diff --git a/python/cudaq/kernel/kernel_builder.py b/python/cudaq/kernel/kernel_builder.py
index b73ba1774ad..d4e43f64909 100644
--- a/python/cudaq/kernel/kernel_builder.py
+++ b/python/cudaq/kernel/kernel_builder.py
@@ -826,7 +826,7 @@ def qalloc(self, initializer=None):
                     )
 
                 # check state is normalized
-                norm = sum([np.conj(a) * a for a in initializer])
+                norm = np.sum(np.conj(initializer) * initializer)
                 if np.abs(norm.imag) > 1e-4 or np.abs(1. - norm.real) > 1e-4:
                     raise RuntimeError(
                         "invalid input state for qalloc (not normalized)")