diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d1f763a..acba74a 100755
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ optional arguments:
                         not specified here)
   -s SEPARATOR, --separator SEPARATOR
                         CSV Separator (default ',')
+  -k, --no-colon-sep    Don't use : as delimiter in the config file
+  --version             show program's version number and exit
 
 
 ~~~~                        
@@ -98,6 +100,8 @@ optional arguments:
 
 **-s --separator** Override the delimiter for CSV or TSV generation
 
+**-k --no-colon-sep** Only accept `=` as a delimiter for KEY/VALUE pairs in the config file, enables the use of `:` in field names
+
 --------
 To run from KiCad, simply add the same command line in the *Bill of Materials* script window. e.g. to generate a HTML output:
 
diff --git a/kibom/__main__.py b/kibom/__main__.py
index 06408af..cbed2d5 100644
--- a/kibom/__main__.py
+++ b/kibom/__main__.py
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ def main():
     parser.add_argument("-d", "--subdirectory", help="Subdirectory within which to store the generated BoM files.", type=str, default=None)
     parser.add_argument("--cfg", help="BoM config file (script will try to use 'bom.ini' if not specified here)")
     parser.add_argument("-s", "--separator", help="CSV Separator (default ',')", type=str, default=None)
+    parser.add_argument("-k", "--no-colon-sep", help="Don't use : as delimiter in the config file", action='store_true')
     parser.add_argument('--version', action='version', version="KiBOM Version: {v}".format(v=KIBOM_VERSION))
 
     args = parser.parse_args()
@@ -221,7 +222,7 @@ def main():
     have_cfile = os.path.exists(config_file)
 
     if have_cfile:
-        pref.Read(config_file)
+        pref.Read(config_file, no_colon_sep=args.no_colon_sep)
         debug.message("Configuration file:", config_file)
     else:
         pref.Write(config_file)
diff --git a/kibom/preferences.py b/kibom/preferences.py
index d42a77d..f3fa66e 100755
--- a/kibom/preferences.py
+++ b/kibom/preferences.py
@@ -143,13 +143,13 @@ def checkStr(self, opt, default=False):
             return default
 
     # Read KiBOM preferences from file
-    def Read(self, file, verbose=False):
+    def Read(self, file, verbose=False, no_colon_sep=False):
         file = os.path.abspath(file)
         if not os.path.exists(file) or not os.path.isfile(file):
             debug.error("{f} is not a valid file!".format(f=file))
             return
 
-        cf = ConfigParser.RawConfigParser(allow_no_value=True)
+        cf = ConfigParser.RawConfigParser(allow_no_value=True, delimiters=('=') if no_colon_sep else ('=', ':'))
         self.parser = cf
         cf.optionxform = str