diff --git a/openmc/material.py b/openmc/material.py
index 95dae032e70..4ef16ab015a 100644
--- a/openmc/material.py
+++ b/openmc/material.py
@@ -642,7 +642,8 @@ def remove_macroscopic(self, macroscopic: str):
     def add_element(self, element: str, percent: float, percent_type: str = 'ao',
                     enrichment: Optional[float] = None,
                     enrichment_target: Optional[str] = None,
-                    enrichment_type: Optional[str] = None):
+                    enrichment_type: Optional[str] = None,
+                    cross_sections: Optional[str] = None):
         """Add a natural element to the material
 
         Parameters
@@ -669,6 +670,8 @@ def add_element(self, element: str, percent: float, percent_type: str = 'ao',
             Default is: 'ao' for two-isotope enrichment; 'wo' for U enrichment
 
             .. versionadded:: 0.12
+        cross_sections : str, optional
+            Location of cross_sections.xml file.
 
         Notes
         -----
@@ -747,7 +750,8 @@ def add_element(self, element: str, percent: float, percent_type: str = 'ao',
                                       percent_type,
                                       enrichment,
                                       enrichment_target,
-                                      enrichment_type):
+                                      enrichment_type,
+                                      cross_sections):
             self.add_nuclide(*nuclide)
 
     def add_elements_from_formula(self, formula: str, percent_type: str = 'ao',
@@ -1457,7 +1461,7 @@ def from_xml_element(cls, elem: ET.Element) -> Material:
         if "cfg" in elem.attrib:
             cfg = elem.get("cfg")
             return Material.from_ncrystal(cfg, material_id=mat_id)
-     
+
         mat = cls(mat_id)
         mat.name = elem.get('name')