diff --git a/python/ray/experimental/array/distributed/core.py b/python/ray/experimental/array/distributed/core.py
index 2923c0b2e..992d4375c 100644
--- a/python/ray/experimental/array/distributed/core.py
+++ b/python/ray/experimental/array/distributed/core.py
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ class DistArray(object):
         for index in np.ndindex(*self.num_blocks):
             lower = DistArray.compute_block_lower(index, self.shape)
             upper = DistArray.compute_block_upper(index, self.shape)
-            result[[slice(l, u) for (l, u) in zip(lower, upper)]] = ray.get(
-                self.objectids[index])
+            value = ray.get(self.objectids[index])
+            result[tuple(slice(l, u) for (l, u) in zip(lower, upper))] = value
         return result
 
     def __getitem__(self, sliced):
@@ -86,8 +86,8 @@ def numpy_to_dist(a):
     for index in np.ndindex(*result.num_blocks):
         lower = DistArray.compute_block_lower(index, a.shape)
         upper = DistArray.compute_block_upper(index, a.shape)
-        result.objectids[index] = ray.put(
-            a[[slice(l, u) for (l, u) in zip(lower, upper)]])
+        idx = tuple(slice(l, u) for (l, u) in zip(lower, upper))
+        result.objectids[index] = ray.put(a[idx])
     return result
 
 
diff --git a/python/ray/experimental/array/remote/core.py b/python/ray/experimental/array/remote/core.py
index 60b6ca38b..2484b848b 100644
--- a/python/ray/experimental/array/remote/core.py
+++ b/python/ray/experimental/array/remote/core.py
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ def hstack(*xs):
 # TODO(rkn): Be consistent about using "index" versus "indices".
 @ray.remote
 def subarray(a, lower_indices, upper_indices):
-    return a[[slice(l, u) for (l, u) in zip(lower_indices, upper_indices)]]
+    idx = tuple(slice(l, u) for (l, u) in zip(lower_indices, upper_indices))
+    return a[idx]
 
 
 @ray.remote