diff --git a/jax/_src/dispatch.py b/jax/_src/dispatch.py
index b12620748..e6244a3b2 100644
--- a/jax/_src/dispatch.py
+++ b/jax/_src/dispatch.py
@@ -389,8 +389,11 @@ def log_elapsed_time(fmt: str):
 
 
 def should_tuple_args(num_args: int, platform: str):
-  # pass long arg lists as tuple for TPU
-  if platform == "tpu":
+  # CPU does not need a tuple as it uses a buffer table
+  # TPU only needs a tuple for very long lists
+  if platform == "cpu":
+    return False
+  elif platform == "tpu":
     return num_args > 2000
   else:
     return num_args > 100