diff --git a/python/seqpro/rag/_array.py b/python/seqpro/rag/_array.py
index 93fe0c1..5adaa26 100644
--- a/python/seqpro/rag/_array.py
+++ b/python/seqpro/rag/_array.py
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ def to_numpy(self, allow_missing: bool = False) -> NDArray[RDTYPE]:
         """Note: not zero-copy if offsets or data are non-contiguous."""
         arr = super().to_numpy(allow_missing=allow_missing)
         if self.dtype.type == np.bytes_:
-            arr = arr.view("S1")
+            arr = arr[:, None].view("S1")
         return arr
 
     def __getitem__(self, where):