Index: arraymodule.c
===================================================================
--- arraymodule.c	(revision 52084)
+++ arraymodule.c	(working copy)
@@ -667,7 +667,7 @@
 static PyObject *
 array_repeat(arrayobject *a, Py_ssize_t n)
 {
-	Py_ssize_t i;
+	Py_ssize_t shift;
 	Py_ssize_t size;
 	arrayobject *np;
 	char *p;
@@ -680,10 +680,26 @@
 		return NULL;
 	p = np->ob_item;
 	nbytes = a->ob_size * a->ob_descr->itemsize;
-	for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-		memcpy(p, a->ob_item, nbytes);
-		p += nbytes;
-	}
+
+	if (n == 0)
+		return (PyObject *) np;
+
+	/* Extend the array using iterative doubling up to the nearest
+	   lower power of two. */ 
+	memcpy(np->ob_item, a->ob_item, nbytes);
+	shift = 0;
+	while (2<<shift < n)
+	  {
+	    p = np->ob_item + (nbytes<<shift);
+	    memcpy(p, np->ob_item, nbytes<<shift);
+	    shift++;
+	  }
+
+	/* Then take care of the remaining items. */
+	p = np->ob_item + (nbytes<<shift);
+	n -= 1<<shift;
+	memcpy(p, np->ob_item, n*nbytes);
+
 	return (PyObject *) np;
 }