diff --git a/main.scm b/main.scm
index 359a9bd..9b2e304 100755
--- a/main.scm
+++ b/main.scm
@@ -31,10 +31,9 @@
 ;; end the program immediately.
 ;; if a message is provided, print it to the screen.
 ;; exit-status defaults to 1.
-(define (bail . args)
-  (let-optionals args ((msg "") (status 1))
-    (unless (equal? "" msg) (print msg))
-    (exit status)))
+(define (bail #!optional msg (status 1))
+  (when msg (print msg))
+  (exit status))
 
 ;; decompose a path s into its constituent parts. returns values:
 ;;
@@ -314,15 +313,14 @@
     (when (file-exists? (make-pathname html-repo-path "ISSUES"))
       (write-with-template "ISSUES.html" (issueslist->sxml source-files-list)))))
 
-(define (main args)
-  (let-optionals args ((html-repo-path ""))
+(define (main #!optional html-repo-path)
 
-    (when (equal? html-repo-path "")
+    (unless html-repo-path
       (bail "please specify a destination directory for html files"))
 
     (unless (in-git-directory?)
       (bail "woops this isn't a git directory"))
 
-    (generate-html-files html-repo-path)))
+    (generate-html-files html-repo-path))
 
 (main (command-line-arguments))