diff --git a/src/sparse_matrix.c b/src/sparse_matrix.c
index a884ef41..831dee0d 100644
--- a/src/sparse_matrix.c
+++ b/src/sparse_matrix.c
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 #include "sparse_matrix.h"
 #include "klib/ksort.h"
 
-sparse_matrix_t *sparse_matrix_new(void) {
+sparse_matrix_t *sparse_matrix_new_shape(size_t m, size_t n) {
     sparse_matrix_t *matrix = malloc(sizeof(sparse_matrix_t));
     if (matrix == NULL) return NULL;
-    matrix->m = 0;
-    matrix->n = 0;
-    matrix->indptr = uint32_array_new_size(1);
+    matrix->m = m;
+    matrix->n = n;
+    matrix->indptr = uint32_array_new_size(m + 1);
     if (matrix->indptr == NULL) {
         goto exit_sparse_matrix_created;
     }
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ exit_sparse_matrix_created:
     return NULL;
 }
 
+sparse_matrix_t *sparse_matrix_new(void) {
+    return sparse_matrix_new_shape(0, 0);
+}
+
 void sparse_matrix_destroy(sparse_matrix_t *self) {
     if (self == NULL) return;
 
diff --git a/src/sparse_matrix.h b/src/sparse_matrix.h
index 36ae07a7..f8579833 100644
--- a/src/sparse_matrix.h
+++ b/src/sparse_matrix.h
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ typedef struct {
 
 
 sparse_matrix_t *sparse_matrix_new(void);
+sparse_matrix_t *sparse_matrix_new_shape(size_t m, size_t n);
 void sparse_matrix_destroy(sparse_matrix_t *self);
 
 void sparse_matrix_clear(sparse_matrix_t *self);