diff --git a/python/paddle/fluid/layers/tensor.py b/python/paddle/fluid/layers/tensor.py
index 149e77b524..5adbde27be 100644
--- a/python/paddle/fluid/layers/tensor.py
+++ b/python/paddle/fluid/layers/tensor.py
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ def cast(x, dtype):
 
     Examples:
         .. code-block:: python
-             
+
             data = fluid.layers.data(name='x', shape=[13], dtype='float32')
             result = fluid.layers.cast(x=data, dtype='float64')
     """
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ def concat(input, axis=0, name=None):
 
     Examples:
         .. code-block:: python
-        
+
            out = fluid.layers.concat(input=[Efirst, Esecond, Ethird, Efourth])
     """
     helper = LayerHelper('concat', **locals())
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ def sums(input, out=None):
     return out
 
 
-def assign(input, output):
+def assign(input, output=None):
     """
     **Assign**
 
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ def assign(input, output):
 
     Args:
         input(Variable|numpy.ndarray): The source variable
-        output(Variable): The destination variable
+        output(Variable|None): The destination variable
 
     Returns:
         Variable: The destination variable that was supplied as the *output*.
@@ -255,6 +255,8 @@ def assign(input, output):
           fluid.layers.assign(hidden, out)
     """
     helper = LayerHelper('assign', **locals())
+    if output is None:
+        output = helper.create_tmp_variable(dtype=input.dtype)
     if isinstance(input, Variable):
         helper.append_op(
             type='assign', inputs={'X': [input]}, outputs={'Out': [output]})