diff --git a/loopy/kernel/array.py b/loopy/kernel/array.py
index a02fc58d97f370d45f36a465c38fa3caf3da9d41..f3f4e9d7338fb83a98fb636bd97158728eab1563 100644
--- a/loopy/kernel/array.py
+++ b/loopy/kernel/array.py
@@ -643,8 +643,9 @@ class ArrayBase(ImmutableRecord):
         :arg offset: Offset from the beginning of the buffer to the point from
             which the strides are counted. May be one of
 
-            * 0
+            * 0 or None
             * a string (that is interpreted as an argument name).
+            * a pymbolic expression
             * :class:`loopy.auto`, in which case an offset argument
               is added automatically, immediately following this argument.
               :class:`loopy.CompiledKernel` is even smarter in its treatment of
@@ -1036,7 +1037,9 @@ class ArrayBase(ImmutableRecord):
 
                             is_written=is_written)
 
-                if self.offset:
+                import loopy as lp
+
+                if self.offset is lp.auto:
                     offset_name = full_name+"_offset"
                     yield ImplementedDataInfo(
                                 target=target,
@@ -1202,12 +1205,16 @@ def get_access_info(target, ary, index, eval_expr, vectorization_info):
         return result
 
     def apply_offset(sub):
-        if ary.offset:
-            offset_name = ary.offset
-            if offset_name is lp.auto:
-                offset_name = array_name+"_offset"
+        import loopy as lp
 
-            return var(offset_name) + sub
+        if ary.offset:
+            if ary.offset is lp.auto:
+                return var(array_name+"_offset") + sub
+            elif isinstance(ary.offset, str):
+                return var(ary.offset) + sub
+            else:
+                # assume it's an expression
+                return ary.offset + sub
         else:
             return sub