diff --git a/paunch/builder/compose1.py b/paunch/builder/compose1.py
index 51fe7b3..42d4144 100644
--- a/paunch/builder/compose1.py
+++ b/paunch/builder/compose1.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class ComposeV1Builder(base.BaseBuilder):
         self.string_arg(cconfig, cmd, 'mem_limit', '--memory')
         self.string_arg(cconfig, cmd, 'memswap_limit', '--memory-swap')
         self.string_arg(cconfig, cmd, 'mem_swappiness', '--memory-swappiness')
-        self.string_arg(cconfig, cmd, 'security_opt', '--security-opt')
+        self.list_or_string_arg(cconfig, cmd, 'security_opt', '--security-opt')
         self.string_arg(cconfig, cmd, 'stop_signal', '--stop-signal')
         self.string_arg(cconfig, cmd, 'hostname', '--hostname')
         for extra_host in cconfig.get('extra_hosts', []):
diff --git a/paunch/builder/podman.py b/paunch/builder/podman.py
index 7d097a2..aba21a0 100644
--- a/paunch/builder/podman.py
+++ b/paunch/builder/podman.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class PodmanBuilder(base.BaseBuilder):
         self.string_arg(cconfig, cmd, 'mem_limit', '--memory')
         self.string_arg(cconfig, cmd, 'memswap_limit', '--memory-swap')
         self.string_arg(cconfig, cmd, 'mem_swappiness', '--memory-swappiness')
-        self.string_arg(cconfig, cmd, 'security_opt', '--security-opt')
+        self.list_or_string_arg(cconfig, cmd, 'security_opt', '--security-opt')
         self.string_arg(cconfig, cmd, 'stop_signal', '--stop-signal')
         self.string_arg(cconfig, cmd, 'hostname', '--hostname')
         for extra_host in cconfig.get('extra_hosts', []):