diff --git a/python/test/unit/language/test_frontend.py b/python/test/unit/language/test_frontend.py
index f7bd51bd591c..253836c3faae 100644
--- a/python/test/unit/language/test_frontend.py
+++ b/python/test/unit/language/test_frontend.py
@@ -1072,3 +1072,15 @@ def test_aggregate_replace_ir():
     # Original aggregate still references original tensor.
     # CHECK: call @{{.*}}anchor{{.*}}([[A]])
     anchor(state.vals)
+
+
+def test_dot_fp16_accumulator():
+
+    @triton.jit
+    def fp16_acc_kernel():
+        c = tl.zeros([16, 16], dtype=tl.float16)
+        a = tl.full([16, 16], 1, dtype=tl.float16)
+        b = tl.full([16, 16], 1, dtype=tl.float16)
+        tl.dot(a, b, c)
+
+    run_parser(fp16_acc_kernel)
diff --git a/python/triton/language/core.py b/python/triton/language/core.py
index bdafc0788294..be44b21ff8c2 100644
--- a/python/triton/language/core.py
+++ b/python/triton/language/core.py
@@ -2350,7 +2350,7 @@ def cast(input, dtype: dtype, fp_downcast_rounding: Optional[str] = None, bitcas
 
 
 @builtin
-def dot(input, other, acc=None, input_precision=None, allow_tf32=None, max_num_imprecise_acc=None, out_dtype=float32,
+def dot(input, other, acc=None, input_precision=None, allow_tf32=None, max_num_imprecise_acc=None, out_dtype=None,
         _semantic=None):
     """
     Returns the matrix product of two blocks.
diff --git a/python/triton/language/semantic.py b/python/triton/language/semantic.py
index ebc26b843943..d37e6c86c14f 100644
--- a/python/triton/language/semantic.py
+++ b/python/triton/language/semantic.py
@@ -1420,7 +1420,7 @@ def _str_to_dot_input_precision(self, input_precision):
         return getattr(ir.INPUT_PRECISION, input_precision)
 
     def dot(self, lhs: TensorTy, rhs: TensorTy, acc: TensorTy, input_precision: Optional[str],
-            max_num_imprecise_acc: int, out_dtype: tl.dtype) -> TensorTy:
+            max_num_imprecise_acc: int, out_dtype: tl.dtype | None) -> TensorTy:
         assert lhs.type.is_block() and rhs.type.is_block()
 
         if lhs.dtype.is_fp8() and rhs.dtype.is_fp8():
@@ -1457,6 +1457,9 @@ def dot(self, lhs: TensorTy, rhs: TensorTy, acc: TensorTy, input_precision: Opti
         if input_precision is None:
             input_precision = self.builder.options.default_dot_input_precision
 
+        if out_dtype is None:
+            out_dtype = tl.float32 if acc is None else acc.type.element_ty
+
         input_precision = self._str_to_dot_input_precision(input_precision)
 
         lhs_rank = len(lhs.shape)