diff --git a/src/TensorValues/SymTracelessTensorValueTypes.jl b/src/TensorValues/SymTracelessTensorValueTypes.jl
index 4bd847e3a..d2f410bab 100644
--- a/src/TensorValues/SymTracelessTensorValueTypes.jl
+++ b/src/TensorValues/SymTracelessTensorValueTypes.jl
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ zero(::Type{<:SymTracelessTensorValue{0,T}}) where {T} = SymTracelessTensorValue
   end
 end
 
-zero(::Type{<:SymTracelessTensorValue{D,T,L}}) where {D,T,L} = SymTracelessTensorValue{D,T}(tfill(zero(T),Val{L}()))
+zero(::Type{<:SymTracelessTensorValue{D,T,L}}) where {D,T,L} = SymTracelessTensorValue{D,T}(tfill(zero(T),Val{L-1}()))
 zero(::SymTracelessTensorValue{D,T,L}) where {D,T,L} = zero(SymTracelessTensorValue{D,T,L})
 
 rand(::AbstractRNG, ::Random.SamplerType{<:SymTracelessTensorValue{0,T}}) where {T} = SymTracelessTensorValue{0,T}()