diff --git a/scripts/tests/test_validate_translation_files.py b/scripts/tests/test_validate_translation_files.py
index 821701d5231..233f6ab9e9e 100644
--- a/scripts/tests/test_validate_translation_files.py
+++ b/scripts/tests/test_validate_translation_files.py
@@ -3,10 +3,11 @@
 """
 
 import os.path
+import re
 
 from ..validate_translation_files import (
     get_translation_files,
-    main,
+    validate_translation_files,
 )
 
 SCRIPT_DIR = os.path.dirname(__file__)
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ def test_main_on_invalid_files(capsys):
     Integration test for the `main` function on some invalid files.
     """
     mock_translations_dir = os.path.join(SCRIPT_DIR, 'mock_translations_dir')
-    exit_code = main(mock_translations_dir)
+    exit_code = validate_translation_files(mock_translations_dir)
     out, err = capsys.readouterr()
 
     assert 'VALID:' in out, 'Valid files should be printed in stdout'
@@ -44,8 +45,7 @@ def test_main_on_invalid_files(capsys):
     assert 'hi/LC_MESSAGES/django.po' not in out, 'Invalid file should be printed in stderr'
     assert 'en/LC_MESSAGES/django.po' not in out, 'Source file should not be validated'
 
-    assert 'INVALID:' in err
-    assert 'hi/LC_MESSAGES/django.po' in err
+    assert re.match(r'INVALID: .*hi/LC_MESSAGES/django.po', err)
     assert '\'msgstr\' is not a valid Python brace format string, unlike \'msgid\'' in err
     assert 'FAILURE: Some translations are invalid.' in err
 
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def test_main_on_valid_files(capsys):
     Integration test for the `main` function but only for the Arabic translations which is valid.
     """
     mock_translations_dir = os.path.join(SCRIPT_DIR, 'mock_translations_dir/demo-xblock/conf/locale/ar')
-    exit_code = main(mock_translations_dir)
+    exit_code = validate_translation_files(mock_translations_dir)
     out, err = capsys.readouterr()
 
     assert 'VALID:' in out, 'Valid files should be printed in stdout'
diff --git a/scripts/validate_translation_files.py b/scripts/validate_translation_files.py
index 8d334e26656..e9d98e4f660 100644
--- a/scripts/validate_translation_files.py
+++ b/scripts/validate_translation_files.py
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
-import sys
+"""
+Validate translation files using GNU gettext `msgfmt` command.
+"""
+
+import argparse
 import os
 import os.path
 import subprocess
+import sys
 
 
 def get_translation_files(translation_directory):
@@ -39,7 +44,9 @@ def validate_translation_file(po_file):
     }
 
 
-def main(translations_dir='translations'):
+def validate_translation_files(
+    translations_dir='translations',
+):
     """
     Run GNU gettext `msgfmt` and print errors to stderr.
 
@@ -81,5 +88,14 @@ def main(translations_dir='translations'):
     return exit_code
 
 
+def main():  # pragma: no cover
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=__doc__)
+    parser.add_argument('--dir', action='store', type=str, default='translations')
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+    sys.exit(validate_translation_files(
+        translations_dir=args.dir,
+    ))
+
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    sys.exit(main())  # pragma: no cover
+    main()  # pragma: no cover