals: [
+              'Lambda.ServiceException',
+              'Lambda.AWSLambdaException',
+              'Lambda.SdkClientException',
+              'Lambda.TooManyRequestsException',
+            ],
+            IntervalSeconds: 20,
+            MaxAttempts: 2,
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+    });
+    const chain = sfn.Chain.start(custom);
+
+    // THEN
+    expect(render(stack, chain)).toStrictEqual(
+      {
+        StartAt: 'Custom',
+        States: {
+          Custom: {
+            Type: 'Task',
+            Resource: 'arn:aws:states:::dynamodb:putItem',
+            Parameters: {
+              TableName: 'MyTable',
+              Item: {
+                id: {
+                  S: 'MyEntry',
+                },
+              },
+            },
+            ResultPath: null,
+            Retry: [
+              {
+                ErrorEquals: [
+                  'Lambda.ServiceException',
+                  'Lambda.AWSLambdaException',
+                  'Lambda.SdkClientException',
+                  'Lambda.TooManyRequestsException',
+                ],
+                IntervalSeconds: 20,
+                MaxAttempts: 2,
+              },
+            ],
+            End: true,
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    );
+  });
 });
\ No newline at end of file