diff --git a/pyserini/hsearch/__main__.py b/pyserini/hsearch/__main__.py
index 0ad825d8c..b3e301f15 100644
--- a/pyserini/hsearch/__main__.py
+++ b/pyserini/hsearch/__main__.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ def parse_args(parser, commands):
     set_bm25_parameters(ssearcher, args.sparse.index, args.sparse.k1, args.sparse.b)
 
     if args.sparse.language != 'en':
-        ssearcher.set_language(args.language)
+        ssearcher.set_language(args.sparse.language)
 
     hsearcher = HybridSearcher(dsearcher, ssearcher)
     if not hsearcher: