diff --git a/python/cuvs/cuvs/neighbors/nn_descent/nn_descent.pyx b/python/cuvs/cuvs/neighbors/nn_descent/nn_descent.pyx
index 62486e46d3..afae653f35 100644
--- a/python/cuvs/cuvs/neighbors/nn_descent/nn_descent.pyx
+++ b/python/cuvs/cuvs/neighbors/nn_descent/nn_descent.pyx
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ def build(IndexParams index_params, dataset, graph=None, resources=None):
     >>> graph = index.graph
     """
     dataset_ai = wrap_array(dataset)
-    _check_input_array(dataset_ai, [np.dtype('float32'), np.dtype('byte'),
+    _check_input_array(dataset_ai, [np.dtype('float32'), np.dtype('float16'), np.dtype('byte'),
                                     np.dtype('ubyte')])
 
     cdef Index idx = Index()
diff --git a/python/cuvs/cuvs/tests/test_nn_descent.py b/python/cuvs/cuvs/tests/test_nn_descent.py
index c2d128edbb..862f82dc12 100644
--- a/python/cuvs/cuvs/tests/test_nn_descent.py
+++ b/python/cuvs/cuvs/tests/test_nn_descent.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("n_rows", [1024, 2048])
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("n_cols", [32, 64])
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("device_memory", [True, False])
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("dtype", [np.float32])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("dtype", [np.float32, np.float16])
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("inplace", [True, False])
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("return_distances", [True, False])
 def test_nn_descent(