diff --git a/rattail/sil.py b/rattail/sil.py
index b0675fb1e4081160624379bda4e149f3673ce50f..3d4d4cff830f83b9b576849da59ac6ae20b24ce2 100644
--- a/rattail/sil.py
+++ b/rattail/sil.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def consume_batch_id():
     return '%08u' % batch_id
 
 
-def write_batch_header(fileobj, H01='HM', H03='RATAIL', **kwargs):
+def write_batch_header(fileobj, H03='RATAIL', **kwargs):
     """
     Writes a SIL batch header string to ``fileobj``.  All keyword arguments
     correspond to the SIL specification for the Batch Header Dictionary.
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def write_batch_header(fileobj, H01='HM', H03='RATAIL', **kwargs):
 
     kw = kwargs
     fileobj.write('INSERT INTO HEADER_DCT VALUES\n(' + ','.join((
-                val(H01),
+                val(kw.get('H01')),
                 val(H02),
                 val(H03),
                 val(kw.get('H04')),