diff --git a/python_src/lasp/lasp_config.py b/python_src/lasp/lasp_config.py
index de94229..f148be6 100644
--- a/python_src/lasp/lasp_config.py
+++ b/python_src/lasp/lasp_config.py
@@ -16,13 +16,28 @@ else:
     LASP_NUMPY_COMPLEX_TYPE = np.float64
 
 
-def zeros(shape):
-    return np.zeros(shape, dtype=LASP_NUMPY_FLOAT_TYPE, order='F')
+def zeros(shape, dtype=float, order='F'):
+    if dtype == float:
+        return np.zeros(shape, dtype=LASP_NUMPY_FLOAT_TYPE, order=order)
+    elif dtype == complex:
+        return np.zeros(shape, dtype=LASP_NUMPY_COMPLEX_TYPE, order=order)
+    else:
+        raise RuntimeError(f"Unknown dtype: {dtype}")
 
 
-def ones(shape):
-    return np.ones(shape, dtype=LASP_NUMPY_FLOAT_TYPE, order='F')
+def ones(shape, dtype=float, order='F'):
+    if dtype == float:
+        return np.ones(shape, dtype=LASP_NUMPY_FLOAT_TYPE, order=order)
+    elif dtype == complex:
+        return np.ones(shape, dtype=LASP_NUMPY_COMPLEX_TYPE, order=order)
+    else:
+        raise RuntimeError(f"Unknown dtype: {dtype}")
 
+def empty(shape, dtype=float, order='F'):
+    if dtype == float:
+        return np.empty(shape, dtype=LASP_NUMPY_FLOAT_TYPE, order=order)
+    elif dtype == complex:
+        return np.empty(shape, dtype=LASP_NUMPY_COMPLEX_TYPE, order=order)
+    else:
+        raise RuntimeError(f"Unknown dtype: {dtype}")
 
-def empty(shape):
-    return np.empty(shape, dtype=LASP_NUMPY_FLOAT_TYPE, order='F')