diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ee4ea4630..e3adfec26 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,13 @@
 
 [1]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@google-cloud/bigquery?activeTab=versions
 
+## [7.6.1](https://github.com/googleapis/nodejs-bigquery/compare/v7.6.0...v7.6.1) (2024-04-26)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* Should not override queryParameters if params not informed ([#1359](https://github.com/googleapis/nodejs-bigquery/issues/1359)) ([2b66d1e](https://github.com/googleapis/nodejs-bigquery/commit/2b66d1e5d57d754d188e8b45d8f58de0beff39b3))
+
 ## [7.6.0](https://github.com/googleapis/nodejs-bigquery/compare/v7.5.2...v7.6.0) (2024-04-09)
 
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 4028d0faf..83405a30d 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "@google-cloud/bigquery",
   "description": "Google BigQuery Client Library for Node.js",
-  "version": "7.6.0",
+  "version": "7.6.1",
   "license": "Apache-2.0",
   "author": "Google LLC",
   "engines": {
diff --git a/samples/package.json b/samples/package.json
index 40a1ddc26..2ce6ac21a 100644
--- a/samples/package.json
+++ b/samples/package.json
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
     "fix": "gts fix"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "@google-cloud/bigquery": "^7.6.0",
+    "@google-cloud/bigquery": "^7.6.1",
     "@google-cloud/storage": "^7.0.0",
     "google-auth-library": "^9.6.0",
     "readline-promise": "^1.0.4",
diff --git a/src/bigquery.ts b/src/bigquery.ts
index 58c0e4416..3bda8dbb0 100644
--- a/src/bigquery.ts
+++ b/src/bigquery.ts
@@ -1489,13 +1489,15 @@ export class BigQuery extends Service {
       delete query.destination;
     }
 
-    const {parameterMode, params} = this.buildQueryParams_(
-      query.params,
-      query.types
-    );
-    query.parameterMode = parameterMode;
-    query.queryParameters = params;
-    delete query.params;
+    if (query.params) {
+      const {parameterMode, params} = this.buildQueryParams_(
+        query.params,
+        query.types
+      );
+      query.parameterMode = parameterMode;
+      query.queryParameters = params;
+      delete query.params;
+    }
 
     const reqOpts: JobOptions = {};
     reqOpts.configuration = {
diff --git a/test/bigquery.ts b/test/bigquery.ts
index ebebb722a..f21d43bed 100644
--- a/test/bigquery.ts
+++ b/test/bigquery.ts
@@ -2120,6 +2120,26 @@ describe('BigQuery', () => {
         );
       });
 
+      it('should not modify queryParameters if params is not informed', done => {
+        bq.createJob = (reqOpts: JobOptions) => {
+          // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
+          assert.strictEqual((reqOpts as any).params, undefined);
+          assert.deepStrictEqual(
+            reqOpts.configuration?.query?.queryParameters,
+            NAMED_PARAMS
+          );
+          done();
+        };
+
+        bq.createQueryJob(
+          {
+            query: QUERY_STRING,
+            queryParameters: NAMED_PARAMS,
+          },
+          assert.ifError
+        );
+      });
+
       describe('named', () => {
         it('should set the correct parameter mode', done => {
           bq.createJob = (reqOpts: JobOptions) => {