diff --git a/distributed/shuffle/_pickle.py b/distributed/shuffle/_pickle.py
index 9226bd7d3b8..8f393b7ddf9 100644
--- a/distributed/shuffle/_pickle.py
+++ b/distributed/shuffle/_pickle.py
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ def pickle_dataframe_shard(
     Parameters:
         obj: pandas
     """
+    if hasattr(shard, "to_pandas"):
+        # Handle cudf-backed data
+        shard = shard.to_pandas(nullable=True)
     return pickle_bytelist(
         (input_part_id, shard.index, *shard._mgr.blocks), prelude=False
     )
@@ -104,6 +107,9 @@ def unpickle_and_concat_dataframe_shards(
 
     # Actually load memory-mapped buffers into memory and close the file
     # descriptors
+    if hasattr(type(meta), "from_pandas"):
+        # Handle cudf-backed data
+        return type(meta).from_pandas(dd.methods.concat(shards, copy=True))
     return dd.methods.concat(shards, copy=True)
 
 
diff --git a/distributed/shuffle/_shuffle.py b/distributed/shuffle/_shuffle.py
index fe74263a6ff..e6dd30660e1 100644
--- a/distributed/shuffle/_shuffle.py
+++ b/distributed/shuffle/_shuffle.py
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ def split_by_worker(
     """
     out: defaultdict[str, list[tuple[int, list[PickleBuffer]]]] = defaultdict(list)
 
-    base = df[column].values.base  # type: ignore[union-attr]
+    base = df[column].values.base or [] # type: ignore[union-attr]
     for output_part_id, part in df.groupby(column, observed=True):
         assert isinstance(output_part_id, int)
         if output_part_id not in worker_for: