diff --git a/pepper/cli.py b/pepper/cli.py
index cbf64c0..af846ef 100644
--- a/pepper/cli.py
+++ b/pepper/cli.py
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ def parse_cmd(self):
         elif client.startswith('runner'):
             low['fun'] = args.pop(0)
             for arg in args:
-                key, value = arg.split('=')
+                key, value = arg.split('=', 1)
                 low[key] = value
         else:
             if len(args) < 1: