diff --git a/lib/prawn/text.rb b/lib/prawn/text.rb
index 49097f42f..1c323a781 100644
--- a/lib/prawn/text.rb
+++ b/lib/prawn/text.rb
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ def text(string, options = {})
       if p
         p = [] unless p.is_a?(Array)
         options.delete(:inline_format)
-        array = text_formatter.format(string, *p)
+        array = string.is_a?(Array) ? string : text_formatter.format(string, *p)
       else
         array = [{ text: string }]
       end
diff --git a/lib/prawn/text/box.rb b/lib/prawn/text/box.rb
index 63de01a26..2d64d8a55 100644
--- a/lib/prawn/text/box.rb
+++ b/lib/prawn/text/box.rb
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ def text_box(string, options = {})
         if options[:inline_format]
           p = options.delete(:inline_format)
           p = [] unless p.is_a?(Array)
-          array = text_formatter.format(string, *p)
+          array = string.is_a?(Array) ? string : text_formatter.format(string, *p)
           Text::Formatted::Box.new(array, options)
         else
           Text::Box.new(string, options)