diff --git a/scripts/qapi/schema.py b/scripts/qapi/schema.py
index cf0045f34e..cfb574c85d 100644
--- a/scripts/qapi/schema.py
+++ b/scripts/qapi/schema.py
@@ -711,10 +711,11 @@ class QAPISchemaCommand(QAPISchemaEntity):
             self.ret_type = schema.resolve_type(
                 self._ret_type_name, self.info, "command's 'returns'")
             if self.name not in self.info.pragma.returns_whitelist:
-                if not (isinstance(self.ret_type, QAPISchemaObjectType)
-                        or (isinstance(self.ret_type, QAPISchemaArrayType)
-                            and isinstance(self.ret_type.element_type,
-                                           QAPISchemaObjectType))):
+                typ = self.ret_type
+                if isinstance(typ, QAPISchemaArrayType):
+                    typ = self.ret_type.element_type
+                    assert typ
+                if not isinstance(typ, QAPISchemaObjectType):
                     raise QAPISemError(
                         self.info,
                         "command's 'returns' cannot take %s"