diff --git a/oelint_adv/core.py b/oelint_adv/core.py
index f1b4d8d0..5004a96a 100644
--- a/oelint_adv/core.py
+++ b/oelint_adv/core.py
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ def __call__(self, parser, namespace, values, option_string=None) -> None:
         if not isinstance(values, str):
             return  # pragma: no cover
         items = getattr(namespace, self.dest) or []
+        if not isinstance(items, list):
+            items = [x.strip() for x in items.split() if x.strip()]
         items.extend(RegexRpl.split(r'\s+|\t+|\n+', values.strip('"').strip("'")))
         setattr(namespace, self.dest, items)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_configfile.py b/tests/test_configfile.py
index e038c3af..d0526852 100644
--- a/tests/test_configfile.py
+++ b/tests/test_configfile.py
@@ -269,3 +269,82 @@ def test_option_deserialization(self):
         options = {'a': 'True', 'b': True, 'c': 'False', 'd': False, 'e': 'other value'}
         deserialized = deserialize_boolean_options(options)
         assert deserialized == {'a': True, 'b': True, 'c': False, 'd': False, 'e': 'other value'}
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize('input_',
+                             [
+                                 {
+                                     'oelint adv-test.bb':
+                                     '''
+                                     VAR:append:prepend = "1"
+                                     ''',
+                                 },
+                             ],
+                             )
+    def test_config_file_suppress(self, input_):
+        _cstfile = self._create_tempfile(
+            '.oelint.cfg',
+            '''
+            [oelint]
+            suppress=
+                oelint.vars.doublemodify
+                oelint.var.suggestedvar.BUGTRACKER
+            ''')
+        os.environ['OELINT_CONFIG'] = _cstfile
+        _args = self._create_args(input_)
+        self.check_for_id(_args, 'oelint.vars.doublemodify', 0)
+        self.check_for_id(_args, 'oelint.var.suggestedvar.BUGTRACKER', 0)
+        self.check_for_id(_args, 'oelint.var.mandatoryvar.LICENSE', 1)
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize('input_',
+                             [
+                                 {
+                                     'oelint adv-test.bb':
+                                     '''
+                                     VAR:append:prepend = "1"
+                                     ''',
+                                 },
+                             ],
+                             )
+    def test_config_file_suppress_merge_with_cli(self, input_):
+        _cstfile = self._create_tempfile(
+            '.oelint.cfg',
+            '''
+            [oelint]
+            suppress=
+                oelint.vars.doublemodify
+                oelint.var.suggestedvar.BUGTRACKER
+            ''')
+        os.environ['OELINT_CONFIG'] = _cstfile
+        _args = self._create_args(input_, ['--suppress', 'oelint.var.mandatoryvar.LICENSE'])
+        self.check_for_id(_args, 'oelint.vars.doublemodify', 0)
+        self.check_for_id(_args, 'oelint.var.suggestedvar.BUGTRACKER', 0)
+        self.check_for_id(_args, 'oelint.var.mandatoryvar.LICENSE', 0)
+        self.check_for_id(_args, 'oelint.var.mandatoryvar.HOMEPAGE', 1)
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize('input_',
+                             [
+                                 {
+                                     'oelint adv-test.bb':
+                                     '''
+                                     VAR:append:prepend = "1"
+                                     ''',
+                                 },
+                             ],
+                             )
+    def test_config_file_suppress_merge_with_cli_multiple(self, input_):
+        _cstfile = self._create_tempfile(
+            '.oelint.cfg',
+            '''
+            [oelint]
+            suppress=
+                oelint.vars.doublemodify
+                oelint.var.suggestedvar.BUGTRACKER
+            ''')
+        os.environ['OELINT_CONFIG'] = _cstfile
+        _args = self._create_args(input_,
+                                  ['--suppress', 'oelint.var.mandatoryvar.LICENSE',
+                                   '--suppress', 'oelint.var.mandatoryvar.HOMEPAGE'])
+        self.check_for_id(_args, 'oelint.vars.doublemodify', 0)
+        self.check_for_id(_args, 'oelint.var.suggestedvar.BUGTRACKER', 0)
+        self.check_for_id(_args, 'oelint.var.mandatoryvar.LICENSE', 0)
+        self.check_for_id(_args, 'oelint.var.mandatoryvar.HOMEPAGE', 0)