diff --git a/src/io4dolfinx/readers.py b/src/io4dolfinx/readers.py
index 85408dc..fb85a74 100644
--- a/src/io4dolfinx/readers.py
+++ b/src/io4dolfinx/readers.py
@@ -392,9 +392,22 @@ def create_geometry_function_space(mesh: dolfinx.mesh.Mesh, N: int) -> dolfinx.f
     else:
         raise RuntimeError(f"Unsupported type {ufl_el.dtype}")
     try:
-        cpp_el = _fe_constructor(ufl_el.basix_element._e, block_shape=value_shape, symmetric=False)
+        # DOLFINx > 0.11 requires the geometric dimension of the mesh
+        cpp_el = _fe_constructor(
+            ufl_el.basix_element._e,
+            gdim=mesh.geometry.dim,
+            block_shape=value_shape,
+            symmetric=False,
+        )
     except TypeError:
-        cpp_el = _fe_constructor(ufl_el.basix_element._e, block_size=N, symmetric=False)  # type: ignore[call-overload]
+        try:
+            cpp_el = _fe_constructor(  # type: ignore[call-overload]
+                ufl_el.basix_element._e,
+                block_shape=value_shape,
+                symmetric=False,
+            )
+        except TypeError:
+            cpp_el = _fe_constructor(ufl_el.basix_element._e, block_size=N, symmetric=False)  # type: ignore[call-overload]
     dof_layout = dolfinx.cpp.fem.create_element_dof_layout(cpp_el, [])
     cpp_dofmap = dolfinx.cpp.fem.DofMap(dof_layout, compat.cpp_index_map(geom_imap), N, adj_list, N)