diff --git a/loopy/kernel/creation.py b/loopy/kernel/creation.py
index c42db348234345a48efcb22b842fd114c5f65f14..f20bffcb368627d39664e2078c1502e4608a5724 100644
--- a/loopy/kernel/creation.py
+++ b/loopy/kernel/creation.py
@@ -1615,29 +1615,6 @@ def expand_defines_in_shapes(kernel, defines):
 # }}}
 
 
-# {{{ guess argument shapes
-
-def guess_arg_shape_if_requested(kernel, default_order):
-    new_args = []
-
-    import loopy as lp
-    from loopy.kernel.array import ArrayBase
-    from loopy.kernel.tools import guess_var_shape
-
-    for arg in kernel.args:
-        if isinstance(arg, ArrayBase) and arg.shape is lp.auto:
-            shape = guess_var_shape(kernel, arg.name)
-
-            if arg.shape is lp.auto:
-                arg = arg.copy(shape=shape)
-
-        new_args.append(arg)
-
-    return kernel.copy(args=new_args)
-
-# }}}
-
-
 # {{{ apply default_order to args
 
 def apply_default_order_to_args(kernel, default_order):
@@ -1907,6 +1884,9 @@ def make_kernel(domains, instructions, kernel_data=["..."], **kwargs):
     :arg fixed_parameters: A dictionary of *name*/*value* pairs, where *name*
         will be fixed to *value*. *name* may refer to :ref:`domain-parameters`
         or :ref:`arguments`. See also :func:`loopy.fix_parameters`.
+    :arg infer_shape: If *True*, array argument shapes will be inferred; if
+        *False*, shapes are left as `lp.auto` and can be inferred at the user's
+        request with `infer_arg_shapes`.
 
     :arg lang_version: The language version against which the kernel was
         written, a tuple. To ensure future compatibility, copy the current value of
@@ -1954,6 +1934,7 @@ def make_kernel(domains, instructions, kernel_data=["..."], **kwargs):
     target = kwargs.pop("target", None)
     seq_dependencies = kwargs.pop("seq_dependencies", False)
     fixed_parameters = kwargs.pop("fixed_parameters", {})
+    infer_shape = kwargs.pop("infer_shape", True)
 
     if defines:
         from warnings import warn
@@ -2149,7 +2130,9 @@ def make_kernel(domains, instructions, kernel_data=["..."], **kwargs):
     knl = determine_shapes_of_temporaries(knl)
 
     knl = expand_defines_in_shapes(knl, defines)
-    knl = guess_arg_shape_if_requested(knl, default_order)
+    if infer_shape:
+        from loopy.transform.data import infer_arg_shapes
+        knl = infer_arg_shapes(knl)
     knl = apply_default_order_to_args(knl, default_order)
     knl = resolve_dependencies(knl)
     knl = apply_single_writer_depencency_heuristic(knl, warn_if_used=False)
diff --git a/loopy/transform/data.py b/loopy/transform/data.py
index 5b1ee6ccafa4c3b76609f197cc31691de562aaa5..22dc6247c6900682dedcb4324ea8d134eb3ab44c 100644
--- a/loopy/transform/data.py
+++ b/loopy/transform/data.py
@@ -758,4 +758,26 @@ def reduction_arg_to_subst_rule(knl, inames, insn_match=None, subst_rule_name=No
 # }}}
 
 
+# {{{ infer argument shapes
+
+def infer_arg_shapes(kernel):
+    new_args = []
+
+    import loopy as lp
+    from loopy.kernel.array import ArrayBase
+    from loopy.kernel.tools import guess_var_shape
+
+    for arg in kernel.args:
+        if isinstance(arg, ArrayBase) and arg.shape is lp.auto:
+            shape = guess_var_shape(kernel, arg.name)
+
+            if arg.shape is lp.auto:
+                arg = arg.copy(shape=shape)
+
+        new_args.append(arg)
+
+    return kernel.copy(args=new_args)
+
+# }}}
+
 # vim: foldmethod=marker