diff --git a/artiq/compiler/embedding.py b/artiq/compiler/embedding.py
index ddacf947f..03be54a94 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/embedding.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/embedding.py
@@ -233,17 +233,7 @@ class ASTSynthesizer:
                                    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))
+            return self.call(numpy.array, [list(value)], {})
         elif inspect.isfunction(value) or inspect.ismethod(value) or \
                 isinstance(value, pytypes.BuiltinFunctionType) or \
                 isinstance(value, SpecializedFunction) or \
diff --git a/artiq/test/lit/embedding/arrays.py b/artiq/test/lit/embedding/arrays.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3a2c226b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/artiq/test/lit/embedding/arrays.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# RUN: %python -m artiq.compiler.testbench.embedding %s
+
+from artiq.language.core import *
+from artiq.language.types import *
+from numpy import array
+
+int_vec = array([1, 2, 3])
+float_vec = array([1.0, 2.0, 3.0])
+int_mat = array([[1, 2], [3, 4]])
+float_mat = array([[1.0, 2.0], [3.0, 4.0]])
+
+
+@kernel
+def entrypoint():
+    assert int_vec.shape == (3, )
+    assert int_vec[0] == 1
+    assert int_vec[1] == 2
+    assert int_vec[2] == 3
+
+    assert float_vec.shape == (3, )
+    assert float_vec[0] == 1.0
+    assert float_vec[1] == 2.0
+    assert float_vec[2] == 3.0
+
+    # assert int_mat.shape == (2, 2)
+    # assert int_mat[0][0] == 1
+    # assert int_mat[0][1] == 2
+    # assert int_mat[1][0] == 3
+    # assert int_mat[1][1] == 4
+
+    # assert float_mat.shape == (2, 2)
+    # assert float_mat[0][0] == 1.0
+    # assert float_mat[0][1] == 2.0
+    # assert float_mat[1][0] == 3.0
+    # assert float_mat[1][1] == 4.0