diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/__init__.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/__init__.py
index 582559230a..db5f91519b 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/__init__.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/__init__.py
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ def open(fn):
         raise IOError("Unable to open file for reading")
 
 
-def create_entity(type, *args, **kwargs):
-    e = entity_instance(type)
+def create_entity(type, *args, schema='IFC4', **kwargs):
+    e = entity_instance((schema, type))
     attrs = list(enumerate(args)) + [(e.wrapped_data.get_argument_index(name), arg) for name, arg in kwargs.items()]
     for idx, arg in attrs:
         e[idx] = arg