diff --git a/qubes/tools/qubes_prefs.py b/qubes/tools/qubes_prefs.py
index acf09490..9f6a947b 100644
--- a/qubes/tools/qubes_prefs.py
+++ b/qubes/tools/qubes_prefs.py
@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@ def main(args=None):
                     name=prop.__name__, width=width, value=value))
 
         return 0
+    else:
+        args.property = args.property.replace('-', '_')
 
 
     if args.value is not None:
diff --git a/qubes/tools/qvm_prefs.py b/qubes/tools/qvm_prefs.py
index 3fc503fd..5a3d545c 100644
--- a/qubes/tools/qvm_prefs.py
+++ b/qubes/tools/qvm_prefs.py
@@ -91,6 +91,8 @@ def main(args=None):
                     name=prop.__name__, width=width, value=value))
 
         return 0
+    else:
+        args.property = args.property.replace('-', '_')
 
     if args.property not in [prop.__name__
                              for prop in args.domain.property_list()]: