diff --git a/tt_eager/tt_dnn/op_library/sliding_window_op_infra/untilize_with_halo_config_generation_and_validation.py b/tt_eager/tt_dnn/op_library/sliding_window_op_infra/untilize_with_halo_config_generation_and_validation.py
index edfd65cd8607..868931b2659a 100644
--- a/tt_eager/tt_dnn/op_library/sliding_window_op_infra/untilize_with_halo_config_generation_and_validation.py
+++ b/tt_eager/tt_dnn/op_library/sliding_window_op_infra/untilize_with_halo_config_generation_and_validation.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ def construct_2d_padded_tensor_list(input_tensor, input_nchw_shape, pad_metadata
     if pad_val == 0xF7FF:
         pad_val = -1.03e34  ## TODO: how to do this in python properly???
     # Construct the padded tensor using pad_metadata
-    input_padded_tensor = []
     input_tensor_idx = 0
     assert len(input_nchw_shape) == 4
     input_n, input_c, input_h, input_w = [input_nchw_shape[i] for i in range(4)]
@@ -20,15 +19,19 @@ def construct_2d_padded_tensor_list(input_tensor, input_nchw_shape, pad_metadata
     input_tensor_nchw = np.reshape(input_tensor, input_nchw_shape)
     input_tensor_nhwc = np.transpose(input_tensor_nchw, (0, 2, 3, 1))
     input_tensor_nhwc = np.reshape(input_tensor_nhwc, (np.prod(input_nchw_shape)))
+
+    # input_padded_tensor = np.full(len(pad_metadata)*input_c, pad_val, dtype=float)
+    input_padded_tensor = np.full(len(pad_metadata) * input_c, pad_val, dtype=type(input_tensor_nhwc[0]))
+    index = 0
     for i in range(len(pad_metadata)):
         for c in range(input_c):
-            if pad_metadata[i]:
-                input_padded_tensor.append(pad_val)
-            else:
+            if not pad_metadata[i]:
                 assert input_tensor_idx < len(input_tensor_nhwc)
-                input_padded_tensor.append(input_tensor_nhwc[input_tensor_idx])
+                input_padded_tensor[index] = input_tensor_nhwc[input_tensor_idx]
                 input_tensor_idx += 1
-    return input_padded_tensor
+            index += 1
+
+    return input_padded_tensor.tolist()
 
 
 def trace_conv_to_generate_data_top_left_indices_and_pad_metadata(conv_params, input_nchw_shape):