diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/tests/test_translations.py b/selfdrive/ui/tests/test_translations.py
index caba386643..9ba9054ea1 100755
--- a/selfdrive/ui/tests/test_translations.py
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/tests/test_translations.py
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ FORMAT_ARG = re.compile("%[0-9]+")
 
 @parameterized_class(("name", "file"), translation_files.items())
 class TestTranslations(unittest.TestCase):
+  name: str
+  file: str
+
   @staticmethod
   def _read_translation_file(path, file):
     tr_file = os.path.join(path, f"{file}.ts")
@@ -30,12 +33,12 @@ class TestTranslations(unittest.TestCase):
 
   def test_missing_translation_files(self):
     self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(os.path.join(TRANSLATIONS_DIR, f"{self.file}.ts")),
-                      f"{self.name} has no XML translation file, run selfdrive/ui/update_translations.py")
+                    f"{self.name} has no XML translation file, run selfdrive/ui/update_translations.py")
 
   def test_translations_updated(self):
     with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdir:
       shutil.copytree(TRANSLATIONS_DIR, tmpdir, dirs_exist_ok=True)
-      update_translations(plural_only=["main_en"], translations_dir=tmpdir)
+      update_translations(translation_files=[self.file], translations_dir=tmpdir)
 
       cur_translations = self._read_translation_file(TRANSLATIONS_DIR, self.file)
       new_translations = self._read_translation_file(tmpdir, self.file)
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/update_translations.py b/selfdrive/ui/update_translations.py
index 004c6425dc..e988a13b7f 100755
--- a/selfdrive/ui/update_translations.py
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/update_translations.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ UI_DIR = os.path.join(BASEDIR, "selfdrive", "ui")
 TRANSLATIONS_DIR = os.path.join(UI_DIR, "translations")
 LANGUAGES_FILE = os.path.join(TRANSLATIONS_DIR, "languages.json")
 TRANSLATIONS_INCLUDE_FILE = os.path.join(TRANSLATIONS_DIR, "alerts_generated.h")
+PLURAL_ONLY = ["main_en"]  # base language, only create entries for strings with plural forms
 
 
 def generate_translations_include():
@@ -22,21 +23,20 @@ def generate_translations_include():
   with open(TRANSLATIONS_INCLUDE_FILE, "w") as f:
     f.write(content)
 
-def update_translations(vanish=False, plural_only=None, translations_dir=TRANSLATIONS_DIR):
-  generate_translations_include()
 
-  if plural_only is None:
-    plural_only = []
+def update_translations(vanish: bool = False, translation_files: None | list[str] = None, translations_dir: str = TRANSLATIONS_DIR):
+  generate_translations_include()
 
-  with open(LANGUAGES_FILE, "r") as f:
-    translation_files = json.load(f)
+  if translation_files is None:
+    with open(LANGUAGES_FILE, "r") as f:
+      translation_files = json.load(f).values()
 
-  for file in translation_files.values():
+  for file in translation_files:
     tr_file = os.path.join(translations_dir, f"{file}.ts")
     args = f"lupdate -locations none -recursive {UI_DIR} -ts {tr_file} -I {BASEDIR}"
     if vanish:
       args += " -no-obsolete"
-    if file in plural_only:
+    if file in PLURAL_ONLY:
       args += " -pluralonly"
     ret = os.system(args)
     assert ret == 0
@@ -46,8 +46,6 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Update translation files for UI",
                                    formatter_class=argparse.ArgumentDefaultsHelpFormatter)
   parser.add_argument("--vanish", action="store_true", help="Remove translations with source text no longer found")
-  parser.add_argument("--plural-only", type=str, nargs="*", default=["main_en"],
-                      help="Translation codes to only create plural translations for (ie. the base language)")
   args = parser.parse_args()
 
-  update_translations(args.vanish, args.plural_only)
+  update_translations(args.vanish)