diff --git a/numcodecs/bitround.py b/numcodecs/bitround.py
index 29f46bf8..dc8d5116 100644
--- a/numcodecs/bitround.py
+++ b/numcodecs/bitround.py
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ def encode(self, buf):
             return a
         if self.keepbits > bits:
             raise ValueError("Keepbits too large for given dtype")
-        b = a.view(a_int_dtype)
+        b = a.copy()
+        b = b.view(a_int_dtype)
         maskbits = bits - self.keepbits
         mask = (all_set >> maskbits) << maskbits
         half_quantum1 = (1 << (maskbits - 1)) - 1