diff --git a/homeassistant/components/tplink/light.py b/homeassistant/components/tplink/light.py
index 9a67f8daf4b..32af7cf47be 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/tplink/light.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/tplink/light.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ RANDOM_EFFECT_DICT: Final = {
     vol.Optional("random_seed", default=100): vol.All(
         vol.Coerce(int), vol.Range(min=1, max=100)
     ),
-    vol.Required("backgrounds"): vol.All(
+    vol.Optional("backgrounds"): vol.All(
         cv.ensure_list,
         vol.Length(min=1, max=16),
         [vol.All(vol.Coerce(tuple), HSV_SEQUENCE)],
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ class TPLinkSmartLightStrip(TPLinkSmartBulb):
         fadeoff: int,
         init_states: tuple[int, int, int],
         random_seed: int,
-        backgrounds: Sequence[tuple[int, int, int]],
+        backgrounds: Sequence[tuple[int, int, int]] | None = None,
         hue_range: tuple[int, int] | None = None,
         saturation_range: tuple[int, int] | None = None,
         brightness_range: tuple[int, int] | None = None,
@@ -378,8 +378,9 @@ class TPLinkSmartLightStrip(TPLinkSmartBulb):
             "type": "random",
             "init_states": [init_states],
             "random_seed": random_seed,
-            "backgrounds": backgrounds,
         }
+        if backgrounds:
+            effect["backgrounds"] = backgrounds
         if fadeoff:
             effect["fadeoff"] = fadeoff
         if hue_range:
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/tplink/services.yaml b/homeassistant/components/tplink/services.yaml
index 26e002e0e30..6f2d9054b1e 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/tplink/services.yaml
+++ b/homeassistant/components/tplink/services.yaml
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ random_effect:
         - [199, 89, 50]
         - [160, 50, 50]
         - [180, 100, 50]
-      required: true
+      required: false
       selector:
         object:
     segments:
diff --git a/tests/components/tplink/test_light.py b/tests/components/tplink/test_light.py
index 9975aa1c660..c56bb6399fb 100644
--- a/tests/components/tplink/test_light.py
+++ b/tests/components/tplink/test_light.py
@@ -517,6 +517,33 @@ async def test_smart_strip_custom_random_effect(hass: HomeAssistant) -> None:
     )
     strip.set_custom_effect.reset_mock()
 
+    await hass.services.async_call(
+        DOMAIN,
+        "random_effect",
+        {
+            ATTR_ENTITY_ID: entity_id,
+            "init_states": [340, 20, 50],
+        },
+        blocking=True,
+    )
+    strip.set_custom_effect.assert_called_once_with(
+        {
+            "custom": 1,
+            "id": "yMwcNpLxijmoKamskHCvvravpbnIqAIN",
+            "brightness": 100,
+            "name": "Custom",
+            "segments": [0],
+            "expansion_strategy": 1,
+            "enable": 1,
+            "duration": 0,
+            "transition": 0,
+            "type": "random",
+            "init_states": [[340, 20, 50]],
+            "random_seed": 100,
+        }
+    )
+    strip.set_custom_effect.reset_mock()
+
     strip.effect = {
         "custom": 1,
         "id": "yMwcNpLxijmoKamskHCvvravpbnIqAIN",