diff --git a/hardware/server/hpbladechassis/mode/hardware.pm b/hardware/server/hpbladechassis/mode/hardware.pm
index 32aa7679e..2442d70a7 100644
--- a/hardware/server/hpbladechassis/mode/hardware.pm
+++ b/hardware/server/hpbladechassis/mode/hardware.pm
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ sub new {
     $self->{version} = '1.0';
     $options{options}->add_options(arguments =>
                                 { 
-                                  "exclude"        => { name => 'exclude' },
+                                  "exclude:s"        => { name => 'exclude' },
                                 });
     $self->{components} = {};
     return $self;
diff --git a/hardware/server/hpproliant/mode/hardware.pm b/hardware/server/hpproliant/mode/hardware.pm
index ab2fd9bf8..6320607a0 100644
--- a/hardware/server/hpproliant/mode/hardware.pm
+++ b/hardware/server/hpproliant/mode/hardware.pm
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ sub new {
     $self->{version} = '1.0';
     $options{options}->add_options(arguments =>
                                 { 
-                                  "exclude"        => { name => 'exclude' },
+                                  "exclude:s"        => { name => 'exclude' },
                                 });
 
     $self->{product_name} = undef;
diff --git a/storage/hp/lefthand/mode/hardware.pm b/storage/hp/lefthand/mode/hardware.pm
index 1de3926c5..fcf99c60b 100644
--- a/storage/hp/lefthand/mode/hardware.pm
+++ b/storage/hp/lefthand/mode/hardware.pm
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ sub new {
     $self->{version} = '1.0';
     $options{options}->add_options(arguments =>
                                 { 
-                                  "exclude"        => { name => 'exclude' },
+                                  "exclude:s"        => { name => 'exclude' },
                                 });
 
     $self->{product_name} = undef;