diff --git a/python/mxnet/symbol/symbol.py b/python/mxnet/symbol/symbol.py
index 14944a5a189b..d4ff7954c181 100644
--- a/python/mxnet/symbol/symbol.py
+++ b/python/mxnet/symbol/symbol.py
@@ -1485,18 +1485,18 @@ def optimize_for(self, backend, args=None, aux=None, ctx=None, **kwargs):
         assert isinstance(backend, str)
 
         if args is None or len(args) == 0:
-            args = []
+            args_ = []
             args_handle = c_array(NDArrayHandle, [])
         else:
-            args_handle, args = self._get_ndarray_inputs('args', args,
-                                                         self.list_arguments(), False)
+            args_handle, args_ = self._get_ndarray_inputs('args', args,
+                                                          self.list_arguments(), False)
 
         if aux is None or len(aux) == 0:
-            aux = []
+            aux_ = []
             aux_handle = c_array(NDArrayHandle, [])
         else:
-            aux_handle, aux = self._get_ndarray_inputs('aux_states', aux,
-                                                       self.list_auxiliary_states(), False)
+            aux_handle, aux_ = self._get_ndarray_inputs('aux_states', aux,
+                                                        self.list_auxiliary_states(), False)
         if ctx is None:
             ctx = current_context()
         assert isinstance(ctx, Context)
@@ -1517,9 +1517,9 @@ def optimize_for(self, backend, args=None, aux=None, ctx=None, **kwargs):
                                              c_str(backend),
                                              ctypes.c_int(ctx.device_typeid),
                                              ctypes.byref(out),
-                                             mx_uint(len(args)),
+                                             mx_uint(len(args_)),
                                              args_handle,
-                                             mx_uint(len(aux)),
+                                             mx_uint(len(aux_)),
                                              aux_handle,
                                              mx_uint(len(key_list)),
                                              c_str_array(key_list),