diff --git a/plugins/test/noop/main.go b/plugins/test/noop/main.go
index d3c5698f..fe67c377 100644
--- a/plugins/test/noop/main.go
+++ b/plugins/test/noop/main.go
@@ -32,13 +32,34 @@ import (
 	"github.com/containernetworking/cni/plugins/test/noop/debug"
 )
 
+// parse extra args i.e. FOO=BAR;ABC=123
+func parseExtraArgs(args string) (map[string]string, error) {
+	m := make(map[string]string)
+
+	items := strings.Split(args, ";")
+	for _, item := range items {
+		kv := strings.Split(item, "=")
+		if len(kv) != 2 {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("CNI_ARGS invalid key/value pair: %s\n", kv)
+		}
+		m[kv[0]] = kv[1]
+	}
+	return m, nil
+}
+
 func debugBehavior(args *skel.CmdArgs, command string) error {
-	if !strings.HasPrefix(args.Args, "DEBUG=") {
+	extraArgs, err := parseExtraArgs(args.Args)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	debugFilePath, ok := extraArgs["DEBUG"]
+	if !ok {
 		fmt.Printf(`{}`)
 		os.Stderr.WriteString("CNI_ARGS empty, no debug behavior\n")
 		return nil
 	}
-	debugFilePath := strings.TrimPrefix(args.Args, "DEBUG=")
+
 	debug, err := debug.ReadDebug(debugFilePath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -69,7 +90,17 @@ func debugGetSupportedVersions() []string {
 	if cniArgs == "" {
 		return vers
 	}
-	debugFilePath := strings.TrimPrefix(cniArgs, "DEBUG=")
+
+	extraArgs, err := parseExtraArgs(cniArgs)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic("test setup error: invalid CNI_ARGS format")
+	}
+
+	debugFilePath, ok := extraArgs["DEBUG"]
+	if !ok {
+		panic("test setup error: missing DEBUG in CNI_ARGS")
+	}
+
 	debug, err := debug.ReadDebug(debugFilePath)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic("test setup error: unable to read debug file: " + err.Error())
diff --git a/plugins/test/noop/noop_test.go b/plugins/test/noop/noop_test.go
index 40a37414..49e86161 100644
--- a/plugins/test/noop/noop_test.go
+++ b/plugins/test/noop/noop_test.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 package main_test
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
@@ -52,10 +53,12 @@ var _ = Describe("No-op plugin", func() {
 		Expect(debug.WriteDebug(debugFileName)).To(Succeed())
 
 		cmd = exec.Command(pathToPlugin)
+
+		args := fmt.Sprintf("DEBUG=%s;FOO=BAR", debugFileName)
 		cmd.Env = []string{
 			"CNI_COMMAND=ADD",
 			"CNI_CONTAINERID=some-container-id",
-			"CNI_ARGS=DEBUG=" + debugFileName,
+			"CNI_ARGS=" + args,
 			"CNI_NETNS=/some/netns/path",
 			"CNI_IFNAME=some-eth0",
 			"CNI_PATH=/some/bin/path",
@@ -65,7 +68,7 @@ var _ = Describe("No-op plugin", func() {
 			ContainerID: "some-container-id",
 			Netns:       "/some/netns/path",
 			IfName:      "some-eth0",
-			Args:        "DEBUG=" + debugFileName,
+			Args:        args,
 			Path:        "/some/bin/path",
 			StdinData:   []byte(`{"some":"stdin-json", "cniVersion": "0.2.0"}`),
 		}