diff --git a/v2/build/build_request.py b/v2/build/build_request.py
index e149ab894..7b1213d25 100644
--- a/v2/build/build_request.py
+++ b/v2/build/build_request.py
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ def from_command_line(command_line):
     properties = []
 
     for e in command_line:
-        if e[0] != "-":
+        if e[:1] != "-":
             # Build request spec either has "=" in it, or completely
             # consists of implicit feature values.
             if e.find("=") != -1 or looks_like_implicit_value(e.split("/")[0]):