diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/spell.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/spell.py
index cb7da541c..ee2fb7813 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/spell.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/spell.py
@@ -23,19 +23,18 @@ import glob
 import os
 import re
 
-from qutebrowser.utils import log
 from PyQt5.QtCore import QLibraryInfo
+from qutebrowser.utils import log
 
 
 def version(filename):
     """Extract the version number from the dictionary file name."""
-    version_re = re.compile(r"""
-        .+-(?P<version>[0-9]+-[0-9]+?)\.bdic
-    """, re.VERBOSE)
+    version_re = re.compile(r".+-(?P<version>[0-9]+-[0-9]+?)\.bdic")
     match = version_re.match(filename)
-    assert match is not None, \
-        'the given dictionary file name is malformed: {}'.format(filename)
-    return [int(n) for n in match.group('version').split('-')]
+    if match is None:
+        raise ValueError('the given dictionary file name is malformed: {}'
+                         .format(filename))
+    return tuple(int(n) for n in match.group('version').split('-'))
 
 
 def dictionary_dir():
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginesettings.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginesettings.py
index 7f1d50e78..5ea065cb6 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginesettings.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginesettings.py
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ class DictionaryLanguageSetter(DefaultProfileSetter):
         local_filename = spell.local_filename(code)
         if not local_filename:
             message.warning(
-                "Language {} is not installed - see scripts/dict.py "
+                "Language {} is not installed - see scripts/dictcli.py "
                 "in qutebrowser's sources".format(code))
         return local_filename
 
diff --git a/scripts/dictcli.py b/scripts/dictcli.py
index d4f04f0ca..2742de8ad 100755
--- a/scripts/dictcli.py
+++ b/scripts/dictcli.py
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ def get_argparser():
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(prog='dictcli',
                                      description=desc)
     subparsers = parser.add_subparsers(help='Command', dest='cmd')
+    subparsers.required = True
     subparsers.add_parser('list',
         help='Display the list of available languages.')
     subparsers.add_parser('update',
@@ -228,8 +229,7 @@ def install(languages):
             print('Installing {}: {}'.format(lang.code, lang.name))
             install_lang(lang)
         except PermissionError as e:
-            print(e)
-            sys.exit(1)
+            sys.exit(str(e))
 
 
 def update(languages):
@@ -258,18 +258,14 @@ def main():
     argv = sys.argv[1:]
     args = parser.parse_args(argv)
     languages = available_languages()
-    if args.cmd is None:
-        parser.print_usage()
-        exit(1)
-    elif args.cmd == 'list':
+    if args.cmd == 'list':
         print_list(languages)
     elif args.cmd == 'update':
         update(languages)
     elif args.cmd == 'remove-old':
         remove_old(languages)
     elif not args.language:
-        print('You must provide a list of languages to install.')
-        exit(1)
+        sys.exit('You must provide a list of languages to install.')
     else:
         try:
             install(filter_languages(languages, args.language))
diff --git a/tests/unit/browser/webengine/test_spell.py b/tests/unit/browser/webengine/test_spell.py
index e7944e995..3b3a45d7d 100644
--- a/tests/unit/browser/webengine/test_spell.py
+++ b/tests/unit/browser/webengine/test_spell.py
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ from qutebrowser.browser.webengine import spell
 
 
 def test_version():
-    assert spell.version('en-US-8-0.bdic') == [8, 0]
-    assert spell.version('pl-PL-3-0.bdic') == [3, 0]
+    assert spell.version('en-US-8-0.bdic') == (8, 0)
+    assert spell.version('pl-PL-3-0.bdic') == (3, 0)
 
 
 def test_local_filename_dictionary_does_not_exist(tmpdir, monkeypatch):