diff --git a/sphinx/highlighting.py b/sphinx/highlighting.py
index dd40bc308..6f22993c2 100644
--- a/sphinx/highlighting.py
+++ b/sphinx/highlighting.py
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ class PygmentsBridge(object):
                 lexer = lexers[lang]
             else:
                 try:
-                    lexer = lexers[lang] = get_lexer_by_name(lang, **opts or {})
+                    lexer = lexers[lang] = get_lexer_by_name(lang, **(opts or {}))
                 except ClassNotFound:
                     if warn:
                         warn('Pygments lexer name %r is not known' % lang)