diff --git a/openmc/data/thermal_angle_energy.py b/openmc/data/thermal_angle_energy.py
index 1f37863ea..17a560092 100644
--- a/openmc/data/thermal_angle_energy.py
+++ b/openmc/data/thermal_angle_energy.py
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ class IncoherentElasticAE(AngleEnergy):
             Incoherent elastic distribution
 
         """
-        return cls(group['debye_waller'])
+        return cls(group['debye_waller'][()])
 
 
 class IncoherentElasticAEDiscrete(AngleEnergy):