diff --git a/netCDF4/utils.py b/netCDF4/utils.py
index 38204bc2b..ab90c78f6 100644
--- a/netCDF4/utils.py
+++ b/netCDF4/utils.py
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ def _StartCountStride(elem, shape, dimensions=None, grp=None, datashape=None,\
     grp  : netCDF Group
       The netCDF group to which the variable being set belongs to.
     datashape : sequence
-      The shape of the data that is being stored. Only needed by __setitime__
+      The shape of the data that is being stored. Only needed by __setitem__
     put : True|False (default False).  If called from __setitem__, put is True.
 
     Returns
@@ -342,6 +342,16 @@ def _StartCountStride(elem, shape, dimensions=None, grp=None, datashape=None,\
         else:
             sdim.append(1)
 
+    # pad datashape with zeros for dimensions not being sliced
+    datashapenew = (); i=0
+    for e in elem:
+        if type(e) != slice:
+            datashapenew = datashapenew + (0,)
+        else:
+            datashapenew = datashapenew + (datashape[i],)
+            i+=1
+    datashape = datashapenew
+
     # Create the start, count, stride and indices arrays.
 
     sdim.append(max(nDims, 1))