diff --git a/src/__tests__/native/className-with-style.test.tsx b/src/__tests__/native/className-with-style.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ac156d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/__tests__/native/className-with-style.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import { render } from "@testing-library/react-native";
+import { Text } from "react-native-css/components/Text";
+import { registerCSS, testID } from "react-native-css/jest";
+
+test("className with inline style props should coexist when different properties", () => {
+  registerCSS(`.text-red { color: red; }`);
+
+  const component = render(
+    <Text testID={testID} className="text-red" style={{ fontSize: 16 }} />,
+  ).getByTestId(testID);
+
+  // Both className and style props should be applied as array
+  expect(component.props.style).toEqual([
+    { color: "#f00" }, // Changed from "red" to "#f00"
+    { fontSize: 16 },
+  ]);
+});
+
+test("className with inline style props should favor inline when same property", () => {
+  registerCSS(`.text-red { color: red; }`);
+
+  const component = render(
+    <Text testID={testID} className="text-red" style={{ color: "blue" }} />,
+  ).getByTestId(testID);
+
+  // When same property exists, inline style should win (not array)
+  expect(component.props.style).toEqual({ color: "blue" });
+});
+
+test("only className should not create array", () => {
+  registerCSS(`.text-red { color: red; }`);
+
+  const component = render(
+    <Text testID={testID} className="text-red" />,
+  ).getByTestId(testID);
+
+  // Only className should be a flat object
+  expect(component.props.style).toEqual({ color: "#f00" }); // Changed from "red" to "#f00"
+});
+
+test("only inline style should not create array", () => {
+  const component = render(
+    <Text testID={testID} style={{ color: "blue" }} />,
+  ).getByTestId(testID);
+
+  // Only inline style should be a flat object
+  expect(component.props.style).toEqual({ color: "blue" });
+});
diff --git a/src/native/styles/index.ts b/src/native/styles/index.ts
index 09ab073..0e2319a 100644
--- a/src/native/styles/index.ts
+++ b/src/native/styles/index.ts
@@ -135,7 +135,41 @@ function deepMergeConfig(
     return { ...left };
   }
 
-  let result = config.target ? Object.assign({}, left, right) : { ...left };
+  // Handle style merging to support both className and inline style props
+  let result: Record<string, any>;
+  if (config.target) {
+    if (
+      Array.isArray(config.target) &&
+      config.target.length === 1 &&
+      config.target[0] === "style"
+    ) {
+      // Special handling for style target when we have inline styles
+      result = { ...left, ...right };
+      // More performant approach - check for non-overlapping properties without Sets
+      if (left?.style && right?.style && rightIsInline) {
+        const leftStyle = left.style;
+        const rightStyle = right.style;
+
+        // Quick check: do any left properties NOT exist in right?
+        let hasNonOverlappingProperties = false;
+        for (const key in leftStyle) {
+          if (!(key in rightStyle)) {
+            hasNonOverlappingProperties = true;
+            break; // Early exit for performance
+          }
+        }
+
+        if (hasNonOverlappingProperties) {
+          result.style = [leftStyle, rightStyle];
+        }
+        // Otherwise, Object.assign above will handle the override correctly
+      }
+    } else {
+      result = Object.assign({}, left, right);
+    }
+  } else {
+    result = { ...left };
+  }
 
   if (
     right &&