diff --git a/nibabel/nicom/dicomwrappers.py b/nibabel/nicom/dicomwrappers.py
index 622ab0927..02c987b0f 100755
--- a/nibabel/nicom/dicomwrappers.py
+++ b/nibabel/nicom/dicomwrappers.py
@@ -756,13 +756,11 @@ def image_shape(self):
             return (rows, cols)
         # Initialize array of frame indices
         try:
-            frame_indices = np.array(
+            frame_indices = np.atleast_2d(
                 [frame.FrameContentSequence[0].DimensionIndexValues for frame in self.frames]
             )
         except AttributeError:
             raise WrapperError("Can't find frame 'DimensionIndexValues'")
-        if len(frame_indices.shape) == 1:
-            frame_indices = frame_indices.reshape(frame_indices.shape + (1,))
         # Determine the shape and which indices to use
         shape = [rows, cols]
         curr_parts = n_frames