diff --git a/pandas/core/internals/api.py b/pandas/core/internals/api.py
index 2f8686fd38929..37e07af71213e 100644
--- a/pandas/core/internals/api.py
+++ b/pandas/core/internals/api.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 )
 
 from pandas.core.arrays import DatetimeArray
+from pandas.core.construction import extract_array
 from pandas.core.internals.blocks import (
     Block,
     DatetimeTZBlock,
@@ -49,7 +50,6 @@ def make_block(
 
     values, dtype = extract_pandas_array(values, dtype, ndim)
 
-    needs_reshape = False
     if klass is None:
         dtype = dtype or values.dtype
         klass = get_block_type(values, dtype)
@@ -57,13 +57,14 @@ def make_block(
     elif klass is DatetimeTZBlock and not is_datetime64tz_dtype(values.dtype):
         # pyarrow calls get here
         values = DatetimeArray._simple_new(values, dtype=dtype)
-        needs_reshape = True
 
     if not isinstance(placement, BlockPlacement):
         placement = BlockPlacement(placement)
 
     ndim = maybe_infer_ndim(values, placement, ndim)
-    if needs_reshape:
+    if is_datetime64tz_dtype(values.dtype):
+        # GH#41168 ensure we can pass 1D dt64tz values
+        values = extract_array(values, extract_numpy=True)
         values = ensure_block_shape(values, ndim)
 
     check_ndim(values, placement, ndim)
diff --git a/pandas/tests/internals/test_api.py b/pandas/tests/internals/test_api.py
index 0062d5aa34319..21299d76eaf5a 100644
--- a/pandas/tests/internals/test_api.py
+++ b/pandas/tests/internals/test_api.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 in core.internals
 """
 
+import pandas as pd
 from pandas.core import internals
 from pandas.core.internals import api
 
@@ -44,3 +45,12 @@ def test_namespace():
 
     result = [x for x in dir(internals) if not x.startswith("__")]
     assert set(result) == set(expected + modules)
+
+
+def test_make_block_2d_with_dti():
+    # GH#41168
+    dti = pd.date_range("2012", periods=3, tz="UTC")
+    blk = api.make_block(dti, placement=[0])
+
+    assert blk.shape == (1, 3)
+    assert blk.values.shape == (1, 3)