diff --git a/nomenclature/codelist.py b/nomenclature/codelist.py
index d101c236..e371f241 100644
--- a/nomenclature/codelist.py
+++ b/nomenclature/codelist.py
@@ -272,8 +272,8 @@ def to_yaml(self, path=None):
         """
 
         class Dumper(yaml.Dumper):
-            def increase_indent(self, flow=False, *args, **kwargs):
-                return super().increase_indent(flow=flow, indentless=False)
+            def increase_indent(self, flow: bool = False, indentless: bool = False):
+                return super().increase_indent(flow=flow, indentless=indentless)
 
         # translate to list of nested dicts, replace None by empty field, write to file
         stream = (
@@ -286,11 +286,10 @@ def increase_indent(self, flow=False, *args, **kwargs):
             .replace(": nan\n", ":\n")
         )
 
-        if path is not None:
-            with open(path, "w") as file:
-                file.write(stream)
-        else:
+        if path is None:
             return stream
+        with open(path, "w") as file:
+            file.write(stream)
 
     def to_pandas(self, sort_by_code: bool = False) -> pd.DataFrame:
         """Export the CodeList to a :class:`pandas.DataFrame`
@@ -589,7 +588,7 @@ def hierarchy(self) -> List[str]:
         List[str]
 
         """
-        return sorted(list(set(v.hierarchy for v in self.mapping.values())))
+        return sorted(list({v.hierarchy for v in self.mapping.values()}))
 
     def filter(self, hierarchy: str) -> "RegionCodeList":
         """Return a filtered RegionCodeList object
diff --git a/nomenclature/core.py b/nomenclature/core.py
index e228f924..c3d8a1e9 100644
--- a/nomenclature/core.py
+++ b/nomenclature/core.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-@validate_arguments(config=dict(arbitrary_types_allowed=True))
+@validate_arguments(config={"arbitrary_types_allowed": True})
 def process(
     df: pyam.IamDataFrame,
     dsd: DataStructureDefinition,