diff --git a/src/catools/caget.c b/src/catools/caget.c
index f29ff011a..5991a1152 100644
--- a/src/catools/caget.c
+++ b/src/catools/caget.c
@@ -167,11 +167,14 @@ int caget (pv *pvs, int nPvs, RequestT request, OutputT format,
             }
         }
                                 /* Adjust array count */
-        if (reqElems == 0 || pvs[n].nElems < reqElems)
-            reqElems = pvs[n].nElems;
-                                /* Remember dbrType and reqElems */
+        if (reqElems == 0 || pvs[n].nElems < reqElems){
+            pvs[n].reqElems = pvs[n].nElems; /* Use full number of points */
+        } else {
+            pvs[n].reqElems = reqElems; /* Limit to specified number */
+        }
+
+                                /* Remember dbrType */
         pvs[n].dbrType  = dbrType;
-        pvs[n].reqElems = reqElems;
 
                                 /* Issue CA request */
                                 /* ---------------- */
@@ -183,15 +186,15 @@ int caget (pv *pvs, int nPvs, RequestT request, OutputT format,
             if (request == callback)
             {                          /* Event handler will allocate value */
                 result = ca_array_get_callback(dbrType,
-                                               reqElems,
+                                               pvs[n].reqElems,
                                                pvs[n].chid,
                                                event_handler,
                                                (void*)&pvs[n]);
             } else {
                                        /* Allocate value structure */
-                pvs[n].value = calloc(1, dbr_size_n(dbrType, reqElems));
+                pvs[n].value = calloc(1, dbr_size_n(dbrType, pvs[n].reqElems));
                 result = ca_array_get(dbrType,
-                                      reqElems,
+                                      pvs[n].reqElems,
                                       pvs[n].chid,
                                       pvs[n].value);
             }
diff --git a/src/catools/camonitor.c b/src/catools/camonitor.c
index 0fbf8cd01..c9ae30322 100644
--- a/src/catools/camonitor.c
+++ b/src/catools/camonitor.c
@@ -131,11 +131,14 @@ void connection_handler ( struct connection_handler_args args )
             dbrType = DBR_TIME_STRING;
         }
                                 /* Adjust array count */
-        if (reqElems == 0 || ppv->nElems < reqElems)
-            reqElems = ppv->nElems;
-                                /* Remember dbrType and reqElems */
+        if (reqElems == 0 || ppv->nElems < reqElems){
+            ppv->reqElems = ppv->nElems; /* Use full number of points */
+        } else {
+            ppv->reqElems = reqElems; /* Limit to specified number */
+        }
+
+                                /* Remember dbrType */
         ppv->dbrType  = dbrType;
-        ppv->reqElems = reqElems;
 
         ppv->onceConnected = 1;
         nConn++;
@@ -144,10 +147,10 @@ void connection_handler ( struct connection_handler_args args )
         /* install monitor once with first connect */
         if ( ! ppv->value ) {
                                     /* Allocate value structure */
-            ppv->value = calloc(1, dbr_size_n(dbrType, reqElems));           
+            ppv->value = calloc(1, dbr_size_n(dbrType, ppv->reqElems));           
             if ( ppv->value ) {
                 ppv->status = ca_create_subscription(dbrType,
-                                                reqElems,
+                                                ppv->reqElems,
                                                 ppv->chid,
                                                 eventMask,
                                                 event_handler,