diff --git a/doc/help/commands.asciidoc b/doc/help/commands.asciidoc
index 0cd16259a..58dfaaa16 100644
--- a/doc/help/commands.asciidoc
+++ b/doc/help/commands.asciidoc
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ Set all settings back to their default.
 
 [[config-cycle]]
 === config-cycle
-Syntax: +:config-cycle [*--url* 'url'] [*--temp*] [*--print*]
+Syntax: +:config-cycle [*--pattern* 'pattern'] [*--temp*] [*--print*]
              'option' ['values' ['values' ...]]+
 
 Cycle an option between multiple values.
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ Cycle an option between multiple values.
 * +'values'+: The values to cycle through.
 
 ==== optional arguments
-* +*-u*+, +*--url*+: The URL pattern to use.
+* +*-u*+, +*--pattern*+: The URL pattern to use.
 * +*-t*+, +*--temp*+: Set value temporarily until qutebrowser is closed.
 * +*-p*+, +*--print*+: Print the value after setting.
 
@@ -1112,7 +1112,7 @@ Save a session.
 
 [[set]]
 === set
-Syntax: +:set [*--temp*] [*--print*] [*--url* 'url'] ['option'] ['value']+
+Syntax: +:set [*--temp*] [*--print*] [*--pattern* 'pattern'] ['option'] ['value']+
 
 Set an option.
 
@@ -1125,7 +1125,7 @@ If the option name ends with '?', the value of the option is shown instead. Usin
 ==== optional arguments
 * +*-t*+, +*--temp*+: Set value temporarily until qutebrowser is closed.
 * +*-p*+, +*--print*+: Print the value after setting.
-* +*-u*+, +*--url*+: The URL pattern to use.
+* +*-u*+, +*--pattern*+: The URL pattern to use.
 
 [[set-cmd-text]]
 === set-cmd-text
diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/configcommands.py b/qutebrowser/config/configcommands.py
index 3e55cbd57..1c1b1c686 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/configcommands.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/configcommands.py
@@ -47,16 +47,16 @@ class ConfigCommands:
         except configexc.Error as e:
             raise cmdexc.CommandError(str(e))
 
-    def _parse_pattern(self, url):
-        """Parse an URL argument to a pattern."""
-        if url is None:
+    def _parse_pattern(self, pattern):
+        """Parse a pattern string argument to a pattern."""
+        if pattern is None:
             return None
 
         try:
-            return urlmatch.UrlPattern(url)
+            return urlmatch.UrlPattern(pattern)
         except urlmatch.ParseError as e:
             raise cmdexc.CommandError("Error while parsing {}: {}"
-                                      .format(url, str(e)))
+                                      .format(pattern, str(e)))
 
     def _print_value(self, option, pattern):
         """Print the value of the given option."""
@@ -68,8 +68,9 @@ class ConfigCommands:
     @cmdutils.argument('option', completion=configmodel.option)
     @cmdutils.argument('value', completion=configmodel.value)
     @cmdutils.argument('win_id', win_id=True)
+    @cmdutils.argument('pattern', flag='u')
     def set(self, win_id, option=None, value=None, temp=False, print_=False,
-            *, url=None):
+            *, pattern=None):
         """Set an option.
 
         If the option name ends with '?', the value of the option is shown
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ class ConfigCommands:
         Args:
             option: The name of the option.
             value: The value to set.
-            url: The URL pattern to use.
+            pattern: The URL pattern to use.
             temp: Set value temporarily until qutebrowser is closed.
             print_: Print the value after setting.
         """
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ class ConfigCommands:
             raise cmdexc.CommandError("Toggling values was moved to the "
                                       ":config-cycle command")
 
-        pattern = self._parse_pattern(url)
+        pattern = self._parse_pattern(pattern)
 
         if option.endswith('?') and option != '?':
             self._print_value(option[:-1], pattern=pattern)
@@ -177,18 +178,19 @@ class ConfigCommands:
     @cmdutils.register(instance='config-commands', star_args_optional=True)
     @cmdutils.argument('option', completion=configmodel.option)
     @cmdutils.argument('values', completion=configmodel.value)
-    def config_cycle(self, option, *values, url=None, temp=False,
+    @cmdutils.argument('pattern', flag='u')
+    def config_cycle(self, option, *values, pattern=None, temp=False,
                      print_=False):
         """Cycle an option between multiple values.
 
         Args:
             option: The name of the option.
             values: The values to cycle through.
-            url: The URL pattern to use.
+            pattern: The URL pattern to use.
             temp: Set value temporarily until qutebrowser is closed.
             print_: Print the value after setting.
         """
-        pattern = self._parse_pattern(url)
+        pattern = self._parse_pattern(pattern)
 
         with self._handle_config_error():
             opt = self._config.get_opt(option)
diff --git a/tests/unit/config/test_configcommands.py b/tests/unit/config/test_configcommands.py
index 5da8d36d1..8d48c94f2 100644
--- a/tests/unit/config/test_configcommands.py
+++ b/tests/unit/config/test_configcommands.py
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ class TestSet:
         monkeypatch.setattr(objects, 'backend', usertypes.Backend.QtWebKit)
         option = 'content.javascript.enabled'
 
-        commands.set(0, option, 'false', url='*://example.com')
+        commands.set(0, option, 'false', pattern='*://example.com')
         pattern = urlmatch.UrlPattern('*://example.com')
 
         assert config_stub.get(option)
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ class TestSet:
 
         with pytest.raises(cmdexc.CommandError,
                            match='Error while parsing :/: No scheme given'):
-            commands.set(0, option, 'false', url=':/')
+            commands.set(0, option, 'false', pattern=':/')
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize('temp', [True, False])
     def test_set_temp_override(self, commands, config_stub, yaml_value, temp):