diff --git a/R/redcap-metadata-read.R b/R/redcap-metadata-read.R
index 9b424971..11e4f522 100644
--- a/R/redcap-metadata-read.R
+++ b/R/redcap-metadata-read.R
@@ -93,17 +93,21 @@ redcap_metadata_read <- function(
 
   token               <- sanitize_token(token)
   fields_collapsed    <- collapse_vector(fields)
+  fields_array        <- to_api_array(fields, "fields")
   forms_collapsed     <- collapse_vector(forms)
+  forms_array         <- to_api_array(forms, "forms")
   verbose             <- verbose_prepare(verbose)
 
   post_body <- list(
     token    = token,
     content  = "metadata",
-    format   = "json",
-    forms    = forms_collapsed,
-    fields   = fields_collapsed
+    format   = "json"
   )
 
+  # append forms and fields arrays in format expected by REDCap API
+  # If either is NULL nothing will be appended
+  post_body <- c(post_body, fields_array, forms_array)
+
   # This is the important call that communicates with the REDCap server.
   kernel <-
     kernel_api(
@@ -177,3 +181,30 @@ redcap_metadata_read <- function(
     raw_text           = kernel$raw_text
   )
 }
+
+#' @title
+#' Convert a vector to the array format expected by the REDCap API
+#'
+#' @description
+#' Utility function to convert a vector into the array format expected by the
+#' REDCap API.
+#'
+#' @param x A vector to convert to array format
+#' @param arr_name A string containing the name of the API request parameter for
+#' the array
+#'
+#' @return
+#' If \code{x} is not \code{NULL} a list is returned with one element for
+#' each element of x in the format:
+#' \code{list(`arr_name[0]` = x[1], `arr_name[1]` = x[2], ...)}. If \code{x} is
+#' \code{NULL} then \code{NULL} is returned.
+to_api_array <- function(x, arr_name) {
+  if (is.null(x)) {
+    return(NULL)
+  }
+
+  res <- as.list(x)
+  names(res) <- paste0(arr_name, "[", seq_along(res) - 1, "]")
+
+  res
+}
diff --git a/man/to_api_array.Rd b/man/to_api_array.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..22abef13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/to_api_array.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/redcap-metadata-read.R
+\name{to_api_array}
+\alias{to_api_array}
+\title{Convert a vector to the array format expected by the REDCap API}
+\usage{
+to_api_array(x, arr_name)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{x}{A vector to convert to array format}
+
+\item{arr_name}{A string containing the name of the API request parameter for
+the array}
+}
+\value{
+If \code{x} is not \code{NULL} a list is returned with one element for
+each element of x in the format:
+\code{list(`arr_name[0]` = x[1], `arr_name[1]` = x[2], ...)}. If \code{x} is
+\code{NULL} then \code{NULL} is returned.
+}
+\description{
+Utility function to convert a vector into the array format expected by the
+REDCap API.
+}