diff --git a/src/sage/modules/free_quadratic_module_integer_symmetric.py b/src/sage/modules/free_quadratic_module_integer_symmetric.py
index 3f6a34e778c..b6184fede3b 100644
--- a/src/sage/modules/free_quadratic_module_integer_symmetric.py
+++ b/src/sage/modules/free_quadratic_module_integer_symmetric.py
@@ -1516,6 +1516,15 @@ def short_vectors(self, n, **kwargs):
             [[(0, 0)], [], [(1, 1), (-1, -1), (0, 1), (0, -1), (1, 0), (-1, 0)]]
             sage: A2.short_vectors(3, up_to_sign_flag=True)                             # needs sage.graphs sage.libs.pari
             [[(0, 0)], [], [(1, 1), (0, 1), (1, 0)]]
+
+        TESTS:
+
+        Check that keyword arguments are passed to :meth:`sage.quadratic_forms.short_vector_list_up_to_length`
+        (:issue:`39848`)::
+
+            sage: A2 = IntegralLattice('A2')                                            # needs sage.graphs
+            sage: A2.short_vectors(3, up_to_sign_flag=False)                            # needs sage.graphs sage.libs.pari
+            [[(0, 0)], [], [(1, 1), (-1, -1), (0, 1), (0, -1), (1, 0), (-1, 0)]]
         """
         p, m = self.signature_pair()
         if p * m != 0:
@@ -1525,7 +1534,7 @@ def short_vectors(self, n, **kwargs):
             e = -2
         from sage.quadratic_forms.quadratic_form import QuadraticForm
         q = QuadraticForm(e * self.gram_matrix())
-        short = q.short_vector_list_up_to_length(n, *kwargs)
+        short = q.short_vector_list_up_to_length(n, **kwargs)
         return [[self(v * self.basis_matrix()) for v in L] for L in short]
 
     def _fplll_enumerate(self, target=None):