diff --git a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/pygame/build/build.py b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/pygame/build/build.py
index 539cc952c0..730ad827f6 100755
--- a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/pygame/build/build.py
+++ b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/pygame/build/build.py
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ def parse_args(args=None):
                           'Usually one of "landscape", "portrait" or '
                           '"sensor"'))
     ap.add_argument('--permission', dest='permissions', action='append',
-                    help='The permissions to give this app.')
+                    help='The permissions to give this app.', nargs='+')
     ap.add_argument('--ignore-path', dest='ignore_path', action='append',
                     help='Ignore path when building the app')
     ap.add_argument('--icon', dest='icon',
@@ -488,6 +488,9 @@ def parse_args(args=None):
 
     if args.permissions is None:
         args.permissions = []
+    elif args.permissions:
+        if isinstance(args.permissions[0], list):
+            args.permissions = [p for perm in args.permissions for p in perm]
 
     if args.ignore_path is None:
         args.ignore_path = []
diff --git a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/sdl2/build/build.py b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/sdl2/build/build.py
index bb785f220f..d7bff55b28 100755
--- a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/sdl2/build/build.py
+++ b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/sdl2/build/build.py
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ def parse_args(args=None):
     ap.add_argument('--icon', dest='icon',
                     help='A png file to use as the icon for the application.')
     ap.add_argument('--permission', dest='permissions', action='append',
-                    help='The permissions to give this app.')
+                    help='The permissions to give this app.', nargs='+')
     ap.add_argument('--meta-data', dest='meta_data', action='append',
                     help='Custom key=value to add in application metadata')
     ap.add_argument('--presplash', dest='presplash',
@@ -488,6 +488,9 @@ def parse_args(args=None):
 
     if args.permissions is None:
         args.permissions = []
+    elif args.permissions:
+        if isinstance(args.permissions[0], list):
+            args.permissions = [p for perm in args.permissions for p in perm]
 
     if args.meta_data is None:
         args.meta_data = []
diff --git a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/webview/build/build.py b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/webview/build/build.py
index 20101863c1..44a539302a 100755
--- a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/webview/build/build.py
+++ b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/webview/build/build.py
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ def parse_args(args=None):
     ap.add_argument('--icon', dest='icon',
                     help='A png file to use as the icon for the application.')
     ap.add_argument('--permission', dest='permissions', action='append',
-                    help='The permissions to give this app.')
+                    help='The permissions to give this app.', nargs='+')
     ap.add_argument('--meta-data', dest='meta_data', action='append',
                     help='Custom key=value to add in application metadata')
     ap.add_argument('--presplash', dest='presplash',
@@ -465,6 +465,9 @@ def parse_args(args=None):
 
     if args.permissions is None:
         args.permissions = []
+    elif args.permissions:
+        if isinstance(args.permissions[0], list):
+            args.permissions = [p for perm in args.permissions for p in perm]
 
     if args.meta_data is None:
         args.meta_data = []