diff --git a/aclitem_array.go b/aclitem_array.go
index 501074d6..bf7bba93 100644
--- a/aclitem_array.go
+++ b/aclitem_array.go
@@ -228,6 +228,12 @@ func (src *ACLItemArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/array_test.go b/array_test.go
index 2f3b9237..d2120677 100644
--- a/array_test.go
+++ b/array_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/jackc/pgtype"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
 func TestParseUntypedTextArray(t *testing.T) {
@@ -113,3 +114,14 @@ func TestParseUntypedTextArray(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+// https://github.com/jackc/pgx/issues/881
+func TestArrayAssignToEmptyToNonSlice(t *testing.T) {
+	var a pgtype.Int4Array
+	err := a.Set([]int32{})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	var iface interface{}
+	err = a.AssignTo(&iface)
+	require.EqualError(t, err, "cannot assign *pgtype.Int4Array to *interface {}")
+}
diff --git a/bool_array.go b/bool_array.go
index 232863ec..2659321e 100644
--- a/bool_array.go
+++ b/bool_array.go
@@ -230,6 +230,12 @@ func (src *BoolArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/bpchar_array.go b/bpchar_array.go
index aad7c144..d48b2b53 100644
--- a/bpchar_array.go
+++ b/bpchar_array.go
@@ -230,6 +230,12 @@ func (src *BPCharArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/bytea_array.go b/bytea_array.go
index 1dee05fa..14d8afad 100644
--- a/bytea_array.go
+++ b/bytea_array.go
@@ -202,6 +202,12 @@ func (src *ByteaArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/cidr_array.go b/cidr_array.go
index 645c641a..3ac1b183 100644
--- a/cidr_array.go
+++ b/cidr_array.go
@@ -259,6 +259,12 @@ func (src *CIDRArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/date_array.go b/date_array.go
index a546a854..0c623b8f 100644
--- a/date_array.go
+++ b/date_array.go
@@ -231,6 +231,12 @@ func (src *DateArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/enum_array.go b/enum_array.go
index d497dead..cf7c7066 100644
--- a/enum_array.go
+++ b/enum_array.go
@@ -228,6 +228,12 @@ func (src *EnumArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/float4_array.go b/float4_array.go
index c399697d..91b3b0e2 100644
--- a/float4_array.go
+++ b/float4_array.go
@@ -230,6 +230,12 @@ func (src *Float4Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/float8_array.go b/float8_array.go
index 9a961c2f..559ee292 100644
--- a/float8_array.go
+++ b/float8_array.go
@@ -230,6 +230,12 @@ func (src *Float8Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/hstore_array.go b/hstore_array.go
index 0be072cc..a44ea629 100644
--- a/hstore_array.go
+++ b/hstore_array.go
@@ -202,6 +202,12 @@ func (src *HstoreArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/inet_array.go b/inet_array.go
index d5d0a665..30adeabb 100644
--- a/inet_array.go
+++ b/inet_array.go
@@ -259,6 +259,12 @@ func (src *InetArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/int2_array.go b/int2_array.go
index 8aeb7d46..f4bd64cc 100644
--- a/int2_array.go
+++ b/int2_array.go
@@ -622,6 +622,12 @@ func (src *Int2Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/int4_array.go b/int4_array.go
index 76ca811e..528310ff 100644
--- a/int4_array.go
+++ b/int4_array.go
@@ -622,6 +622,12 @@ func (src *Int4Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/int8_array.go b/int8_array.go
index 45d8447f..b1e52a97 100644
--- a/int8_array.go
+++ b/int8_array.go
@@ -622,6 +622,12 @@ func (src *Int8Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/jsonb_array.go b/jsonb_array.go
index c8ef1fcd..5d658ed5 100644
--- a/jsonb_array.go
+++ b/jsonb_array.go
@@ -230,6 +230,12 @@ func (src *JSONBArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/macaddr_array.go b/macaddr_array.go
index 7f78c304..0ac2618e 100644
--- a/macaddr_array.go
+++ b/macaddr_array.go
@@ -231,6 +231,12 @@ func (src *MacaddrArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/numeric_array.go b/numeric_array.go
index 49c70855..1c2ae489 100644
--- a/numeric_array.go
+++ b/numeric_array.go
@@ -398,6 +398,12 @@ func (src *NumericArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/text_array.go b/text_array.go
index d7125237..afdc507b 100644
--- a/text_array.go
+++ b/text_array.go
@@ -230,6 +230,12 @@ func (src *TextArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/timestamp_array.go b/timestamp_array.go
index bb819017..5256f185 100644
--- a/timestamp_array.go
+++ b/timestamp_array.go
@@ -231,6 +231,12 @@ func (src *TimestampArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/timestamptz_array.go b/timestamptz_array.go
index f028e0f9..47408c02 100644
--- a/timestamptz_array.go
+++ b/timestamptz_array.go
@@ -231,6 +231,12 @@ func (src *TimestamptzArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/tstzrange_array.go b/tstzrange_array.go
index 4f03d838..6d9bfe3b 100644
--- a/tstzrange_array.go
+++ b/tstzrange_array.go
@@ -183,6 +183,12 @@ func (src *TstzrangeArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/typed_array.go.erb b/typed_array.go.erb
index 60665270..52f14592 100644
--- a/typed_array.go.erb
+++ b/typed_array.go.erb
@@ -203,6 +203,12 @@ func (src *<%= pgtype_array_type %>) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/uuid_array.go b/uuid_array.go
index 894bbd40..c6970d52 100644
--- a/uuid_array.go
+++ b/uuid_array.go
@@ -286,6 +286,12 @@ func (src *UUIDArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
diff --git a/varchar_array.go b/varchar_array.go
index d515c2a4..f3a9b001 100644
--- a/varchar_array.go
+++ b/varchar_array.go
@@ -230,6 +230,12 @@ func (src *VarcharArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		switch value.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Array, reflect.Slice:
+		default:
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign %T to %T", src, dst)
+		}
+
 		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
 			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
 				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))