diff --git a/scikits/image/util/dtype.py b/scikits/image/util/dtype.py
index 7e86892a..b859f044 100644
--- a/scikits/image/util/dtype.py
+++ b/scikits/image/util/dtype.py
@@ -75,9 +75,7 @@ def _convert(image, dtype, prec_loss):
 
     # Do scaling/shifting calculations in floating point
     image = image.astype(np.float64)
-    out = np.empty_like(image, dtype=dtype)
-    
-    out[:] = round_fn((image - imin) * scale + shift)
+    out = round_fn((image - imin) * scale + shift).astype(dtype)
 
     return out