diff --git a/thinc/backends/cupy_ops.py b/thinc/backends/cupy_ops.py
index ec70cf72e..9f420fcd6 100644
--- a/thinc/backends/cupy_ops.py
+++ b/thinc/backends/cupy_ops.py
@@ -59,29 +59,20 @@ def gemm(self, x, y, out=None, trans1=False, trans2=False):
             return out
 
     def asarray(self, data, dtype=None):
-        # This is sort of frustrating, but we can't easily otherwise pass
-        # forward "unset".
-        dtype = {"dtype": dtype} if dtype is not None else {}
-
         # We'll try to perform a zero-copy conversion if possible.
-        array = None
-        cast_array = False
         if is_cupy_array(data):
-            array = self.xp.asarray(data, **dtype)
+            array = data
         elif is_torch_gpu_array(data):
             array = torch2xp(data)
-            cast_array = True
         elif is_tensorflow_gpu_array(data):
             array = tensorflow2xp(data)
-            cast_array = True
         elif is_mxnet_gpu_array(data):
             array = mxnet2xp(data)
-            cast_array = True
         else:
-            array = self.xp.array(data, **dtype)
+            array = self.xp.array(data)
 
-        if cast_array and dtype != {}:
-            array = array.astype(dtype["dtype"])
+        if dtype is not None:
+            array = array.astype(dtype=dtype, copy=False)
 
         return array