diff --git a/scripts/codemap.py b/scripts/codemap.py
index 4c0371a6..b732c850 100755
--- a/scripts/codemap.py
+++ b/scripts/codemap.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class Attr:
                     not isinstance(attr, tuple)
                         or attr[0] in {None, (), ('*',)}
                     for attr in (attrs or []))):
-            attrs = defaults + (attrs or [])
+            attrs = list(defaults) + (attrs or [])
 
         # normalize
         self.attrs = []
@@ -1194,7 +1194,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
             help="Add a label to use. Can be assigned to a specific "
                 "function/subsystem. Accepts %% modifiers.")
     parser.add_argument(
-            '-*', '--add-char', '--chars',
+            '-.', '--add-char', '--chars',
             dest='chars',
             action='append',
             type=lambda x: (
diff --git a/scripts/codemapd3.py b/scripts/codemapd3.py
index ff8811de..416a1932 100755
--- a/scripts/codemapd3.py
+++ b/scripts/codemapd3.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class Attr:
                     not isinstance(attr, tuple)
                         or attr[0] in {None, (), ('*',)}
                     for attr in (attrs or []))):
-            attrs = defaults + (attrs or [])
+            attrs = list(defaults) + (attrs or [])
 
         # normalize
         self.attrs = []
diff --git a/scripts/plot.py b/scripts/plot.py
index f303cce1..59c9d4f8 100755
--- a/scripts/plot.py
+++ b/scripts/plot.py
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ class Attr:
                     not isinstance(attr, tuple)
                         or attr[0] in {None, (), ('*',)}
                     for attr in (attrs or []))):
-            attrs = defaults + (attrs or [])
+            attrs = list(defaults) + (attrs or [])
 
         # normalize
         self.attrs = []
@@ -1703,7 +1703,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
                 "where a group is the comma-separated 'by' fields. Accepts %% "
                 "modifiers. Also provides an ordering.")
     parser.add_argument(
-            '-*', '--add-char', '--chars',
+            '-.', '--add-char', '--chars',
             dest='chars',
             action='append',
             type=lambda x: (
@@ -1756,11 +1756,11 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
             help="Use 2x4 unicode braille characters. Note that braille "
                 "characters sometimes suffer from inconsistent widths.")
     parser.add_argument(
-            '-.', '--points',
+            '-p', '--points',
             action='store_true',
             help="Only draw data points.")
     parser.add_argument(
-            '-!', '--points-and-lines',
+            '-P', '--points-and-lines',
             action='store_true',
             help="Draw data points and lines.")
     parser.add_argument(
diff --git a/scripts/plotmpl.py b/scripts/plotmpl.py
index 4dcaf3e8..9ac61654 100755
--- a/scripts/plotmpl.py
+++ b/scripts/plotmpl.py
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ class Attr:
                     not isinstance(attr, tuple)
                         or attr[0] in {None, (), ('*',)}
                     for attr in (attrs or []))):
-            attrs = defaults + (attrs or [])
+            attrs = list(defaults) + (attrs or [])
 
         # normalize
         self.attrs = []
@@ -1341,11 +1341,11 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
                 "specific group where a group is the comma-separated 'by' "
                 "fields. Accepts %% modifiers.")
     parser.add_argument(
-            '-.', '--points',
+            '-p', '--points',
             action='store_true',
             help="Only draw data points.")
     parser.add_argument(
-            '-!', '--points-and-lines',
+            '-P', '--points-and-lines',
             action='store_true',
             help="Draw data points and lines.")
     parser.add_argument(
diff --git a/scripts/treemap.py b/scripts/treemap.py
index 9745e9bb..78cc43dc 100755
--- a/scripts/treemap.py
+++ b/scripts/treemap.py
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ class Attr:
                     not isinstance(attr, tuple)
                         or attr[0] in {None, (), ('*',)}
                     for attr in (attrs or []))):
-            attrs = defaults + (attrs or [])
+            attrs = list(defaults) + (attrs or [])
 
         # normalize
         self.attrs = []
@@ -1058,7 +1058,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
                 "where a group is the comma-separated 'by' fields. Accepts %% "
                 "modifiers.")
     parser.add_argument(
-            '-*', '--add-char', '--chars',
+            '-.', '--add-char', '--chars',
             dest='chars',
             action='append',
             type=lambda x: (
diff --git a/scripts/treemapd3.py b/scripts/treemapd3.py
index 7e5a4d69..b4a9bfe7 100755
--- a/scripts/treemapd3.py
+++ b/scripts/treemapd3.py
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ class Attr:
                     not isinstance(attr, tuple)
                         or attr[0] in {None, (), ('*',)}
                     for attr in (attrs or []))):
-            attrs = defaults + (attrs or [])
+            attrs = list(defaults) + (attrs or [])
 
         # normalize
         self.attrs = []