diff --git a/makefiles/variables.mk b/makefiles/variables.mk
index 9e5ceef2a..0d842e001 100644
--- a/makefiles/variables.mk
+++ b/makefiles/variables.mk
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ MLANG_BIN=dune exec $(ROOT_DIR)/_build/default/src/main.exe --
 
 PRECISION?=double
 MLANG_DEFAULT_OPTS=\
+ -A iliad\
  --display_time --debug\
  --precision $(PRECISION)
 
diff --git a/src/mlang/m_frontend/expand_macros.ml b/src/mlang/m_frontend/expand_macros.ml
index 589ae6aec..5b00c523e 100644
--- a/src/mlang/m_frontend/expand_macros.ml
+++ b/src/mlang/m_frontend/expand_macros.ml
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@ let get_selected_chains (apps_env : apps_env)
   in
   StrMap.fold sel_chain chains StrMap.empty
 
+(** Eliminates constants and loops *)
 let check_apps_on_cmdline (apps_env : apps_env) : unit =
   let iter a _ =
     match StrMap.find_opt a apps_env.apps with
@@ -255,7 +256,6 @@ let elim_unselected_apps (p : Mast.program) : Mast.program =
   List.rev prog
 
 module ConstMap = StrMap
-(** Eliminates constants and loops *)
 
 type const_context = float Pos.marked ConstMap.t
 
diff --git a/src/mlang/utils/cli.ml b/src/mlang/utils/cli.ml
index 9666f5420..2071c9258 100644
--- a/src/mlang/utils/cli.ml
+++ b/src/mlang/utils/cli.ml
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ let files =
     & info [] ~docv:"FILES" ~doc:"M files to be compiled")
 
 let applications =
-  Arg.(value & opt (list string) [] & info [ "A" ] ~doc:"Application name(s)")
+  Arg.(
+    non_empty & opt (list string) [] & info [ "A" ] ~doc:"Application name(s)")
 
 let without_dgfip_m =
   Arg.(
@@ -287,7 +288,7 @@ let set_all_arg_refs (files_ : string list) applications_
     (income_year_ : int option) (value_sort_ : value_sort)
     (round_ops_ : round_ops) =
   source_files := files_;
-  (application_names := match applications_ with [] -> [ "iliad" ] | al -> al);
+  application_names := applications_;
   without_dgfip_m := without_dgfip_m_;
   debug_flag := debug_;
   var_info_debug := var_info_debug_;