diff --git a/pymc3/distributions/distribution.py b/pymc3/distributions/distribution.py
index a9f090eabe..26530af9a0 100644
--- a/pymc3/distributions/distribution.py
+++ b/pymc3/distributions/distribution.py
@@ -202,9 +202,9 @@ def __new__(
             )
         dims = convert_dims(dims)
 
-        # Create the RV without specifying testval, because the testval may have a shape
+        # Create the RV without specifying initval, because the initval may have a shape
         # that only matches after replicating with a size implied by dims (see below).
-        rv_out = cls.dist(*args, rng=rng, testval=None, **kwargs)
+        rv_out = cls.dist(*args, rng=rng, initval=None, **kwargs)
         ndim_actual = rv_out.ndim
         resize_shape = None