diff --git a/esv.el b/esv.el
index bcd6010..e8b16a7 100644
--- a/esv.el
+++ b/esv.el
@@ -84,8 +84,6 @@ esv can be acquired at <https://sr.ht/~jeremy/esv>."
        (arg-list (append esv-arguments
                          (list (format "-l%d" esv-columns))
                          (list book) (list verses))))
-    (add-to-list 'arg-list book)
-    (add-to-list 'arg-list verses)
     (catch 'buffer-exists
       (when (get-buffer buffer)
         (unless esv-close-existing-buffers