diff --git a/array_api_compat/torch/_aliases.py b/array_api_compat/torch/_aliases.py
index a50350cc..af5510d7 100644
--- a/array_api_compat/torch/_aliases.py
+++ b/array_api_compat/torch/_aliases.py
@@ -681,7 +681,11 @@ def isdtype(
     else:
         return dtype == kind
 
-def take(x: array, indices: array, /, *, axis: int, **kwargs) -> array:
+def take(x: array, indices: array, /, *, axis: Optional[int] = None, **kwargs) -> array:
+    if axis is None:
+        if x.ndim != 1:
+            raise ValueError("axis must be specified when ndim > 1")
+        axis = 0
     return torch.index_select(x, axis, indices, **kwargs)
 
 __all__ = ['result_type', 'can_cast', 'permute_dims', 'bitwise_invert', 'add',