diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 296ca9d47f1..235616d800c 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ Imports:
     cli,
     graphics,
     grDevices,
+    lifecycle,
     magrittr,
     Matrix,
     pkgconfig (>= 2.0.0),
diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index 80077dbd720..5f0db0a4b38 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -489,7 +489,6 @@ export(hrg_tree)
 export(hub.score)
 export(hub_score)
 export(identical_graphs)
-export(igraph.arpack.default)
 export(igraph.console)
 export(igraph.drl.coarsen)
 export(igraph.drl.coarsest)
diff --git a/R/aaa-auto.R b/R/aaa-auto.R
index 71cebbcfd39..236298df065 100644
--- a/R/aaa-auto.R
+++ b/R/aaa-auto.R
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ personalized_pagerank_impl <- function(graph, algo=c("prpack", "arpack"), vids=V
     if (algo == 0L) {
       options <- list(niter=1000, eps=0.001)
     } else if (algo == 1L) {
-      options <- arpack_defaults
+      options <- arpack_defaults()
     } else {
       options <- NULL
     }
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ count_multiple_impl <- function(graph, eids=E(graph)) {
   res
 }
 
-eigenvector_centrality_impl <- function(graph, directed=FALSE, scale=TRUE, weights=NULL, options=arpack_defaults) {
+eigenvector_centrality_impl <- function(graph, directed=FALSE, scale=TRUE, weights=NULL, options=arpack_defaults()) {
   # Argument checks
   ensure_igraph(graph)
   directed <- as.logical(directed)
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ eigenvector_centrality_impl <- function(graph, directed=FALSE, scale=TRUE, weigh
   } else {
     weights <- NULL
   }
-  options.tmp <- arpack_defaults; options.tmp[ names(options) ] <- options ; options <- options.tmp
+  options <- modify_list(arpack_defaults(), options)
 
   on.exit( .Call(R_igraph_finalizer) )
   # Function call
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ eigenvector_centrality_impl <- function(graph, directed=FALSE, scale=TRUE, weigh
   res
 }
 
-hub_score_impl <- function(graph, scale=TRUE, weights=NULL, options=arpack_defaults) {
+hub_score_impl <- function(graph, scale=TRUE, weights=NULL, options=arpack_defaults()) {
   # Argument checks
   ensure_igraph(graph)
   scale <- as.logical(scale)
@@ -585,7 +585,7 @@ hub_score_impl <- function(graph, scale=TRUE, weights=NULL, options=arpack_defau
   } else {
     weights <- NULL
   }
-  options.tmp <- arpack_defaults; options.tmp[ names(options) ] <- options ; options <- options.tmp
+  options.tmp <- arpack_defaults(); options.tmp[ names(options) ] <- options ; options <- options.tmp
 
   on.exit( .Call(R_igraph_finalizer) )
   # Function call
@@ -596,7 +596,7 @@ hub_score_impl <- function(graph, scale=TRUE, weights=NULL, options=arpack_defau
   res
 }
 
-authority_score_impl <- function(graph, scale=TRUE, weights=NULL, options=arpack_defaults) {
+authority_score_impl <- function(graph, scale=TRUE, weights=NULL, options=arpack_defaults()) {
   # Argument checks
   ensure_igraph(graph)
   scale <- as.logical(scale)
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@ authority_score_impl <- function(graph, scale=TRUE, weights=NULL, options=arpack
   } else {
     weights <- NULL
   }
-  options.tmp <- arpack_defaults; options.tmp[ names(options) ] <- options ; options <- options.tmp
+  options.tmp <- arpack_defaults(); options.tmp[ names(options) ] <- options ; options <- options.tmp
 
   on.exit( .Call(R_igraph_finalizer) )
   # Function call
@@ -772,12 +772,12 @@ centralization_closeness_tmax_impl <- function(graph=NULL, nodes=0, mode=c("out"
   res
 }
 
-centralization_eigenvector_centrality_impl <- function(graph, directed=FALSE, scale=TRUE, options=arpack_defaults, normalized=TRUE) {
+centralization_eigenvector_centrality_impl <- function(graph, directed=FALSE, scale=TRUE, options=arpack_defaults(), normalized=TRUE) {
   # Argument checks
   ensure_igraph(graph)
   directed <- as.logical(directed)
   scale <- as.logical(scale)
-  options.tmp <- arpack_defaults; options.tmp[ names(options) ] <- options ; options <- options.tmp
+  options.tmp <- arpack_defaults(); options.tmp[ names(options) ] <- options ; options <- options.tmp
   normalized <- as.logical(normalized)
 
   on.exit( .Call(R_igraph_finalizer) )
@@ -2013,7 +2013,7 @@ scg_norm_eps_impl <- function(V, groups, mtype=c("symmetric", "laplacian", "stoc
   res
 }
 
-adjacency_spectral_embedding_impl <- function(graph, no, weights=NULL, which=c("lm", "la", "sa"), scaled=TRUE, cvec=graph.strength(graph, weights=weights)/(vcount(graph)-1), options=igraph.arpack.default) {
+adjacency_spectral_embedding_impl <- function(graph, no, weights=NULL, which=c("lm", "la", "sa"), scaled=TRUE, cvec=graph.strength(graph, weights=weights)/(vcount(graph)-1), options=arpack_defaults()) {
   # Argument checks
   ensure_igraph(graph)
   no <- as.integer(no)
@@ -2028,7 +2028,7 @@ adjacency_spectral_embedding_impl <- function(graph, no, weights=NULL, which=c("
   which <- switch(igraph.match.arg(which), "lm"=0L, "la"=2L, "sa"=3L)
   scaled <- as.logical(scaled)
   cvec <- as.numeric(cvec)
-  options.tmp <- arpack_defaults; options.tmp[ names(options) ] <- options ; options <- options.tmp
+  options.tmp <- arpack_defaults(); options.tmp[ names(options) ] <- options ; options <- options.tmp
 
   on.exit( .Call(R_igraph_finalizer) )
   # Function call
@@ -2037,7 +2037,7 @@ adjacency_spectral_embedding_impl <- function(graph, no, weights=NULL, which=c("
   res
 }
 
-laplacian_spectral_embedding_impl <- function(graph, no, weights=NULL, which=c("lm", "la", "sa"), type=c("default", "D-A", "DAD", "I-DAD", "OAP"), scaled=TRUE, options=igraph.arpack.default) {
+laplacian_spectral_embedding_impl <- function(graph, no, weights=NULL, which=c("lm", "la", "sa"), type=c("default", "D-A", "DAD", "I-DAD", "OAP"), scaled=TRUE, options=arpack_defaults()) {
   # Argument checks
   ensure_igraph(graph)
   no <- as.integer(no)
@@ -2055,7 +2055,7 @@ laplacian_spectral_embedding_impl <- function(graph, no, weights=NULL, which=c("
     "da"=0L, "d-a"=0L, "idad"=1L, "i-dad"=1L, "dad"=2L,
     "oap"=3L)
   scaled <- as.logical(scaled)
-  options.tmp <- arpack_defaults; options.tmp[ names(options) ] <- options ; options <- options.tmp
+  options.tmp <- arpack_defaults(); options.tmp[ names(options) ] <- options ; options <- options.tmp
 
   on.exit( .Call(R_igraph_finalizer) )
   # Function call
@@ -2064,7 +2064,7 @@ laplacian_spectral_embedding_impl <- function(graph, no, weights=NULL, which=c("
   res
 }
 
-eigen_adjacency_impl <- function(graph, algorithm=c("arpack", "auto", "lapack", "comp_auto", "comp_lapack", "comp_arpack"), which=list(), options=arpack_defaults) {
+eigen_adjacency_impl <- function(graph, algorithm=c("arpack", "auto", "lapack", "comp_auto", "comp_lapack", "comp_arpack"), which=list(), options=arpack_defaults()) {
   # Argument checks
   ensure_igraph(graph)
   algorithm <- switch(igraph.match.arg(algorithm), "auto"=0, "lapack"=1,
@@ -2072,7 +2072,7 @@ eigen_adjacency_impl <- function(graph, algorithm=c("arpack", "auto", "lapack",
     "comp_arpack"=5)
   which.tmp <- eigen_defaults();
   which.tmp[ names(which) ] <- which ; which <- which.tmp
-  options.tmp <- arpack_defaults; options.tmp[ names(options) ] <- options ; options <- options.tmp
+  options.tmp <- arpack_defaults(); options.tmp[ names(options) ] <- options ; options <- options.tmp
 
   on.exit( .Call(R_igraph_finalizer) )
   # Function call
diff --git a/R/centrality.R b/R/centrality.R
index bec35ff9f14..bdfb1503cb3 100644
--- a/R/centrality.R
+++ b/R/centrality.R
@@ -302,11 +302,13 @@ estimate_closeness <- function(graph, vids = V(graph), mode = c("out", "in", "al
 #' @rdname arpack
 #' @family arpack
 #' @export
-arpack_defaults <- list(
-  bmat = "I", n = 0, which = "XX", nev = 1, tol = 0.0,
-  ncv = 3, ldv = 0, ishift = 1, maxiter = 3000, nb = 1,
-  mode = 1, start = 0, sigma = 0.0, sigmai = 0.0
-)
+arpack_defaults <- function() {
+  list(
+    bmat = "I", n = 0, which = "XX", nev = 1, tol = 0.0,
+    ncv = 3, ldv = 0, ishift = 1, maxiter = 3000, nb = 1,
+    mode = 1, start = 0, sigma = 0.0, sigmai = 0.0
+  )
+}
 
 #' ARPACK eigenvector calculation
 #'
@@ -415,8 +417,7 @@ arpack_defaults <- list(
 #' re-orthogonalization.} } } Please see the ARPACK documentation for
 #' additional details.
 #'
-#' @aliases arpack arpack-options igraph.arpack.default arpack.unpack.complex
-#' arpack_defaults
+#' @aliases arpack arpack-options arpack.unpack.complex arpack_defaults
 #' @param func The function to perform the matrix-vector multiplication. ARPACK
 #'   requires to perform these by the user. The function gets the vector \eqn{x}
 #'   as the first argument, and it should return \eqn{Ax}, where \eqn{A} is the
@@ -496,8 +497,21 @@ arpack_defaults <- list(
 #' }
 #' @family arpack
 #' @export
-arpack <- function(func, extra = NULL, sym = FALSE, options = arpack_defaults,
+arpack <- function(func, extra = NULL, sym = FALSE, options = arpack_defaults(),
                    env = parent.frame(), complex = !sym) {
+
+  eval_try <- rlang::eval_tidy(options)
+  options_value <- rlang::call_args(rlang::current_call())[["options"]]
+  if (is(eval_try, "function") && as.character(options_value) == "arpack_defaults") {
+    lifecycle::deprecate_soft(
+      "1.5.0",
+      I("arpack_defaults"),
+      "arpack_defaults()",
+      details = c("So the function arpack_defaults(), not an object called code arpack_defaults.")
+    )
+    options <- arpack_defaults()
+  }
+
   if (!is.list(options) ||
     (is.null(names(options)) && length(options) != 0)) {
     stop("options must be a named list")
@@ -505,18 +519,16 @@ arpack <- function(func, extra = NULL, sym = FALSE, options = arpack_defaults,
   if (any(names(options) == "")) {
     stop("all options must be named")
   }
-  if (any(!names(options) %in% names(arpack_defaults))) {
+  if (any(!names(options) %in% names(arpack_defaults()))) {
     stop(
       "unkown ARPACK option(s): ",
-      paste(setdiff(names(options), names(arpack_defaults)),
+      paste(setdiff(names(options), names(arpack_defaults())),
         collapse = ", "
       )
     )
   }
 
-  options.tmp <- arpack_defaults
-  options.tmp[names(options)] <- options
-  options <- options.tmp
+  options <- modify_list(arpack_defaults(), options)
 
   if (sym && complex) {
     complex <- FALSE
diff --git a/R/community.R b/R/community.R
index 021920036e9..9bde7b1c4d2 100644
--- a/R/community.R
+++ b/R/community.R
@@ -1655,7 +1655,7 @@ igraph.i.levc.arp <- function(externalP, externalE) {
 #'
 cluster_leading_eigen <- function(graph, steps = -1, weights = NULL,
                                   start = NULL,
-                                  options = arpack_defaults,
+                                  options = arpack_defaults(),
                                   callback = NULL, extra = NULL,
                                   env = parent.frame()) {
   # Argument checks
@@ -1673,9 +1673,7 @@ cluster_leading_eigen <- function(graph, steps = -1, weights = NULL,
   if (!is.null(start)) {
     start <- as.numeric(start) - 1
   }
-  options.tmp <- arpack_defaults
-  options.tmp[names(options)] <- options
-  options <- options.tmp
+  options <- modify_list(arpack_defaults(), options)
 
   on.exit(.Call(R_igraph_finalizer))
   # Function call
diff --git a/R/embedding.R b/R/embedding.R
index 5e402ab64c1..809ec0ce57f 100644
--- a/R/embedding.R
+++ b/R/embedding.R
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
 #'   graph. This vector is added to the diagonal of the adjacency matrix.
 #' @param options A named list containing the parameters for the SVD
 #'   computation algorithm in ARPACK. By default, the list of values is assigned
-#'   the values given by [igraph.arpack.default].
+#'   the values given by [arpack_defaults()].
 #' @return A list containing with entries: \item{X}{Estimated latent positions,
 #'   an `n` times `no` matrix, `n` is the number of vertices.}
 #'   \item{Y}{`NULL` for undirected graphs, the second half of the latent
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ dim_select <- dim_select_impl
 #'   returned instead of \eqn{X} and \eqn{Y}.
 #' @param options A named list containing the parameters for the SVD
 #'   computation algorithm in ARPACK. By default, the list of values is assigned
-#'   the values given by [igraph.arpack.default].
+#'   the values given by [arpack_defaults()].
 #' @return A list containing with entries: \item{X}{Estimated latent positions,
 #'   an `n` times `no` matrix, `n` is the number of vertices.}
 #'   \item{Y}{`NULL` for undirected graphs, the second half of the latent
diff --git a/R/layout.R b/R/layout.R
index 8466096d393..b70a231cac6 100644
--- a/R/layout.R
+++ b/R/layout.R
@@ -1517,7 +1517,7 @@ layout.lgl <- function(..., params = list()) {
 #' l <- layout_with_mds(g)
 #' plot(g, layout = l, vertex.label = NA, vertex.size = 3)
 layout_with_mds <- function(graph, dist = NULL, dim = 2,
-                            options = arpack_defaults) {
+                            options = arpack_defaults()) {
   # Argument checks
   ensure_igraph(graph)
   if (!is.null(dist)) dist <- structure(as.double(dist), dim = dim(dist))
diff --git a/R/layout_drl.R b/R/layout_drl.R
index f3ab659caf5..525539257fd 100644
--- a/R/layout_drl.R
+++ b/R/layout_drl.R
@@ -100,9 +100,7 @@ layout_with_drl <- function(graph, use.seed = FALSE,
   use.seed <- as.logical(use.seed)
   seed <- as.matrix(seed)
 
-  options.tmp <- drl_defaults$default
-  options.tmp[names(options)] <- options
-  options <- options.tmp
+  options <- modify_list(drl_defaults$default, options)
 
   if (is.null(weights) && "weight" %in% edge_attr_names(graph)) {
     weights <- E(graph)$weight
diff --git a/R/utils.R b/R/utils.R
index b8b6920bb77..305e063dd33 100644
--- a/R/utils.R
+++ b/R/utils.R
@@ -97,3 +97,12 @@ chr <- as.character
 drop_null <- function(x) {
   x[!sapply(x, is.null)]
 }
+
+# from https://github.com/r-lib/pkgdown/blob/c354aa7e5ea1f9936692494c28c89e5bdd31fc68/R/utils.R#L109
+modify_list <- function(x, y) {
+  if (is.null(y)) {
+    return(x)
+  }
+
+  utils::modifyList(x, y)
+}
diff --git a/R/zzz-deprecate.R b/R/zzz-deprecate.R
index 98ef6e532cc..f2f8b63b96b 100644
--- a/R/zzz-deprecate.R
+++ b/R/zzz-deprecate.R
@@ -317,8 +317,6 @@ deprecated("hrg.predict", predict_edges)
 #' @export hub.score
 deprecated("hub.score", hub_score)
 
-#' @export igraph.arpack.default
-deprecated("igraph.arpack.default", arpack_defaults)
 #' @export igraph.console
 deprecated("igraph.console", console)
 #' @export igraph.sample
diff --git a/man/arpack.Rd b/man/arpack.Rd
index b03d3d76471..604a431331a 100644
--- a/man/arpack.Rd
+++ b/man/arpack.Rd
@@ -1,24 +1,19 @@
 % Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
 % Please edit documentation in R/centrality.R
-\docType{data}
 \name{arpack_defaults}
 \alias{arpack_defaults}
 \alias{arpack}
 \alias{arpack-options}
-\alias{igraph.arpack.default}
 \alias{arpack.unpack.complex}
 \title{ARPACK eigenvector calculation}
-\format{
-An object of class \code{list} of length 14.
-}
 \usage{
-arpack_defaults
+arpack_defaults()
 
 arpack(
   func,
   extra = NULL,
   sym = FALSE,
-  options = arpack_defaults,
+  options = arpack_defaults(),
   env = parent.frame(),
   complex = !sym
 )
@@ -223,5 +218,4 @@ Rich Lehoucq, Kristi Maschhoff, Danny Sorensen, Chao Yang for
 ARPACK, Gabor Csardi \email{csardi.gabor@gmail.com} for the R interface.
 }
 \concept{arpack}
-\keyword{datasets}
 \keyword{graphs}
diff --git a/man/centr_eigen.Rd b/man/centr_eigen.Rd
index 68f00f972d1..2c2a7dfdc3a 100644
--- a/man/centr_eigen.Rd
+++ b/man/centr_eigen.Rd
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ centr_eigen(
   graph,
   directed = FALSE,
   scale = TRUE,
-  options = arpack_defaults,
+  options = arpack_defaults(),
   normalized = TRUE
 )
 }
diff --git a/man/cluster_leading_eigen.Rd b/man/cluster_leading_eigen.Rd
index 9797582c908..a13c2b4f610 100644
--- a/man/cluster_leading_eigen.Rd
+++ b/man/cluster_leading_eigen.Rd
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ cluster_leading_eigen(
   steps = -1,
   weights = NULL,
   start = NULL,
-  options = arpack_defaults,
+  options = arpack_defaults(),
   callback = NULL,
   extra = NULL,
   env = parent.frame()
diff --git a/man/eigen_centrality.Rd b/man/eigen_centrality.Rd
index 176fc399c86..c6ce4b9d27a 100644
--- a/man/eigen_centrality.Rd
+++ b/man/eigen_centrality.Rd
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ eigen_centrality(
   directed = FALSE,
   scale = TRUE,
   weights = NULL,
-  options = arpack_defaults
+  options = arpack_defaults()
 )
 }
 \arguments{
diff --git a/man/embed_adjacency_matrix.Rd b/man/embed_adjacency_matrix.Rd
index 4c5eceb7e29..4657f50dfa2 100644
--- a/man/embed_adjacency_matrix.Rd
+++ b/man/embed_adjacency_matrix.Rd
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ embed_adjacency_matrix(
   which = c("lm", "la", "sa"),
   scaled = TRUE,
   cvec = graph.strength(graph, weights = weights)/(vcount(graph) - 1),
-  options = igraph.arpack.default
+  options = arpack_defaults()
 )
 }
 \arguments{
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ graph. This vector is added to the diagonal of the adjacency matrix.}
 
 \item{options}{A named list containing the parameters for the SVD
 computation algorithm in ARPACK. By default, the list of values is assigned
-the values given by \link{igraph.arpack.default}.}
+the values given by \code{\link[=arpack_defaults]{arpack_defaults()}}.}
 }
 \value{
 A list containing with entries: \item{X}{Estimated latent positions,
diff --git a/man/embed_laplacian_matrix.Rd b/man/embed_laplacian_matrix.Rd
index 15ff157d9d6..1cd32d10e43 100644
--- a/man/embed_laplacian_matrix.Rd
+++ b/man/embed_laplacian_matrix.Rd
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ embed_laplacian_matrix(
   which = c("lm", "la", "sa"),
   type = c("default", "D-A", "DAD", "I-DAD", "OAP"),
   scaled = TRUE,
-  options = igraph.arpack.default
+  options = arpack_defaults()
 )
 }
 \arguments{
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ returned instead of \eqn{X} and \eqn{Y}.}
 
 \item{options}{A named list containing the parameters for the SVD
 computation algorithm in ARPACK. By default, the list of values is assigned
-the values given by \link{igraph.arpack.default}.}
+the values given by \code{\link[=arpack_defaults]{arpack_defaults()}}.}
 }
 \value{
 A list containing with entries: \item{X}{Estimated latent positions,
diff --git a/man/hub_score.Rd b/man/hub_score.Rd
index 11a4bf7889b..a47357380e7 100644
--- a/man/hub_score.Rd
+++ b/man/hub_score.Rd
@@ -7,9 +7,14 @@
 \alias{authority.score}
 \title{Kleinberg's hub and authority centrality scores.}
 \usage{
-hub_score(graph, scale = TRUE, weights = NULL, options = arpack_defaults)
+hub_score(graph, scale = TRUE, weights = NULL, options = arpack_defaults())
 
-authority_score(graph, scale = TRUE, weights = NULL, options = arpack_defaults)
+authority_score(
+  graph,
+  scale = TRUE,
+  weights = NULL,
+  options = arpack_defaults()
+)
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{graph}{The input graph.}
diff --git a/man/layout_with_mds.Rd b/man/layout_with_mds.Rd
index 2d00d42044d..d21994cdd8f 100644
--- a/man/layout_with_mds.Rd
+++ b/man/layout_with_mds.Rd
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 \alias{with_mds}
 \title{Graph layout by multidimensional scaling}
 \usage{
-layout_with_mds(graph, dist = NULL, dim = 2, options = arpack_defaults)
+layout_with_mds(graph, dist = NULL, dim = 2, options = arpack_defaults())
 
 with_mds(...)
 }
diff --git a/man/spectrum.Rd b/man/spectrum.Rd
index 9a6ee9e2c0d..cc3f1a4fee2 100644
--- a/man/spectrum.Rd
+++ b/man/spectrum.Rd
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ spectrum(
   graph,
   algorithm = c("arpack", "auto", "lapack", "comp_auto", "comp_lapack", "comp_arpack"),
   which = list(),
-  options = arpack_defaults
+  options = arpack_defaults()
 )
 }
 \arguments{
diff --git a/tools/stimulus/types-RR.yaml b/tools/stimulus/types-RR.yaml
index 13d8ecf4a9c..ef1bcf82ba4 100644
--- a/tools/stimulus/types-RR.yaml
+++ b/tools/stimulus/types-RR.yaml
@@ -286,11 +286,11 @@ EDGESETLIST:
 
 ARPACKOPT:
     INCONV:
-        INOUT: '%I%.tmp <- arpack_defaults; %I%.tmp[ names(%I%) ] <- %I% ; %I% <- %I%.tmp'
+        INOUT: '%I% <- modify_list(arpack_defaults(), %I%)'
 
 DRL_OPTIONS:
     INCONV:
-        IN: '%I%.tmp <- drl_defaults$default; %I%.tmp [names(%I%)] <- %I%; %I% <- %I%.tmp'
+        IN: '%I% <- modify_list(drl_defaults$default, %I%)'
 
 STRVECTOR: {}
 
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ PAGERANKOPT:
           if (%I1% == 0L) {
             %I% <- list(niter=1000, eps=0.001)
           } else if (%I1% == 1L) {
-            %I% <- arpack_defaults
+            %I% <- arpack_defaults()
           } else {
             %I% <- NULL
           }