diff --git a/pandas/tests/extension/decimal/array.py b/pandas/tests/extension/decimal/array.py
index 3b95c8d919eb1..aa53489ab7d4d 100644
--- a/pandas/tests/extension/decimal/array.py
+++ b/pandas/tests/extension/decimal/array.py
@@ -59,14 +59,30 @@ def __init__(self, values, dtype=None, copy=False, context=None):
         values = np.asarray(values, dtype=object)
 
         self._data = values
-        # Some aliases for common attribute names to ensure pandas supports
-        # these
-        self._items = self.data = self._data
-        # those aliases are currently not working due to assumptions
-        # in internal code (GH-20735)
-        # self._values = self.values = self.data
         self._dtype = DecimalDtype(context)
 
+    # Certain pandas function currently refer to these attributes
+    # expecting them to return a numpy array of values. here we
+    # just treat them as synonyms for `self._data`.
+    @property
+    def _items(self):
+        return self._data
+
+    @property
+    def data(self):
+        return self._data
+
+    # those aliases are currently not working due to assumptions
+    # in internal code (GH-20735)
+    # @property
+    # def _values(self):
+    #     return self._data
+
+    # @property
+    # def values(self):
+    #     return self._data
+    # end aliases
+
     @property
     def dtype(self):
         return self._dtype