diff --git a/pystencils/kernelcreation.py b/pystencils/kernelcreation.py
index 434b8dfb87bb73d45c2529e683f4f3a58a95e75e..45efef34e77a264ca183e082f7e80d9d531fc7c9 100644
--- a/pystencils/kernelcreation.py
+++ b/pystencils/kernelcreation.py
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ def create_staggered_kernel(staggered_field, expressions, subexpressions=(), tar
     return ast
 
 
-def make_python_function(kernel_function_node, backend='cpu', argument_dict=None):
+def make_python_function(kernel_function_node, backend='cpu', argument_dict={}):
     """
     A generic version of the {cuda,cpu,llvm}jit.make_python_function