diff --git a/arraycontext/impl/pytato.py b/arraycontext/impl/pytato.py
index 552fc9feec533ba00065911cd6b9e61fd56248c8..a89d1ce4ce4061a555ee7ebb4b7047c6a964dcc1 100644
--- a/arraycontext/impl/pytato.py
+++ b/arraycontext/impl/pytato.py
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ class PytatoArrayContext(ArrayContext):
 
         def make_placeholder_like(input_like, pos):
             if isinstance(input_like, np.number):
-                return pt.make_placeholder(input_like.dtype,
+                return pt.make_placeholder((), input_like.dtype,
                                            f"_msh_inp_{pos}")
             elif isinstance(input_like, np.ndarray) and all(_is_meshmode_dofarray(e)
                                                             for e in input_like):