diff --git a/artiq/language/core.py b/artiq/language/core.py
index ac2946036..d9ebf8cb2 100644
--- a/artiq/language/core.py
+++ b/artiq/language/core.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from collections import namedtuple
 from fractions import Fraction
+from copy import copy
 
 from artiq.language import units
 
@@ -35,6 +36,10 @@ def round64(x):
     return int64(round(x))
 
 
+def array(element, count):
+    return [copy(element) for i in range(count)]
+
+
 def _make_kernel_ro(value):
     return isinstance(
         value, (bool, int, int64, float, Fraction, units.Quantity))