diff --git a/autoload/vimtex/index.vim b/autoload/vimtex/index.vim
index 467deaa..2425db1 100644
--- a/autoload/vimtex/index.vim
+++ b/autoload/vimtex/index.vim
@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@ function! vimtex#index#create(index) " {{{1
   if g:vimtex_index_resize
     silent exe 'set columns +=' . g:vimtex_index_split_width
   endif
-  silent execute g:vimtex_index_split_pos 'new' escape(a:index.name, ' ')
+  silent execute
+        \ g:vimtex_index_split_pos g:vimtex_index_split_width
+        \ 'new' escape(a:index.name, ' ')
   let b:index = a:index
 
   setlocal bufhidden=wipe