diff --git a/python/tests/test_doc.py b/python/tests/test_doc.py
index ecfd31e4d..7d042a6e5 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_doc.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_doc.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import json
 import math
 import pytest
 
@@ -83,6 +84,14 @@ def test_with_numpy_array(self):
         assert doc.vector("image") == [1, 2, 3]
         assert doc.vector("keys") == {1: 1.0, 2: 2.0, 3: 3.0}
 
+    def test_init_normalizes_numpy_vectors(self):
+        import numpy as np
+
+        doc = Doc(id="1", vectors={"dense": np.array([1, 2, 3])})
+
+        assert doc.vector("dense") == [1, 2, 3]
+        assert json.loads(repr(doc))["vectors"]["dense"] == [1, 2, 3]
+
 
 # ----------------------------
 # CppDoc Test Case
diff --git a/python/zvec/model/doc.py b/python/zvec/model/doc.py
index 83f75cbef..e441410a3 100644
--- a/python/zvec/model/doc.py
+++ b/python/zvec/model/doc.py
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def __init__(
     ):
         self.id = id
         self.score = score
-        self.vectors = vectors or {}
+        self.vectors = _normalize_vectors(vectors)
         self.fields = fields or {}
 
     def has_field(self, name: str) -> bool:
@@ -167,15 +167,23 @@ def _from_tuple(
 
         vectors = data_tuple[3]
         if vectors is not None:
-            obj.vectors = {
-                name: (vec.tolist() if hasattr(vec, "tolist") else vec)
-                for name, vec in vectors.items()
-            }
+            obj.vectors = _normalize_vectors(vectors)
         else:
             obj.vectors = {}
         return obj
 
 
+def _normalize_vectors(
+    vectors: Optional[dict[str, VectorType]],
+) -> dict[str, VectorType]:
+    if vectors is None:
+        return {}
+    return {
+        name: (vec.tolist() if hasattr(vec, "tolist") else vec)
+        for name, vec in vectors.items()
+    }
+
+
 #: Type alias for query results: a list of documents returned by a single query route.
 DocList = list[Doc]