diff --git a/artiq/compiler/builtins.py b/artiq/compiler/builtins.py
index 77703ed3c..eae7f9337 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/builtins.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/builtins.py
@@ -44,12 +44,12 @@ def TInt32():
 def TInt64():
     return TInt(types.TValue(64))
 
-def _int_printer(typ, depth, max_depth):
+def _int_printer(typ, printer, depth, max_depth):
     if types.is_var(typ["width"]):
         return "numpy.int?"
     else:
         return "numpy.int{}".format(types.get_value(typ.find()["width"]))
-types.TypePrinter.custom_printers['int'] = _int_printer
+types.TypePrinter.custom_printers["int"] = _int_printer
 
 class TFloat(types.TMono):
     def __init__(self):
@@ -73,6 +73,16 @@ class TList(types.TMono):
             elt = types.TVar()
         super().__init__("list", {"elt": elt})
 
+class TArray(types.TMono):
+    def __init__(self, elt=None):
+        if elt is None:
+            elt = types.TVar()
+        super().__init__("array", {"elt": elt})
+
+def _array_printer(typ, printer, depth, max_depth):
+    return "numpy.array(elt={})".format(printer.name(typ["elt"], depth, max_depth))
+types.TypePrinter.custom_printers["array"] = _array_printer
+
 class TRange(types.TMono):
     def __init__(self, elt=None):
         if elt is None:
@@ -124,6 +134,9 @@ def fn_str():
 def fn_list():
     return types.TConstructor(TList())
 
+def fn_array():
+    return types.TConstructor(TArray())
+
 def fn_Exception():
     return types.TExceptionConstructor(TException("Exception"))
 
@@ -231,6 +244,15 @@ def is_list(typ, elt=None):
     else:
         return types.is_mono(typ, "list")
 
+def is_array(typ, elt=None):
+    if elt is not None:
+        return types.is_mono(typ, "array", elt=elt)
+    else:
+        return types.is_mono(typ, "array")
+
+def is_listish(typ, elt=None):
+    return is_list(typ, elt) or is_array(typ, elt)
+
 def is_range(typ, elt=None):
     if elt is not None:
         return types.is_mono(typ, "range", {"elt": elt})
@@ -247,7 +269,7 @@ def is_exception(typ, name=None):
 def is_iterable(typ):
     typ = typ.find()
     return isinstance(typ, types.TMono) and \
-        typ.name in ('list', 'range')
+        typ.name in ('list', 'array', 'range')
 
 def get_iterable_elt(typ):
     if is_iterable(typ):
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/embedding.py b/artiq/compiler/embedding.py
index 0bf9effd1..8941ea51f 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/embedding.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/embedding.py
@@ -187,6 +187,18 @@ class ASTSynthesizer:
             return asttyped.ListT(elts=elts, ctx=None, type=builtins.TList(),
                                   begin_loc=begin_loc, end_loc=end_loc,
                                   loc=begin_loc.join(end_loc))
+        elif isinstance(value, numpy.ndarray):
+            begin_loc = self._add("numpy.array([")
+            elts = []
+            for index, elt in enumerate(value):
+                elts.append(self.quote(elt))
+                if index < len(value) - 1:
+                    self._add(", ")
+            end_loc   = self._add("])")
+
+            return asttyped.ListT(elts=elts, ctx=None, type=builtins.TArray(),
+                                  begin_loc=begin_loc, end_loc=end_loc,
+                                  loc=begin_loc.join(end_loc))
         elif inspect.isfunction(value) or inspect.ismethod(value) or \
                 isinstance(value, pytypes.BuiltinFunctionType) or \
                 isinstance(value, SpecializedFunction):
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/prelude.py b/artiq/compiler/prelude.py
index c8dfb3561..8c46176f9 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/prelude.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/prelude.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ def globals():
         "int":                  builtins.fn_int(),
         "float":                builtins.fn_float(),
         "list":                 builtins.fn_list(),
+        "array":                builtins.fn_array(),
         "range":                builtins.fn_range(),
 
         # Exception constructors
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py b/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py
index 0bea60020..549bbef21 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ class ARTIQIRGenerator(algorithm.Visitor):
             self.continue_target = old_continue
 
     def iterable_len(self, value, typ=_size_type):
-        if builtins.is_list(value.type):
+        if builtins.is_listish(value.type):
             return self.append(ir.Builtin("len", [value], typ,
                                           name="{}.len".format(value.name)))
         elif builtins.is_range(value.type):
@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ class ARTIQIRGenerator(algorithm.Visitor):
 
     def iterable_get(self, value, index):
         # Assuming the value is within bounds.
-        if builtins.is_list(value.type):
+        if builtins.is_listish(value.type):
             return self.append(ir.GetElem(value, index))
         elif builtins.is_range(value.type):
             start  = self.append(ir.GetAttr(value, "start"))
@@ -1322,7 +1322,7 @@ class ARTIQIRGenerator(algorithm.Visitor):
                 for index, elt in enumerate(node.right.type.elts):
                     elts.append(self.append(ir.GetAttr(rhs, index)))
                 return self.append(ir.Alloc(elts, node.type))
-            elif builtins.is_list(node.left.type) and builtins.is_list(node.right.type):
+            elif builtins.is_listish(node.left.type) and builtins.is_listish(node.right.type):
                 lhs_length = self.iterable_len(lhs)
                 rhs_length = self.iterable_len(rhs)
 
@@ -1355,9 +1355,9 @@ class ARTIQIRGenerator(algorithm.Visitor):
                 assert False
         elif isinstance(node.op, ast.Mult): # list * int, int * list
             lhs, rhs = self.visit(node.left), self.visit(node.right)
-            if builtins.is_list(lhs.type) and builtins.is_int(rhs.type):
+            if builtins.is_listish(lhs.type) and builtins.is_int(rhs.type):
                 lst, num = lhs, rhs
-            elif builtins.is_int(lhs.type) and builtins.is_list(rhs.type):
+            elif builtins.is_int(lhs.type) and builtins.is_listish(rhs.type):
                 lst, num = rhs, lhs
             else:
                 assert False
@@ -1412,7 +1412,7 @@ class ARTIQIRGenerator(algorithm.Visitor):
                     result = self.append(ir.Select(result, elt_result,
                                                    ir.Constant(False, builtins.TBool())))
             return result
-        elif builtins.is_list(lhs.type) and builtins.is_list(rhs.type):
+        elif builtins.is_listish(lhs.type) and builtins.is_listish(rhs.type):
             head = self.current_block
             lhs_length = self.iterable_len(lhs)
             rhs_length = self.iterable_len(rhs)
@@ -1606,7 +1606,7 @@ class ARTIQIRGenerator(algorithm.Visitor):
                 return self.append(ir.Coerce(arg, node.type))
             else:
                 assert False
-        elif types.is_builtin(typ, "list"):
+        elif types.is_builtin(typ, "list") or types.is_builtin(typ, "array"):
             if len(node.args) == 0 and len(node.keywords) == 0:
                 length = ir.Constant(0, builtins.TInt32())
                 return self.append(ir.Alloc([length], node.type))
@@ -1968,8 +1968,13 @@ class ARTIQIRGenerator(algorithm.Visitor):
                 else:
                     format_string += "%s"
                 args.append(value)
-            elif builtins.is_list(value.type):
-                format_string += "["; flush()
+            elif builtins.is_listish(value.type):
+                if builtins.is_list(value.type):
+                    format_string += "["; flush()
+                elif builtins.is_array(value.type):
+                    format_string += "array(["; flush()
+                else:
+                    assert False
 
                 length = self.iterable_len(value)
                 last = self.append(ir.Arith(ast.Sub(loc=None), length, ir.Constant(1, length.type)))
@@ -1992,7 +1997,10 @@ class ARTIQIRGenerator(algorithm.Visitor):
                     lambda index: self.append(ir.Compare(ast.Lt(loc=None), index, length)),
                     body_gen)
 
-                format_string += "]"
+                if builtins.is_list(value.type):
+                    format_string += "]"
+                elif builtins.is_array(value.type):
+                    format_string += "])"
             elif builtins.is_range(value.type):
                 format_string += "range("; flush()
 
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/transforms/inferencer.py b/artiq/compiler/transforms/inferencer.py
index f10552cbf..b93e1528b 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/transforms/inferencer.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/transforms/inferencer.py
@@ -671,14 +671,25 @@ class Inferencer(algorithm.Visitor):
                 pass
             else:
                 diagnose(valid_forms())
-        elif types.is_builtin(typ, "list"):
-            valid_forms = lambda: [
-                valid_form("list() -> list(elt='a)"),
-                valid_form("list(x:'a) -> list(elt='b) where 'a is iterable")
-            ]
+        elif types.is_builtin(typ, "list") or types.is_builtin(typ, "array"):
+            if types.is_builtin(typ, "list"):
+                valid_forms = lambda: [
+                    valid_form("list() -> list(elt='a)"),
+                    valid_form("list(x:'a) -> list(elt='b) where 'a is iterable")
+                ]
 
-            self._unify(node.type, builtins.TList(),
-                        node.loc, None)
+                self._unify(node.type, builtins.TList(),
+                            node.loc, None)
+            elif types.is_builtin(typ, "array"):
+                valid_forms = lambda: [
+                    valid_form("array() -> array(elt='a)"),
+                    valid_form("array(x:'a) -> array(elt='b) where 'a is iterable")
+                ]
+
+                self._unify(node.type, builtins.TArray(),
+                            node.loc, None)
+            else:
+                assert False
 
             if len(node.args) == 0 and len(node.keywords) == 0:
                 pass # []
@@ -708,7 +719,8 @@ class Inferencer(algorithm.Visitor):
                         {"type": types.TypePrinter().name(arg.type)},
                         arg.loc)
                     diag = diagnostic.Diagnostic("error",
-                        "the argument of list() must be of an iterable type", {},
+                        "the argument of {builtin}() must be of an iterable type",
+                        {"builtin": typ.find().name},
                         node.func.loc, notes=[note])
                     self.engine.process(diag)
             else:
@@ -743,7 +755,7 @@ class Inferencer(algorithm.Visitor):
                 if builtins.is_range(arg.type):
                     self._unify(node.type, builtins.get_iterable_elt(arg.type),
                                 node.loc, None)
-                elif builtins.is_list(arg.type):
+                elif builtins.is_listish(arg.type):
                     # TODO: should be ssize_t-sized
                     self._unify(node.type, builtins.TInt32(),
                                 node.loc, None)
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/transforms/llvm_ir_generator.py b/artiq/compiler/transforms/llvm_ir_generator.py
index 7e8a67e78..ebcd9fc06 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/transforms/llvm_ir_generator.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/transforms/llvm_ir_generator.py
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ class LLVMIRGenerator:
             return lldouble
         elif builtins.is_str(typ) or ir.is_exn_typeinfo(typ):
             return llptr
-        elif builtins.is_list(typ):
+        elif builtins.is_listish(typ):
             lleltty = self.llty_of_type(builtins.get_iterable_elt(typ))
             return ll.LiteralStructType([lli32, lleltty.as_pointer()])
         elif builtins.is_range(typ):
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ class LLVMIRGenerator:
                                                    name=insn.name)
             else:
                 assert False
-        elif builtins.is_list(insn.type):
+        elif builtins.is_listish(insn.type):
             llsize = self.map(insn.operands[0])
             llvalue = ll.Constant(self.llty_of_type(insn.type), ll.Undefined)
             llvalue = self.llbuilder.insert_value(llvalue, llsize, 0)
@@ -1162,6 +1162,9 @@ class LLVMIRGenerator:
         elif builtins.is_list(typ):
             return b"l" + self._rpc_tag(builtins.get_iterable_elt(typ),
                                         error_handler)
+        elif builtins.is_array(typ):
+            return b"a" + self._rpc_tag(builtins.get_iterable_elt(typ),
+                                        error_handler)
         elif builtins.is_range(typ):
             return b"r" + self._rpc_tag(builtins.get_iterable_elt(typ),
                                         error_handler)
@@ -1405,13 +1408,13 @@ class LLVMIRGenerator:
         elif builtins.is_str(typ):
             assert isinstance(value, (str, bytes))
             return self.llstr_of_str(value)
-        elif builtins.is_list(typ):
-            assert isinstance(value, list)
+        elif builtins.is_listish(typ):
+            assert isinstance(value, (list, numpy.ndarray))
             elt_type  = builtins.get_iterable_elt(typ)
             llelts    = [self._quote(value[i], elt_type, lambda: path() + [str(i)])
                          for i in range(len(value))]
             lleltsary = ll.Constant(ll.ArrayType(self.llty_of_type(elt_type), len(llelts)),
-                                    llelts)
+                                    list(llelts))
 
             llglobal  = ll.GlobalVariable(self.llmodule, lleltsary.type,
                                           self.llmodule.scope.deduplicate("quoted.list"))
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/types.py b/artiq/compiler/types.py
index 04ba46f75..e1781116e 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/types.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/types.py
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ class TypePrinter(object):
                 return "<instance {} {{}}>".format(typ.name)
         elif isinstance(typ, TMono):
             if typ.name in self.custom_printers:
-                return self.custom_printers[typ.name](typ, depth + 1, max_depth)
+                return self.custom_printers[typ.name](typ, self, depth + 1, max_depth)
             elif typ.params == {}:
                 return typ.name
             else:
diff --git a/artiq/coredevice/comm_generic.py b/artiq/coredevice/comm_generic.py
index 09a5500db..24bccbd40 100644
--- a/artiq/coredevice/comm_generic.py
+++ b/artiq/coredevice/comm_generic.py
@@ -331,6 +331,9 @@ class CommGeneric:
         elif tag == "l":
             length = self._read_int32()
             return [self._receive_rpc_value(embedding_map) for _ in range(length)]
+        elif tag == "a":
+            length = self._read_int32()
+            return numpy.array([self._receive_rpc_value(embedding_map) for _ in range(length)])
         elif tag == "r":
             start = self._receive_rpc_value(embedding_map)
             stop  = self._receive_rpc_value(embedding_map)
diff --git a/artiq/runtime/session.c b/artiq/runtime/session.c
index 392566358..c2158d048 100644
--- a/artiq/runtime/session.c
+++ b/artiq/runtime/session.c
@@ -607,6 +607,7 @@ static void skip_rpc_value(const char **tag) {
         }
 
         case 'l':
+        case 'a':
             skip_rpc_value(tag);
             break;
 
@@ -650,6 +651,7 @@ static int sizeof_rpc_value(const char **tag)
             return sizeof(char *);
 
         case 'l': // list(elt='a)
+        case 'a': // array(elt='a)
             skip_rpc_value(tag);
             return sizeof(struct { int32_t length; struct {} *elements; });
 
@@ -733,7 +735,8 @@ static int receive_rpc_value(const char **tag, void **slot)
             break;
         }
 
-        case 'l': { // list(elt='a)
+        case 'l':   // list(elt='a)
+        case 'a': { // array(elt='a)
             struct { int32_t length; struct {} *elements; } *list = *slot;
             list->length = in_packet_int32();
 
@@ -824,7 +827,8 @@ static int send_rpc_value(const char **tag, void **value)
             return out_packet_string(*((*(const char***)value)++));
         }
 
-        case 'l': { // list(elt='a)
+        case 'l':   // list(elt='a)
+        case 'a': { // array(elt='a)
             struct { uint32_t length; struct {} *elements; } *list = *value;
             void *element = list->elements;
 
diff --git a/artiq/test/coredevice/test_embedding.py b/artiq/test/coredevice/test_embedding.py
index 8ae19fd47..583b2ca0d 100644
--- a/artiq/test/coredevice/test_embedding.py
+++ b/artiq/test/coredevice/test_embedding.py
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ class RoundtripTest(ExperimentCase):
     def test_list(self):
         self.assertRoundtrip([10])
 
+    def test_array(self):
+        self.assertRoundtrip(numpy.array([10]))
+
     def test_object(self):
         obj = object()
         self.assertRoundtrip(obj)
diff --git a/artiq/test/lit/inferencer/unify.py b/artiq/test/lit/inferencer/unify.py
index a0dadaf1e..bb7fd9241 100644
--- a/artiq/test/lit/inferencer/unify.py
+++ b/artiq/test/lit/inferencer/unify.py
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ lambda x, y=1: x
 k = "x"
 # CHECK-L: k:str
 
+l = array([1])
+# CHECK-L: l:numpy.array(elt=numpy.int?)
+
 IndexError()
 # CHECK-L: IndexError:<constructor IndexError {}>():IndexError
 
diff --git a/artiq/test/lit/integration/array.py b/artiq/test/lit/integration/array.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..aec874497
--- /dev/null
+++ b/artiq/test/lit/integration/array.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# RUN: %python -m artiq.compiler.testbench.jit %s
+# REQUIRES: exceptions
+
+ary = array([1, 2, 3])
+assert [x*x for x in ary] == [1, 4, 9]
diff --git a/artiq/test/lit/integration/print.py b/artiq/test/lit/integration/print.py
index 06653d43b..eb7fda126 100644
--- a/artiq/test/lit/integration/print.py
+++ b/artiq/test/lit/integration/print.py
@@ -30,3 +30,6 @@ print([[1, 2], [3]])
 
 # CHECK-L: range(0, 10, 1)
 print(range(10))
+
+# CHECK-L: array([1, 2])
+print(array([1, 2]))