diff --git a/res/e3a/spells.xml b/res/e3a/spells.xml
index 4bb3470d8..12c52e8df 100644
--- a/res/e3a/spells.xml
+++ b/res/e3a/spells.xml
@@ -594,7 +594,7 @@
   <spell name="destroy_magic" rank="2" index="106" parameters="kc+" los="true" ship="true" far="true" variable="true">
     <resource name="aura" amount="4" cost="level"/>
   </spell>
-  <spell name="break_curse" rank="3" index="107" syntax="spellid" parameters="kcc?" los="true" ship="true" far="true" variable="true">
+  <spell name="break_curse" rank="3" index="107" syntax="spellid" parameters="kcc" los="true" ship="true" far="true" variable="true">
     <resource name="aura" amount="3" cost="level"/>
   </spell>
   <spell name="fish_shield" rank="2" index="109" variable="true" combat="1">
diff --git a/res/eressea/spells.xml b/res/eressea/spells.xml
index 015d64a7e..f7d81abfb 100644
--- a/res/eressea/spells.xml
+++ b/res/eressea/spells.xml
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@
   <spell name="destroy_magic" rank="2" index="106" parameters="kc+" los="true" ship="true" far="true" variable="true">
     <resource name="aura" amount="4" cost="level"/>
   </spell>
-  <spell name="break_curse" rank="3" index="107" syntax="spellid" parameters="kcc?" los="true" ship="true" far="true" variable="true">
+  <spell name="break_curse" rank="3" index="107" syntax="spellid" parameters="kcc" los="true" ship="true" far="true" variable="true">
     <resource name="aura" amount="3" cost="level"/>
   </spell>
   <spell name="meteor_rain" rank="5" index="108" variable="true" combat="2">
diff --git a/src/report.c b/src/report.c
index de44bc43d..9125cebdb 100644
--- a/src/report.c
+++ b/src/report.c
@@ -536,11 +536,17 @@ void nr_spell_syntax(stream *out, spellbook_entry * sbe, const struct locale *la
                 locp = LOC(lang, mkname("spellpar", substr));
                 syntaxp = substr + 1;
             }
-            bytes = (int)_snprintf(bufp, size, " <%s>", locp);
+            if (*params == '?') {
+                ++params;
+                bytes = (int)_snprintf(bufp, size, " [<%s>]", locp);
+            }
+            else {
+                bytes = (int)_snprintf(bufp, size, " <%s>", locp);
+            }
             if (wrptr(&bufp, &size, bytes) != 0)
                 WARN_STATIC_BUFFER();
         } else {
-           log_error("unknown spell parameter %c for spell", cp, sp->sname);
+           log_error("unknown spell parameter %c for spell %s", cp, sp->sname);
         }
     }
     *bufp = 0;
diff --git a/src/reports.test.c b/src/reports.test.c
index 05b75fabd..0955e8a6f 100644
--- a/src/reports.test.c
+++ b/src/reports.test.c
@@ -393,14 +393,12 @@ static void test_write_spell_syntax(CuTest *tc) {
     free(spell.sp->syntax);
     spell.sp->syntax = 0;
 
-    /* There are no spells with optional parameters, so we don't force this, for now
     set_parameter(spell, "c?");
     free(spell.sp->syntax);
     spell.sp->syntax = _strdup("hodor");
     check_spell_syntax(tc, "c?", &spell,   "  ZAUBERE \"Testzauber\" [<Hodor>]");
     free(spell.sp->syntax);
     spell.sp->syntax = 0;
-    */
 
     set_parameter(spell, "kc+");
     check_spell_syntax(tc, "kc+", &spell,