diff --git a/xfel_calibrate/calibrate.py b/xfel_calibrate/calibrate.py
index 2924c5eef5a0b384740182c212fb06d3de7e13f6..c85c1e6b9092ed9d309af83308bd6f2a9a764d22 100755
--- a/xfel_calibrate/calibrate.py
+++ b/xfel_calibrate/calibrate.py
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ def add_args_from_nb(nb, parser, cvar=None, no_required=False):
     :param bool no_required: If True, none of the added options are required.
     """
     parser.description = make_epilog(nb)
-    parms = extract_parameters(nb)
+    parms = extract_parameters(nb, lang='python3')
 
     for p in parms:
 
@@ -648,7 +648,7 @@ def concurrent_run(temp_path, nb, nbname, args, cparm=None, cval=None,
     suffix = flatten_list(cval)
 
     # first convert the notebook
-    parms = extract_parameters(nb)
+    parms = extract_parameters(nb, lang='python3')
 
     if has_parm(parms, "cluster_profile"):
         cluster_profile = f"{args['cluster_profile']}_{suffix}"
@@ -658,7 +658,7 @@ def concurrent_run(temp_path, nb, nbname, args, cparm=None, cval=None,
 
     params = parameter_values(parms, **args)
     params = parameter_values(params, cluster_profile=cluster_profile)
-    new_nb = replace_definitions(nb, params, execute=False)
+    new_nb = replace_definitions(nb, params, execute=False, lang='python3')
     if not show_title:
         first_markdown_cell(new_nb).source = ''
     set_figure_format(new_nb, args["vector_figs"])
@@ -817,7 +817,7 @@ def run():
     if ext_func is not None:
         extend_params(nb, ext_func)
 
-    parms = extract_parameters(nb)
+    parms = extract_parameters(nb, lang='python3')
 
     title, author, version = extract_title_author_version(nb)