diff --git a/dask/array/utils.py b/dask/array/utils.py
index 3e8ba2f219a..d5651eba498 100644
--- a/dask/array/utils.py
+++ b/dask/array/utils.py
@@ -29,15 +29,19 @@ def normalize_to_array(x):
 
 
 def normalize_meta(x, ndim, dtype=None):
-    if ndim > x.ndim:
-        meta = x[(Ellipsis, ) + tuple(None for _ in range(ndim - x.ndim))]
-        meta = meta[tuple(slice(0, 0, None) for _ in range(meta.ndim))]
-    elif ndim < x.ndim:
-        meta = np.sum(x, axis=tuple(d for d in range((x.ndim - ndim))))
-    else:
-        meta = x
-
-    if dtype:
+    try:
+        meta = x[tuple(slice(0, 0, None) for _ in range(x.ndim))]
+        if meta.ndim != ndim:
+            if ndim > x.ndim:
+                meta = x[(Ellipsis, ) + tuple(None for _ in range(ndim - meta.ndim))]
+            elif ndim == 0:
+                meta = meta.sum()
+            else:
+                meta = meta.reshape((0,) * ndim)
+    except Exception:
+        meta = np.empty((0,) * ndim, dtype=dtype or x.dtype)
+
+    if dtype and meta.dtype != dtype:
         meta = meta.astype(dtype)
 
     return meta