diff --git a/cmd/ctr/app/main.go b/cmd/ctr/app/main.go
index 31f8584cc..61ed1a425 100644
--- a/cmd/ctr/app/main.go
+++ b/cmd/ctr/app/main.go
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ stable from release to release of the containerd project.`
 
 containerd CLI
 `
+	app.DisableSliceFlagSeparator = true
 	app.EnableBashCompletion = true
 	app.Flags = []cli.Flag{
 		&cli.BoolFlag{