diff --git a/ophyd/tests/test_utils.py b/ophyd/tests/test_utils.py
index 2fd1a26d4..bd1b26af3 100644
--- a/ophyd/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/ophyd/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -48,15 +48,15 @@ def test_records_from_db():
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "value, dtype, shape",
     [
-        [1, "integer", []],
-        [1.0, "number", []],
-        [1e-3, "number", []],
-        ["foo", "string", []],
-        [np.array([1, 2, 3]), "array", [3]],
-        [np.array([[1, 2], [3, 4]]), "array", [2, 2]],
-        [(1, 2, 3), "array", [3]],
-        [[1, 2, 3], "array", [3]],
-        [[], "array", [0]],
+        [1, "integer", ()],
+        [1.0, "number", ()],
+        [1e-3, "number", ()],
+        ["foo", "string", ()],
+        [np.array([1, 2, 3]), "array", (3,)],
+        [np.array([[1, 2], [3, 4]]), "array", (2, 2)],
+        [(1, 2, 3), "array", (3,)],
+        [[1, 2, 3], "array", (3,)],
+        [[], "array", (0,)],
     ],
 )
 def test_data_type_and_shape(value, dtype, shape):
diff --git a/ophyd/utils/epics_pvs.py b/ophyd/utils/epics_pvs.py
index ce3733e0c..39d9ad298 100644
--- a/ophyd/utils/epics_pvs.py
+++ b/ophyd/utils/epics_pvs.py
@@ -401,12 +401,12 @@ def data_shape(val):
         ``list(np.ndarray.shape)``
     """
     if data_type(val) != "array":
-        return []
+        return ()
 
     try:
-        return list(val.shape)
+        return tuple(val.shape)
     except AttributeError:
-        return [len(val)]
+        return (len(val),)
 
 
 # Vendored from pyepics v3.3.0