diff --git a/oxrlib/config.py b/oxrlib/config.py
index a0e5ea6ce765519fbb5265c0e492ab8928e40749..186691eedfd3e0066adea9f4782c5469a82318c5 100644
--- a/oxrlib/config.py
+++ b/oxrlib/config.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class Configuration:
 
         hist_parser = subparsers.add_parser(
             'historical', aliases=['hist'],
-            usage='%(prog)s historical YYYY-MM-DD [[amount] code] [[in] code]',
+            usage='%(prog)s YYYY-MM-DD [[amount] code] [[in] code]',
             help="Show a currency conversion or rate from a past date",
         )
         hist_parser.set_defaults(
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class Configuration:
         )
         hist_parser.add_argument(
             '--base',
-            type=currency_code,
+            metavar='CODE', type=currency_code,
             help="Base currency (default USD)",
         )
         hist_parser.add_argument(
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ class Configuration:
         hist_parser.add_argument(
             '--signed-currency', '--sign-currency',
             type=currency_code, action='append', dest='signed_currencies',
+            metavar='CODE',
             help="In Ledger output, use a sign for this currency if known. "
             "Can be specified multiple times.",
         )