diff --git a/tools/packages.py b/tools/packages.py
index 4e5004bda..032263f25 100755
--- a/tools/packages.py
+++ b/tools/packages.py
@@ -86,8 +86,8 @@ def run():
     parser.add_argument(
         "-e",
         "--exclude",
-        nargs="+",
         help="exclude packages sections.",
+        action="append",
     )
     parser.add_argument(
         "distribution",