diff --git a/numba_dpex/experimental/_kernel_dpcpp_spirv_overloads/_atomic_ref_overloads.py b/numba_dpex/experimental/_kernel_dpcpp_spirv_overloads/_atomic_ref_overloads.py
index fba13a0996..aab3f238ce 100644
--- a/numba_dpex/experimental/_kernel_dpcpp_spirv_overloads/_atomic_ref_overloads.py
+++ b/numba_dpex/experimental/_kernel_dpcpp_spirv_overloads/_atomic_ref_overloads.py
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ def _check_if_supported_ref(ref):
 )
 def ol_atomic_ref(
     ref,
-    index=0,
+    index,
     memory_order=MemoryOrder.RELAXED,
     memory_scope=MemoryScope.DEVICE,
     address_space=AddressSpace.GLOBAL,
@@ -655,7 +655,7 @@ def ol_atomic_ref(
 
     def ol_atomic_ref_ctor_impl(
         ref,
-        index=0,
+        index,
         memory_order=MemoryOrder.RELAXED,  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
         memory_scope=MemoryScope.DEVICE,  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
         address_space=AddressSpace.GLOBAL,  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
diff --git a/numba_dpex/kernel_api/atomic_ref.py b/numba_dpex/kernel_api/atomic_ref.py
index 7d9e426aa1..9759cecf95 100644
--- a/numba_dpex/kernel_api/atomic_ref.py
+++ b/numba_dpex/kernel_api/atomic_ref.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class AtomicRef:
     def __init__(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
         self,
         ref,
-        index=0,
+        index,
         memory_order=MemoryOrder.RELAXED,
         memory_scope=MemoryScope.DEVICE,
         address_space=AddressSpace.GLOBAL,
diff --git a/numba_dpex/tests/experimental/kernel_api_overloads/spv_overloads/test_atomic_fence.py b/numba_dpex/tests/experimental/kernel_api_overloads/spv_overloads/test_atomic_fence.py
index 111c64f6d1..8762803546 100644
--- a/numba_dpex/tests/experimental/kernel_api_overloads/spv_overloads/test_atomic_fence.py
+++ b/numba_dpex/tests/experimental/kernel_api_overloads/spv_overloads/test_atomic_fence.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ def test_atomic_fence():
     def _kernel(item: Item, a, b):
         i = item.get_id(0)
 
-        bref = AtomicRef(b)
+        bref = AtomicRef(b, index=0)
 
         if i == 1:
             a[i] += 1