diff --git a/BM/runtests.py b/BM/runtests.py
index 5812367f..0c094eae 100755
--- a/BM/runtests.py
+++ b/BM/runtests.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import subprocess
 import argparse
 import os
+import shlex
 from avocado.core.job import Job
 from avocado.core.nrunner.runnable import Runnable
 from avocado.core.suite import TestSuite
@@ -59,6 +60,16 @@ def dependency_check(ftests):
                     except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
                         print(f"Warning:  {reason_info}")
 
+def parse_cmd_line(cmd: str) -> list[str]:
+    cmd_str = shlex.shlex(cmd, posix=True)
+    cmd_str.whitespace_split = True
+    cmd_str.whitespace = ' '
+    try:
+        return list(cmd_str)
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"Error while parsing cmd:{cmd} with err {e}")
+        return []
+
 # Read the tests file and create Runnable objects.
 def create_runnables_from_file(ftests):
     tests = []
@@ -67,10 +78,10 @@ def create_runnables_from_file(ftests):
             # Handle empty lines and comments.
             if not line.strip() or line.startswith('#'):
                 continue
+
             # Split command line parameters.
-            parts = line.strip().split()
-            # Create a Runnable object.
-            runnable = Runnable("exec-test", parts[0], *parts[1:])
+            cmd_line = parse_cmd_line(line.strip())
+            runnable = Runnable("exec-test", *cmd_line)
             tests.append(runnable)
     return tests