diff --git a/spanner/value.go b/spanner/value.go
index 63d881865a0f..86d9f71b250a 100644
--- a/spanner/value.go
+++ b/spanner/value.go
@@ -872,8 +872,9 @@ func decodeStringArray(pb *proto3.ListValue) ([]string, error) {
 		return nil, errNilListValue("STRING")
 	}
 	a := make([]string, len(pb.Values))
+	st := stringType()
 	for i, v := range pb.Values {
-		if err := decodeValue(v, stringType(), &a[i]); err != nil {
+		if err := decodeValue(v, st, &a[i]); err != nil {
 			return nil, errDecodeArrayElement(i, v, "STRING", err)
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/spanner/value_benchmarks_test.go b/spanner/value_benchmarks_test.go
index a8d89a487a2b..0d95ab9de259 100644
--- a/spanner/value_benchmarks_test.go
+++ b/spanner/value_benchmarks_test.go
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ func BenchmarkDecodeArray(b *testing.B) {
 				{"DateDirect", decodeArray_Date_direct},
 				{"DateFunc", decodeArray_Date_func},
 				{"DateReflect", decodeArray_Date_reflect},
+				{"StringDecodeStringArray", decodeStringArrayWrap},
 				{"StringDirect", decodeArray_String_direct},
 				{"StringFunc", decodeArray_String_func},
 				{"StringReflect", decodeArray_String_reflect},
@@ -154,6 +155,12 @@ func decodeArray_Date_reflect(pb *proto3.ListValue) {
 	}
 }
 
+func decodeStringArrayWrap(pb *proto3.ListValue) {
+	if _, err := decodeStringArray(pb); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+}
+
 func decodeArray_String_direct(pb *proto3.ListValue) {
 	a := make([]string, len(pb.Values))
 	t := stringType()