diff --git a/loopy/kernel/creation.py b/loopy/kernel/creation.py
index 468f4528a442a32d1e600f3036c432c37892d2e3..076dd9cda386f4d4d1b1c31166d9ccc96713251b 100644
--- a/loopy/kernel/creation.py
+++ b/loopy/kernel/creation.py
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ def guess_kernel_args_if_requested(domains, instructions, temporary_variables, s
             # read-only, no indices
             kernel_args.append(ValueArg(arg_name))
         else:
-            kernel_args.append(GlobalArg(arg_name, strides="auto"))
+            kernel_args.append(GlobalArg(arg_name, shape="auto"))
 
     return kernel_args