diff --git a/swh/lister/__init__.py b/swh/lister/__init__.py
--- a/swh/lister/__init__.py
+++ b/swh/lister/__init__.py
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 
 import pkg_resources
 
+from swh.lister import pattern
+
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
@@ -51,5 +53,8 @@
 
     registry_entry = LISTERS[lister_name].load()()
     lister_cls = registry_entry["lister"]
-    lister = lister_cls(override_config=conf)
-    return lister
+    if issubclass(lister_cls, pattern.Lister):
+        return pattern.lister_from_config(lister_cls, **conf)
+    else:
+        # Old-style lister
+        return lister_cls(override_config=conf)
diff --git a/swh/lister/pattern.py b/swh/lister/pattern.py
--- a/swh/lister/pattern.py
+++ b/swh/lister/pattern.py
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
 # See top-level LICENSE file for more information
 
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from typing import Any, Dict, Generic, Iterable, Iterator, List, Optional, TypeVar
+from typing import Any, Dict, Generic, Iterable, Iterator, List, Optional, Type, TypeVar
 
-from swh.scheduler import model
+from swh.scheduler import get_scheduler, model
 from swh.scheduler.interface import SchedulerInterface
 
 
@@ -222,3 +222,28 @@
         """
         ret = self.scheduler.record_listed_origins(origins)
         return len(ret)
+
+
+def lister_from_config(lister_cls: Type[Lister], **config: Dict[str, Any]) -> Lister:
+    """Instantiate a lister from a configuration dict.
+
+    This is basically a backwards-compatibility shim for the CLI.
+
+    Args:
+      lister_cls: the class of lister to instantiate
+      config: the configuration dict for the lister, with the following keys:
+        - scheduler: instantiation config for the scheduler
+        - credentials (optional): credentials list for the scheduler
+        - any other kwargs passed to the lister.
+
+    Returns:
+      the instantiated lister
+    """
+    # Drop the legacy config keys which aren't used for this generation of listers.
+    for legacy_key in ("storage", "lister", "celery"):
+        config.pop(legacy_key, None)
+
+    # Instantiate the scheduler
+    scheduler = get_scheduler(**config.pop("scheduler"))
+
+    return lister_cls(scheduler=scheduler, **config)
diff --git a/swh/lister/tests/test_cli.py b/swh/lister/tests/test_cli.py
--- a/swh/lister/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/swh/lister/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 import pytest
 
 from swh.lister.cli import SUPPORTED_LISTERS, get_lister
-from swh.lister.core.lister_base import ListerBase
 
 from .test_utils import init_db
 
@@ -29,7 +28,7 @@
     listers_to_instantiate = set(SUPPORTED_LISTERS) - {"launchpad", "gnu"}
     for lister_name in listers_to_instantiate:
         lst = get_lister(lister_name, db_url)
-        assert isinstance(lst, ListerBase)
+        assert hasattr(lst, "run")
 
 
 def test_get_lister_override():
@@ -47,9 +46,7 @@
     # check the override ends up defined in the lister
     for lister_name, url in listers.items():
         lst = get_lister(
-            lister_name,
-            db_url,
-            **{"url": url, "priority": "high", "policy": "oneshot",},
+            lister_name, db_url, url=url, priority="high", policy="oneshot"
         )
 
         assert lst.url == url