diff --git a/python/cudf/cudf/core/_base_index.py b/python/cudf/cudf/core/_base_index.py
index 8637f96f34a..163af62677e 100644
--- a/python/cudf/cudf/core/_base_index.py
+++ b/python/cudf/cudf/core/_base_index.py
@@ -821,7 +821,7 @@ def to_series(self, index=None, name=None):
             name=self.name if name is None else name,
         )
 
-    def get_slice_bound(self, label, side, kind):
+    def get_slice_bound(self, label, side, kind=None):
         """
         Calculate slice bound that corresponds to given label.
         Returns leftmost (one-past-the-rightmost if ``side=='right'``) position
diff --git a/python/cudf/cudf/core/column/column.py b/python/cudf/cudf/core/column/column.py
index 2e9a0c6c79d..8f18d83eb31 100644
--- a/python/cudf/cudf/core/column/column.py
+++ b/python/cudf/cudf/core/column/column.py
@@ -852,8 +852,13 @@ def get_slice_bound(
         side : {'left', 'right'}
         kind : {'ix', 'loc', 'getitem'}
         """
-        assert kind in ["ix", "loc", "getitem", None]
-        if side not in ("left", "right"):
+        if kind not in {"ix", "loc", "getitem", None}:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Invalid value for ``kind`` parameter,"
+                f" must be either one of the following: "
+                f"{'ix', 'loc', 'getitem', None}, but found: {kind}"
+            )
+        if side not in {"left", "right"}:
             raise ValueError(
                 "Invalid value for side kwarg,"
                 " must be either 'left' or 'right': %s" % (side,)
diff --git a/python/cudf/cudf/core/index.py b/python/cudf/cudf/core/index.py
index 6b4b77fabc5..b009d12262f 100644
--- a/python/cudf/cudf/core/index.py
+++ b/python/cudf/cudf/core/index.py
@@ -990,7 +990,7 @@ def find_label_range(self, first, last):
             end += 1
         return begin, end
 
-    def get_slice_bound(self, label, side, kind):
+    def get_slice_bound(self, label, side, kind=None):
         return self._values.get_slice_bound(label, side, kind)