diff --git a/mmi/__init__.py b/mmi/__init__.py
index c233aba..f21c6f0 100644
--- a/mmi/__init__.py
+++ b/mmi/__init__.py
@@ -6,19 +6,38 @@
 
 def send_array(socket, A, flags=0, copy=False, track=False, metadata=None):
     """send a numpy array with metadata over zmq"""
-    md = dict(
-        dtype=str(A.dtype),
-        shape=A.shape,
-        timestamp=datetime.datetime.now().isoformat()
-    )
+
+    # create a metadata dictionary for the message
+    md = {}
+    # always add a timestamp
+    md['timestamp'] = datetime.datetime.now().isoformat()
+
+    # copy extra metadata
     if metadata:
         md.update(metadata)
+
+    # if we don't have an array
     if A is None:
         # send only json
         socket.send_json(md, flags)
-    else:
-        # send json, followed by array
-        socket.send_json(md, flags | zmq.SNDMORE)
+        # and we're done
+        return
+
+    # add array metadata
+    md['dtype'] = str(A.dtype)
+    md['shape'] = A.shape
+    try:
+        # If an array has a fill value assume it's an array with missings
+        # store the fill_Value in the metadata and fill the array before sending.
+        # asscalar should work for scalar, 0d array or nd array of size 1
+        md['fill_value'] = np.asscalar(A.fill_value)
+        A = A.filled()
+    except AttributeError:
+        # no masked array, nothing to do
+        pass
+
+    # send json, followed by array
+    socket.send_json(md, flags | zmq.SNDMORE)
     # Make a copy if required and pass along the buffer
     msg = buffer(np.ascontiguousarray(A))
     socket.send(msg, flags, copy=copy, track=track)
@@ -33,6 +52,8 @@ def recv_array(socket, flags=0, copy=False, track=False):
         buf = buffer(msg)
         A = np.frombuffer(buf, dtype=md['dtype'])
         A = A.reshape(md['shape'])
+        if 'fill_value' in md:
+            A = np.ma.masked_equal(A, md['fill_value'])
     else:
         # No array expected
         A = None
diff --git a/tests/test_simple.py b/tests/test_simple.py
index dac364b..5811649 100644
--- a/tests/test_simple.py
+++ b/tests/test_simple.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 ctx = zmq.Context()
 class TestRecv(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_sndrcv(self):
+        """send an array"""
         A = np.array([1,2,3])
         req = ctx.socket(zmq.REQ)
         req.connect('tcp://localhost:9002')
@@ -19,5 +20,41 @@ def test_sndrcv(self):
         B, metadata = mmi.recv_array(rep)
         numpy.testing.assert_array_equal(A, B)
 
+    def test_metadata_only(self):
+        """send a message with only metadata"""
+        req = ctx.socket(zmq.REQ)
+        req.connect('tcp://localhost:9002')
+        rep = ctx.socket(zmq.REP)
+        rep.bind('tcp://*:9002')
+        mmi.send_array(req, A=None)
+        _, metadata = mmi.recv_array(rep)
+        self.assertTrue('timestamp' in metadata)
+
+    def test_missing(self):
+        """send an array with missing data"""
+        A = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4])
+        A = np.ma.masked_less(A, 2)
+        req = ctx.socket(zmq.REQ)
+        req.connect('tcp://localhost:9002')
+        rep = ctx.socket(zmq.REP)
+        rep.bind('tcp://*:9002')
+        mmi.send_array(req, A)
+        B, metadata = mmi.recv_array(rep)
+        numpy.testing.assert_array_equal(A, B)
+
+    def test_missing_scalar(self):
+        """send an array with missing data as a scalar"""
+        A = np.array([1, 2, 3, 4])
+        A = np.ma.masked_less(A, 2)
+        # test if it works if we use a numpy scalar
+        A.fill_value = np.int32(9999)
+        req = ctx.socket(zmq.REQ)
+        req.connect('tcp://localhost:9002')
+        rep = ctx.socket(zmq.REP)
+        rep.bind('tcp://*:9002')
+        mmi.send_array(req, A)
+        B, metadata = mmi.recv_array(rep)
+        numpy.testing.assert_array_equal(A, B)
+