diff --git a/examples/wave/wave-eager-mpi.py b/examples/wave/wave-eager-mpi.py
index d61c91641ee3c01d49a8707c82e10aa2acf0a4a4..4b408bb599c5002a32325f5befd9ab66ab02cee9 100644
--- a/examples/wave/wave-eager-mpi.py
+++ b/examples/wave/wave-eager-mpi.py
@@ -43,26 +43,26 @@ from mpi4py import MPI
 
 # {{{ wave equation bits
 
+def scalar(arg):
+    return make_obj_array([arg])
+
+
 def wave_flux(discr, c, w_tpair):
     u = w_tpair[0]
     v = w_tpair[1:]
 
     normal = thaw(u.int.array_context, discr.normal(w_tpair.dd))
 
-    def normal_times(scalar):
-        # workaround for object array behavior
-        return make_obj_array([ni*scalar for ni in normal])
-
     flux_weak = flat_obj_array(
             np.dot(v.avg, normal),
-            normal_times(u.avg),
+            normal*scalar(u.avg),
             )
 
     # upwind
     v_jump = np.dot(normal, v.int-v.ext)
     flux_weak -= flat_obj_array(
             0.5*(u.int-u.ext),
-            0.5*normal_times(v_jump),
+            0.5*normal*scalar(v_jump),
             )
 
     return discr.project(w_tpair.dd, "all_faces", c*flux_weak)
diff --git a/examples/wave/wave-eager.py b/examples/wave/wave-eager.py
index 2b455509fa66f9d13e50012b60b31226661b3343..e78214313bfb8ea0ab9e547bbc37d6ebc0aaaa5f 100644
--- a/examples/wave/wave-eager.py
+++ b/examples/wave/wave-eager.py
@@ -41,26 +41,26 @@ from grudge.symbolic.primitives import TracePair
 
 # {{{ wave equation bits
 
+def scalar(arg):
+    return make_obj_array([arg])
+
+
 def wave_flux(discr, c, w_tpair):
     u = w_tpair[0]
     v = w_tpair[1:]
 
     normal = thaw(u.int.array_context, discr.normal(w_tpair.dd))
 
-    def normal_times(scalar):
-        # workaround for object array behavior
-        return make_obj_array([ni*scalar for ni in normal])
-
     flux_weak = flat_obj_array(
             np.dot(v.avg, normal),
-            normal_times(u.avg),
+            normal*scalar(u.avg),
             )
 
     # upwind
     v_jump = np.dot(normal, v.int-v.ext)
     flux_weak -= flat_obj_array(
             0.5*(u.int-u.ext),
-            0.5*normal_times(v_jump),
+            0.5*normal*scalar(v_jump),
             )
 
     return discr.project(w_tpair.dd, "all_faces", c*flux_weak)