diff --git a/commands_test.go b/commands_test.go
index 7ff5efb4..8efe05b3 100644
--- a/commands_test.go
+++ b/commands_test.go
@@ -360,6 +360,26 @@ func TestPrefixCmd(t *testing.T) {
 	assertResult(t, expectedOutput, result.Output)
 }
 
+func TestPrefixCmdArray(t *testing.T) {
+	content := `b:
+  c: 3
+`
+	filename := writeTempYamlFile(content)
+	defer removeTempYamlFile(filename)
+
+	cmd := getRootCommand()
+	result := runCmd(cmd, fmt.Sprintf("prefix %s [0].d.[1]", filename))
+	if result.Error != nil {
+		t.Error(result.Error)
+	}
+	expectedOutput := `- d:
+  - null
+  - b:
+      c: 3
+`
+	assertResult(t, expectedOutput, result.Output)
+}
+
 func TestPrefixCmd_MultiLayer(t *testing.T) {
 	content := `b:
   c: 3
diff --git a/yq.go b/yq.go
index 293c731e..eca4e0a0 100644
--- a/yq.go
+++ b/yq.go
@@ -440,9 +440,8 @@ func prefixProperty(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			log.Debugf("Prefixing %v to doc %v", paths, currentIndex)
 			var mapDataBucket = dataBucket
 			for _, key := range paths {
-				nestedBucket := make(map[string]interface{})
-				nestedBucket[key] = mapDataBucket
-				mapDataBucket = nestedBucket
+				singlePath := []string{key}
+				mapDataBucket = updatedChildValue(nil, singlePath, mapDataBucket)
 			}
 			return mapDataBucket, nil
 		}