diff --git a/doc/man1/flux-start.rst b/doc/man1/flux-start.rst
index 7204a1a9ad53..f85d9ed923a4 100644
--- a/doc/man1/flux-start.rst
+++ b/doc/man1/flux-start.rst
@@ -122,6 +122,15 @@ as long as the Flux instance is running.  It covers the following use cases:
 
 OPTIONS
 =======
+.. option:: -S, --setattr=ATTR=VAL
+
+   Set broker attribute *ATTR* to *VAL*. This is equivalent to
+   :option:`-o,-SATTR=VAL`.
+
+.. option:: -c, --config-path=PATH
+
+   Set the *PATH* for broker configuration. See :man1:`flux-broker` for
+   option details. This is equivalent to :option:`-o,-cPATH`.
 
 .. option:: -o, --broker-opts=OPTIONS
 
@@ -282,7 +291,7 @@ If :program:`flux start` appears to hang, the following tips may be helpful:
    See :man7:`flux-environment`.
 
 #. More logging can be enabled by adding the
-   :option:`flux start -o,-Slog-stderr-level=7` option, which instructs the
+   :option:`flux start -Slog-stderr-level=7` option, which instructs the
    broker to forward its internal log buffer to stderr.  See
    :man7:`flux-broker-attributes`.
 
diff --git a/doc/test/spell.en.pws b/doc/test/spell.en.pws
index ef391019f256..713c228307d9 100644
--- a/doc/test/spell.en.pws
+++ b/doc/test/spell.en.pws
@@ -936,3 +936,5 @@ cgroups
 fs
 misconfigured
 aTGTz
+cPATH
+SATTR
diff --git a/src/cmd/flux-start.c b/src/cmd/flux-start.c
index 26068d6d1f53..df7180761d19 100644
--- a/src/cmd/flux-start.c
+++ b/src/cmd/flux-start.c
@@ -99,6 +99,11 @@ const char *default_statedir = "/var/lib/flux";
 
 const char *usage_msg = "[OPTIONS] command ...";
 static struct optparse_option opts[] = {
+    { .name = "setattr",    .key = 'S', .has_arg = 1, .arginfo = "ATTR=VAL",
+      .flags = OPTPARSE_OPT_AUTOSPLIT,
+      .usage = "Set broker attribute", },
+    { .name = "config-path",.key = 'c', .has_arg = 1, .arginfo = "PATH",
+      .usage = "Set broker config from PATH (default: none)", },
     { .name = "recovery",   .key = 'r', .has_arg = 2, .arginfo = "[TARGET]",
       .flags = OPTPARSE_OPT_SHORTOPT_OPTIONAL_ARG,
       .usage = "Start instance in recovery mode with dump file or statedir", },
@@ -309,7 +314,9 @@ char *find_broker (const char *searchpath)
     return dir ? xstrdup (path) : NULL;
 }
 
-void exit_timeout (flux_reactor_t *r, flux_watcher_t *w, int revents, void *arg)
+void exit_timeout (flux_reactor_t *r,
+                   flux_watcher_t *w,
+                   int revents, void *arg)
 {
     struct client *cli;
 
@@ -447,28 +454,30 @@ void channel_cb (flux_subprocess_t *p, const char *stream)
     }
 }
 
-void add_args_list (char **argz,
-                    size_t *argz_len,
-                    optparse_t *opt,
-                    const char *name)
-{
-    const char *arg;
-    optparse_getopt_iterator_reset (opt, name);
-    while ((arg = optparse_getopt_next (opt, name)))
-        if (argz_add  (argz, argz_len, arg) != 0)
-            log_err_exit ("argz_add");
-}
-
 void add_argzf (char **argz, size_t *argz_len, const char *fmt, ...)
 {
     va_list ap;
-    char arg[1024];
+    char *arg = NULL;
 
     va_start (ap, fmt);
-    (void)vsnprintf (arg, sizeof (arg), fmt, ap);
+    if (vasprintf (&arg, fmt, ap) < 0)
+        log_err_exit ("vasprintf");
     va_end (ap);
     if (argz_add (argz, argz_len, arg) != 0)
         log_err_exit ("argz_add");
+    free (arg);
+}
+
+void add_args_list (char **argz,
+                    size_t *argz_len,
+                    optparse_t *opt,
+                    const char *name,
+                    const char *prepend)
+{
+    const char *arg;
+    optparse_getopt_iterator_reset (opt, name);
+    while ((arg = optparse_getopt_next (opt, name)))
+        add_argzf (argz, argz_len, "%s%s", prepend, arg);
 }
 
 char *create_rundir (void)
@@ -602,6 +611,39 @@ void process_recovery_option (char **argz,
         add_argzf (argz, argz_len, "-Scontent.restore=%s", optarg);
 }
 
+int add_args_common (char **argz,
+                     size_t *argz_len,
+                     const char *broker_path)
+{
+    bool system_recovery = false;
+    const char *config_path = NULL;
+
+    add_args_list (argz, argz_len, ctx.opts, "wrap", "");
+    if (argz_add (argz, argz_len, broker_path) != 0) {
+        errno = ENOMEM;
+        return -1;
+    }
+    add_args_list (argz, argz_len, ctx.opts, "setattr", "-S");
+    add_args_list (argz, argz_len, ctx.opts, "broker-opts", "");
+
+    if (optparse_hasopt (ctx.opts, "recovery"))
+        process_recovery_option (argz, argz_len, &system_recovery);
+
+    if (system_recovery || optparse_hasopt (ctx.opts, "sysconfig"))
+        config_path = default_config_path;
+    if (optparse_hasopt (ctx.opts, "config-path")) {
+        const char *conf = optparse_get_str (ctx.opts, "config-path", NULL);
+        if (config_path)
+            log_msg ("Warning: overriding recovery/--sysconfig path with %s",
+                     conf);
+        config_path = conf;
+    }
+    if (config_path)
+        add_argzf (argz, argz_len, "-c%s", config_path);
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
 /* Directly exec() a single flux broker.  It is assumed that we
  * are running in an environment with an external PMI service, and the
  * broker will figure out how to bootstrap without any further aid from
@@ -613,18 +655,10 @@ int exec_broker (const char *cmd_argz,
 {
     char *argz = NULL;
     size_t argz_len = 0;
-    bool system_recovery = false;
-
-    add_args_list (&argz, &argz_len, ctx.opts, "wrap");
-    if (argz_add (&argz, &argz_len, broker_path) != 0)
-        goto nomem;
-    add_args_list (&argz, &argz_len, ctx.opts, "broker-opts");
 
-    if (optparse_hasopt (ctx.opts, "recovery"))
-        process_recovery_option (&argz, &argz_len, &system_recovery);
+    if (add_args_common (&argz, &argz_len, broker_path) < 0)
+        goto error;
 
-    if (system_recovery || optparse_hasopt (ctx.opts, "sysconfig"))
-        add_argzf (&argz, &argz_len, "-c%s", default_config_path);
     if (cmd_argz) {
         if (argz_append (&argz, &argz_len, cmd_argz, cmd_argz_len) != 0)
             goto nomem;
@@ -660,23 +694,18 @@ struct client *client_create (const char *broker_path,
 {
     struct client *cli = xzmalloc (sizeof (*cli));
     char *arg;
-    char * argz = NULL;
+    char *argz = NULL;
     size_t argz_len = 0;
-    bool system_recovery = false;
 
     cli->rank = rank;
-    add_args_list (&argz, &argz_len, ctx.opts, "wrap");
-    argz_add (&argz, &argz_len, broker_path);
-    char *dir_arg = xasprintf ("--setattr=rundir=%s", rundir);
-    argz_add (&argz, &argz_len, dir_arg);
-    free (dir_arg);
-    if (optparse_hasopt (ctx.opts, "recovery") && rank == 0)
-        process_recovery_option (&argz, &argz_len, &system_recovery);
-    if (system_recovery || optparse_hasopt (ctx.opts, "sysconfig"))
-        add_argzf (&argz, &argz_len, "-c%s", default_config_path);
-    add_args_list (&argz, &argz_len, ctx.opts, "broker-opts");
-    if (rank == 0 && cmd_argz)
-        argz_append (&argz, &argz_len, cmd_argz, cmd_argz_len); /* must be last arg */
+
+    if (add_args_common (&argz, &argz_len, broker_path) < 0)
+        goto fail;
+
+    add_argzf (&argz, &argz_len, "--setattr=rundir=%s", rundir);
+
+    if (rank == 0 && cmd_argz) /* must be last arg */
+        argz_append (&argz, &argz_len, cmd_argz, cmd_argz_len);
 
     if (!(cli->cmd = flux_cmd_create (0, NULL, environ)))
         goto fail;
@@ -705,8 +734,8 @@ struct client *client_create (const char *broker_path,
             log_err_exit ("error setting up environment for rank %d", rank);
     return cli;
 fail:
-    free (argz);
-    client_destroy (cli);
+    ERRNO_SAFE_WRAP (free, argz);
+    ERRNO_SAFE_WRAP (client_destroy, cli);
     return NULL;
 }
 
@@ -739,7 +768,9 @@ void client_dumpargs (struct client *cli)
 void pmi_server_initialize (int flags)
 {
     struct taskmap *map;
-    const char *mode = optparse_get_str (ctx.opts, "test-pmi-clique", "single");
+    const char *mode = optparse_get_str (ctx.opts,
+                                         "test-pmi-clique",
+                                         "single");
     struct pmi_simple_ops ops = {
         .abort = pmi_abort,
         .kvs_put = pmi_kvs_put,
@@ -1089,8 +1120,10 @@ int start_session (const char *cmd_argz,
     if (!(ctx.reactor = flux_reactor_create (FLUX_REACTOR_SIGCHLD)))
         log_err_exit ("flux_reactor_create");
     if (!(ctx.timer = flux_timer_watcher_create (ctx.reactor,
-                                                 ctx.exit_timeout, 0.,
-                                                 exit_timeout, NULL)))
+                                                 ctx.exit_timeout,
+                                                 0.,
+                                                 exit_timeout,
+                                                 NULL)))
         log_err_exit ("flux_timer_watcher_create");
     if (!(ctx.clients = zlist_new ()))
         log_err_exit ("zlist_new");
diff --git a/t/fluxometer.lua b/t/fluxometer.lua
index 2fd7fd47f631..73b68b152942 100644
--- a/t/fluxometer.lua
+++ b/t/fluxometer.lua
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ function fluxTest.init (...)
     end
 
     test.log_file = "lua-"..test.prog..".broker.log"
-    test.start_args = { "-o,-Slog-filename=" .. test.log_file }
+    test.start_args = { "-Slog-filename=" .. test.log_file }
 
     local path = fluxTest.fluxbindir .. "/flux"
     local mode = posix.stat (path, 'mode')
diff --git a/t/issues/t3906-job-exec-exception.sh b/t/issues/t3906-job-exec-exception.sh
index 003ff5dd0c30..ee0ce254fe2f 100755
--- a/t/issues/t3906-job-exec-exception.sh
+++ b/t/issues/t3906-job-exec-exception.sh
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 #  3. Ensure job exception is raised and includes appropriate error note
 #
 export startctl="flux python ${SHARNESS_TEST_SRCDIR}/scripts/startctl.py"
-SHELL=/bin/sh flux start -s 4 -o,-Stbon.topo=kary:4 --test-exit-mode=leader '\
+SHELL=/bin/sh flux start -s 4 -Stbon.topo=kary:4 --test-exit-mode=leader '\
    id=$(flux submit -n4 -N4 sleep 300) \
 && flux job wait-event $id start \
 && $startctl kill 3 9 \
diff --git a/t/issues/t3960-job-exec-ehostunreach.sh b/t/issues/t3960-job-exec-ehostunreach.sh
index 2c919711a9b0..8f5578e87b8c 100755
--- a/t/issues/t3960-job-exec-ehostunreach.sh
+++ b/t/issues/t3960-job-exec-ehostunreach.sh
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 #
 #
 export startctl="flux python ${SHARNESS_TEST_SRCDIR}/scripts/startctl.py"
-SHELL=/bin/sh flux start -s 4 -o,-Stbon.topo=kary:4 --test-exit-mode=leader '\
+SHELL=/bin/sh flux start -s 4 -Stbon.topo=kary:4 --test-exit-mode=leader '\
    id=$(flux submit -n4 -N4 sleep 300) \
 && flux job wait-event $id start \
 && $startctl kill 3 19 \
diff --git a/t/issues/t4182-resource-rerank.sh b/t/issues/t4182-resource-rerank.sh
index 63357c73b786..43e8234138bb 100755
--- a/t/issues/t4182-resource-rerank.sh
+++ b/t/issues/t4182-resource-rerank.sh
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ echo "resource.noverify = true" >t4182-resource.toml
 
 #  ensure R rerank failure is ignored (i.e. job completes successfully)
 flux run -o per-resource.type=node -o cpu-affinity=off -n 11 \
-	flux start -o,--config-path=t4182-resource.toml \
+	flux start --config-path=t4182-resource.toml \
 	flux getattr hostlist
 
 #  ensure R is reranked based on hostlist attribute:
diff --git a/t/issues/t4465-job-list-use-after-free.sh b/t/issues/t4465-job-list-use-after-free.sh
index 1cf8c4f72c2e..bdc11e3e252d 100755
--- a/t/issues/t4465-job-list-use-after-free.sh
+++ b/t/issues/t4465-job-list-use-after-free.sh
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ mkdir ${STATEDIR}
 # a different order than submitted, hence number of jobs submitted equals
 # number of broker ranks.
 #
-flux start --test-size=8 -o,-Sstatedir=${STATEDIR} \
+flux start --test-size=8 -Sstatedir=${STATEDIR} \
     bash -c "flux submit --cc 1-8 --quiet /bin/true && flux queue drain"
 
-flux start --test-size=1 -o,-Sstatedir=${STATEDIR} \
+flux start --test-size=1 -Sstatedir=${STATEDIR} \
     --wrap=libtool,e,${VALGRIND} \
     --wrap=--tool=memcheck \
     --wrap=--trace-children=no \
diff --git a/t/issues/t4482-flush-list-corruption.sh b/t/issues/t4482-flush-list-corruption.sh
index 60eeff2a0e78..2f2da615a86a 100755
--- a/t/issues/t4482-flush-list-corruption.sh
+++ b/t/issues/t4482-flush-list-corruption.sh
@@ -38,6 +38,6 @@ EOF
 chmod +x t4482.sh
 
 flux start -s 1 \
-    -o,--setattr=broker.rc1_path= \
-    -o,--setattr=broker.rc3_path= \
+    --setattr=broker.rc1_path= \
+    --setattr=broker.rc3_path= \
     ./t4482.sh
diff --git a/t/issues/t4583-free-range-test.sh b/t/issues/t4583-free-range-test.sh
index dfc8b3b71ec0..4ec7e5e8ee56 100755
--- a/t/issues/t4583-free-range-test.sh
+++ b/t/issues/t4583-free-range-test.sh
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ if test "$FREE_RANGE_TEST_ACTIVE" != "t"; then
     exec flux start -s 4 \
         --test-exit-mode=leader \
         --test-pmi-clique=per-broker \
-        -o -Stbon.topo=kary:0 $0
+        -Stbon.topo=kary:0 $0
 fi
 
 #  Start a job with tbon.topo=kary:0
diff --git a/t/issues/t4852-t_submit-legacy.sh b/t/issues/t4852-t_submit-legacy.sh
index 9b355e7d1008..c6e1e460c7c0 100755
--- a/t/issues/t4852-t_submit-legacy.sh
+++ b/t/issues/t4852-t_submit-legacy.sh
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@ STATEDIR=issue4852-statedir
 mkdir issue4852-statedir
 
 flux start -s 1 \
-    -o,--setattr=statedir=${STATEDIR} \
+    --setattr=statedir=${STATEDIR} \
     ./t4852setup.sh
 
 flux start -s 1 \
-    -o,--setattr=statedir=${STATEDIR} \
+    --setattr=statedir=${STATEDIR} \
     ./t4852test.sh
diff --git a/t/issues/t5892-shutdown-no-epilog.sh b/t/issues/t5892-shutdown-no-epilog.sh
index 8863dced4ed5..4d718a58842d 100755
--- a/t/issues/t5892-shutdown-no-epilog.sh
+++ b/t/issues/t5892-shutdown-no-epilog.sh
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ plugins = [
 command = [ "touch", "t5892-epilog-flag" ]
 EOF
 
-flux start -o,--config-path=t5892.toml \
+flux start --config-path=t5892.toml \
 	flux submit sleep inf
 
 rc=0
diff --git a/t/python/subflux.py b/t/python/subflux.py
index 41a0926e5774..1a4641f9ec9f 100644
--- a/t/python/subflux.py
+++ b/t/python/subflux.py
@@ -60,10 +60,10 @@ def rerun_under_flux(size=1, personality="full"):
         for rc_num in [1, 3]:
             attr = "broker.rc{}_path".format(rc_num)
             if personality == "minimal":
-                command.append("-o,-S{}=".format(attr))
+                command.append("-S{}=".format(attr))
             else:
                 path = "{}/t/rc/rc{}-{}".format(srcdir, rc_num, personality)
-                command.append("-o,-S{}={}".format(attr, path))
+                command.append("-S{}={}".format(attr, path))
                 if not is_exe(path):
                     print("cannot execute {}".format(path), file=sys.stderr)
                     sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/t/sharness.d/flux-sharness.sh b/t/sharness.d/flux-sharness.sh
index a4753bc7e4f0..403d0aaed913 100644
--- a/t/sharness.d/flux-sharness.sh
+++ b/t/sharness.d/flux-sharness.sh
@@ -118,14 +118,14 @@ make_bootstrap_config() {
 	    path = "$workdir/R"
 	    noverify = true
 	EOT2
-    echo "--test-hosts=$fakehosts -o,-c$workdir/conf.d"
+    echo "--test-hosts=$fakehosts -c$workdir/conf.d"
     echo "--test-exit-mode=${TEST_UNDER_FLUX_EXIT_MODE:-leader}"
     echo "--test-exit-timeout=${TEST_UNDER_FLUX_EXIT_TIMEOUT:-0}"
-    echo "-o,-Sbroker.quorum=${TEST_UNDER_FLUX_QUORUM:-$size}"
+    echo "-Sbroker.quorum=${TEST_UNDER_FLUX_QUORUM:-$size}"
     echo "--test-start-mode=${TEST_UNDER_FLUX_START_MODE:-all}"
-    echo "-o,-Stbon.topo=${TEST_UNDER_FLUX_TOPO:-custom}"
-    echo "-o,-Stbon.zmqdebug=1"
-    echo "-o,-Sstatedir=$workdir/state"
+    echo "-Stbon.topo=${TEST_UNDER_FLUX_TOPO:-custom}"
+    echo "-Stbon.zmqdebug=1"
+    echo "-Sstatedir=$workdir/state"
 }
 
 #
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ test_under_flux() {
         # Set log_path for ASan o/w errors from broker may be lost
         ASAN_OPTIONS=${ASAN_OPTIONS}:log_path=${TEST_NAME}.asan
     fi
-    logopts="-o -Slog-filename=${log_file},-Slog-forward-level=7"
+    logopts="-o -Slog-filename=${log_file} -Slog-forward-level=7"
     TEST_UNDER_FLUX_ACTIVE=t \
     TERM=${ORIGINAL_TERM} \
     TEST_UNDER_FLUX_PERSONALITY="${personality:-default}" \
diff --git a/t/t0001-basic.t b/t/t0001-basic.t
index 709d39edae44..fe8aaab53cfa 100755
--- a/t/t0001-basic.t
+++ b/t/t0001-basic.t
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ test_expect_success 'flux fortune with art works' '
 
 # Minimal is sufficient for these tests, but test_under_flux unavailable
 # clear the RC paths
-ARGS="-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path="
+ARGS="-Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path="
 
 test_expect_success 'flux-start in exec mode works' "
 	flux start ${ARGS} flux getattr size | grep -x 1
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ test_expect_success 'and broker.boot-method=simple' "
 		flux getattr broker.boot-method) = "simple"
 "
 test_expect_success 'although method can be forced to single with attribute' "
-	test $(flux start ${ARGS} -s1 -o,-Sbroker.boot-method=single \
+	test $(flux start ${ARGS} -s1 -Sbroker.boot-method=single \
 		flux getattr broker.boot-method) = "single"
 "
 test_expect_success 'or forced by setting FLUX_PMI_CLIENT_METHODS' "
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ test_expect_success 'or forced by setting FLUX_PMI_CLIENT_METHODS' "
 		flux getattr broker.boot-method) = "single"
 "
 test_expect_success 'start fails when broker.boot-method=unknown' "
-	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Sbroker.boot-method=unknown \
+	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -Sbroker.boot-method=unknown \
 		/bin/true
 "
 test_expect_success 'flux-start in subprocess/pmi mode works (size 2)' "
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ test_expect_success 'flux-start works with multiple files in rc1.d' '
 	printf "echo rc-one\n" >rc1.d/one &&
 	printf "echo rc-two\n" >rc1.d/two &&
 	chmod +x rc1.d/* &&
-	FLUX_RC_EXTRA=$(pwd) flux start -o-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
+	FLUX_RC_EXTRA=$(pwd) flux start -Slog-stderr-level=6 \
 		echo rc-three >rc-multi.out 2>&1 &&
 	test_debug "cat rc-multi.out" &&
 	grep rc-one rc-multi.out &&
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ test_expect_success HWLOC_LS 'FLUX_HWLOC_XMLFILE works' '
 	norestrict = true
 	EOF
 	FLUX_HWLOC_XMLFILE=test.xml \
-		flux start -s2 -o,--conf=norestrict.conf \
+		flux start -s2 --conf=norestrict.conf \
 			flux resource info >rinfo.out &&
 	test_debug "cat rinfo.out" &&
 	grep "12 Cores" rinfo.out
@@ -427,6 +427,10 @@ test_expect_success 'flux-start -o,--setattr ATTR=VAL can set broker attributes'
 	ATTR_VAL=`flux start ${ARGS} -o,--setattr=foo-test=42 flux getattr foo-test` &&
 	test $ATTR_VAL -eq 42
 '
+test_expect_success 'flux-start --setattr ATTR=VAL can set broker attributes' '
+	ATTR_VAL=`flux start ${ARGS} --setattr=foo-test=42 flux getattr foo-test` &&
+	test $ATTR_VAL -eq 42
+'
 test_expect_success 'hostlist attr is set on size 1 instance' '
 	hn=$(hostname) &&
 	cat >hostlist1.exp <<-EOT &&
@@ -492,7 +496,7 @@ test_expect_success 'flux start --test-rundir with not-directory fails' '
 '
 test_expect_success 'rundir override works' '
 	RUNDIR=`mktemp -d` &&
-	DIR=`flux start ${ARGS} -o,--setattr=rundir=$RUNDIR flux getattr rundir` &&
+	DIR=`flux start ${ARGS} --setattr=rundir=$RUNDIR flux getattr rundir` &&
 	test "$DIR" = "$RUNDIR" &&
 	test -d $RUNDIR &&
 	rm -rf $RUNDIR
@@ -500,7 +504,7 @@ test_expect_success 'rundir override works' '
 test_expect_success 'rundir override creates nonexistent dirs and cleans up' '
 	RUNDIR=`mktemp -d` &&
 	rmdir $RUNDIR &&
-	flux start ${ARGS} -o,--setattr=rundir=$RUNDIR sh -c "test -d $RUNDIR" &&
+	flux start ${ARGS} --setattr=rundir=$RUNDIR sh -c "test -d $RUNDIR" &&
 	test_expect_code 1 test -d $RUNDIR
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker fails gracefully when rundir buffer overflows' '
@@ -514,25 +518,25 @@ test_expect_success 'broker fails gracefully on nonexistent TMPDIR' '
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker fails gracefully on non-directory rundir' '
 	touch notdir &&
-	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Srundir=notdir \
+	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -Srundir=notdir \
 		/bin/true 2>notdir.err &&
 	grep "Not a directory" notdir.err
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker fails gracefully on unwriteable rundir' '
 	mkdir -p privdir &&
 	chmod u-w privdir &&
-	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Srundir=privdir \
+	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -Srundir=privdir \
 		/bin/true 2>privdir.err &&
 	grep "permissions" privdir.err
 '
 # statedir created here is reused in the next several tests
 test_expect_success 'broker statedir is not cleaned up' '
 	mkdir -p statedir &&
-	flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd)/statedir /bin/true &&
+	flux start ${ARGS} -Sstatedir=$(pwd)/statedir /bin/true &&
 	test -d statedir
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker statedir cannot be changed at runtime' '
-	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd)/statedir \
+	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -Sstatedir=$(pwd)/statedir \
 		flux setattr statedir $(pwd)/statedir 2>rostatedir.err &&
 	grep "Operation not permitted" rostatedir.err
 '
@@ -543,7 +547,7 @@ test_expect_success 'broker statedir cannot be set at runtime' '
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker fails when statedir does not exist' '
 	rm -rf statedir &&
-	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd)/statedir \
+	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -Sstatedir=$(pwd)/statedir \
 		/bin/true 2>nostatedir.err &&
 	grep "cannot stat" nostatedir.err
 '
@@ -559,31 +563,31 @@ test_expect_success 'local-uri override works' '
 	newsock=local://$sockdir/meep &&
 	echo $newsock >uri.exp &&
 	flux start ${ARGS} \
-		-o,-Slocal-uri=$newsock \
+		-Slocal-uri=$newsock \
 		printenv FLUX_URI >uri.out &&
 	test_cmp uri.exp uri.out &&
 	rm -rf $sockdir
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker fails gracefully when local-uri is malformed' '
-	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Slocal-uri=baduri \
+	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -Slocal-uri=baduri \
 		/bin/true 2>baduri.err &&
 	grep malformed baduri.err
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker fails gracefully when local-uri buffer overflows' '
 	longuri="local://$(head -c 1024 < /dev/zero | tr \\0 D)" &&
-	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Slocal-uri=${longuri} \
+	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -Slocal-uri=${longuri} \
 		/bin/true 2>longuri.err &&
 	grep "buffer overflow" longuri.err
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker fails gracefully when local-uri in missing dir' '
-	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Slocal-uri=local:///noexist/x \
+	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -Slocal-uri=local:///noexist/x \
 		/bin/true 2>nodiruri.err &&
 	grep "cannot stat" nodiruri.err
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker fails gracefully when local-uri in non-dir' '
 	touch urinotdir &&
 	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} \
-		-o,-Slocal-uri=local://$(pwd)/urinotdir/x \
+		-Slocal-uri=local://$(pwd)/urinotdir/x \
 		/bin/true 2>urinotdir.err &&
 	grep "Not a directory" urinotdir.err
 '
@@ -591,18 +595,18 @@ test_expect_success 'broker fails gracefully when local-uri in unwritable dir' '
 	mkdir -p privdir &&
 	chmod u-w privdir &&
 	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} \
-		-o,-Slocal-uri=local://$(pwd)/privdir/x \
+		-Slocal-uri=local://$(pwd)/privdir/x \
 		/bin/true 2>uriprivdir.err &&
 	grep "permissions" uriprivdir.err
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker broker.pid attribute is immutable' '
-	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -o,--setattr=broker.pid=1234 flux getattr broker.pid
+	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} --setattr=broker.pid=1234 flux getattr broker.pid
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker --verbose option works' '
 	flux start ${ARGS} -o,-v /bin/true
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker fails on invalid broker.critical-ranks option' '
-	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Sbroker.critical-ranks=0-1
+	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -Sbroker.critical-ranks=0-1
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker fails on unknown option' '
 	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -o,--not-an-option /bin/true
@@ -728,7 +732,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setting rundir to a long directory fails (#3925)' '
 	longdir=rundir-01234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789 &&
 	mkdir -p $longdir &&
 	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} \
-		-o,-Srundir=$longdir \
+		-Srundir=$longdir \
 		/bin/true 2>longrun.err &&
 	grep "exceeds max" longrun.err
 '
@@ -737,7 +741,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setting local-uri to a long path fails (#3925)' '
 	longdir=rundir-01234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789 &&
 	mkdir -p $longdir &&
 	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} \
-		-o,-Slocal-uri=local://$longdir/local-0 \
+		-Slocal-uri=local://$longdir/local-0 \
 		/bin/true 2>longuri.err &&
 	grep "exceeds max" longuri.err
 '
diff --git a/t/t0003-module.t b/t/t0003-module.t
index 02d837430ceb..e36c1a84b109 100755
--- a/t/t0003-module.t
+++ b/t/t0003-module.t
@@ -286,7 +286,8 @@ test_expect_success 'module: remove testmod if loaded' '
 '
 test_expect_success 'module: load without unload causes broker failure' '
 	test_must_fail flux start \
-	    -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+	    -Sbroker.rc1_path= \
+	    -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 	    flux module load content 2>nounload.err
 '
 test_expect_success 'module: module name is called out' '
diff --git a/t/t0012-content-sqlite.t b/t/t0012-content-sqlite.t
index 88d507d1192c..1d0f0e4693ad 100755
--- a/t/t0012-content-sqlite.t
+++ b/t/t0012-content-sqlite.t
@@ -333,36 +333,36 @@ test_expect_success 'reload module with no options and verify modes' '
 
 
 test_expect_success 'run flux without statedir and verify modes' '
-	flux start -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=$rc1_kvs,-Sbroker.rc3_path=$rc3_kvs \
+	flux start -Sbroker.rc1_path=$rc1_kvs -Sbroker.rc3_path=$rc3_kvs \
 	    flux dmesg >logs3 &&
 	grep "journal_mode=OFF synchronous=OFF" logs3
 '
 test_expect_success 'run flux with statedir and verify modes' '
-	flux start -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=$rc1_kvs,-Sbroker.rc3_path=$rc3_kvs \
-	    -o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd) flux dmesg >logs4  &&
+	flux start -Sbroker.rc1_path=$rc1_kvs -Sbroker.rc3_path=$rc3_kvs \
+	    -Sstatedir=$(pwd) flux dmesg >logs4  &&
 	grep "journal_mode=WAL synchronous=NORMAL" logs4
 '
 test_expect_success 'run flux without statedir and verify config' '
-	flux start -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=$rc1_kvs,-Sbroker.rc3_path=$rc3_kvs \
+	flux start -Sbroker.rc1_path=$rc1_kvs -Sbroker.rc3_path=$rc3_kvs \
 	    flux module stats content-sqlite >stats1 &&
 	$jq -e ".config.journal_mode == \"OFF\"" < stats1 &&
 	$jq -e ".config.synchronous == \"OFF\"" < stats1
 '
 test_expect_success 'run flux with statedir and verify config' '
-	flux start -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=$rc1_kvs,-Sbroker.rc3_path=$rc3_kvs \
-	    -o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd) flux module stats content-sqlite >stats2  &&
+	flux start -Sbroker.rc1_path=$rc1_kvs -Sbroker.rc3_path=$rc3_kvs \
+	    -Sstatedir=$(pwd) flux module stats content-sqlite >stats2  &&
 	$jq -e ".config.journal_mode == \"WAL\"" < stats2 &&
 	$jq -e ".config.synchronous == \"NORMAL\"" < stats2
 '
 test_expect_success 'flux fails with invalid journal_mode config' '
-	flux start -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+	flux start -Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 	    "flux module load content; \
 	    flux module load content-sqlite journal_mode=FOO; \
 	    flux module remove content" > invalid1.out 2> invalid1.err &&
 	grep "content-sqlite: Invalid argument" invalid1.err
 '
 test_expect_success 'flux fails with invalid synchronous config' '
-	flux start -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+	flux start -Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 	    "flux module load content; \
 	    flux module load content-sqlite synchronous=BAR; \
 	    flux module remove content" > invalid2.out 2> invalid2.err &&
@@ -374,8 +374,8 @@ test_expect_success 'test config via config file works' '
 	journal_mode = "PERSIST"
 	synchronous = "EXTRA"
 	EOT
-	flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd) \
-	   -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=$rc1_kvs,-Sbroker.rc3_path=$rc3_kvs \
+	flux start --config-path=$(pwd) \
+	   -Sbroker.rc1_path=$rc1_kvs -Sbroker.rc3_path=$rc3_kvs \
 	   flux module stats content-sqlite > configstats.out &&
 	$jq -e ".config.journal_mode == \"PERSIST\"" < configstats.out &&
 	$jq -e ".config.synchronous == \"EXTRA\"" < configstats.out &&
@@ -387,8 +387,8 @@ test_expect_success 'invalid config fails (journal_mode)' '
 	journal_mode = "FOO"
 	synchronous = "EXTRA"
 	EOT
-	test_must_fail flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd) \
-	   -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=$rc1_kvs,-Sbroker.rc3_path=$rc3_kvs \
+	test_must_fail flux start --config-path=$(pwd) \
+	   -Sbroker.rc1_path=$rc1_kvs -Sbroker.rc3_path=$rc3_kvs \
 	   flux module stats content-sqlite &&
 	rm content-sqlite.toml
 '
@@ -398,8 +398,8 @@ test_expect_success 'invalid config fails (synchronous)' '
 	journal_mode = "PERSIST"
 	synchronous = "BAR"
 	EOT
-	test_must_fail flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd) \
-	   -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=$rc1_kvs,-Sbroker.rc3_path=$rc3_kvs \
+	test_must_fail flux start --config-path=$(pwd) \
+	   -Sbroker.rc1_path=$rc1_kvs -Sbroker.rc3_path=$rc3_kvs \
 	   flux module stats content-sqlite &&
 	rm content-sqlite.toml
 '
@@ -408,8 +408,8 @@ test_expect_success 'invalid config fails (synchronous)' '
 # Will create in WAL mode since statedir is set
 recreate_database()
 {
-	flux start -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
-	    -o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd) bash -c \
+	flux start -Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+	    -Sstatedir=$(pwd) bash -c \
 	    "flux module load content &&
 	    flux module load content-sqlite truncate && \
 	    flux module remove content-sqlite && \
@@ -417,8 +417,8 @@ recreate_database()
 }
 load_module_xfail()
 {
-	flux start -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
-	    -o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd) bash -c \
+	flux start -Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+	    -Sstatedir=$(pwd) bash -c \
 	    "flux module load content; \
 	    flux module load content-sqlite; \
 	    rc=\$?; \
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ test_expect_success 'module load fails with corrupt database' '
 	test_must_fail load_module_xfail
 '
 test_expect_success 'full instance start fails corrupt database' '
-	test_must_fail flux start -o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd) /bin/true
+	test_must_fail flux start -Sstatedir=$(pwd) /bin/true
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'flux module stats content-sqlite is open to guests' '
diff --git a/t/t0013-config-file.t b/t/t0013-config-file.t
index 382157ffc442..17102f805938 100755
--- a/t/t0013-config-file.t
+++ b/t/t0013-config-file.t
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ test_expect_success '[bootstrap] config with with unknown parent' '
 	]
 	EOT
 	test_must_fail flux start --test-size=1 --test-hosts=fake0 \
-	    -o,-c conf4d /bin/true
+	    -c conf4d /bin/true
 '
 
 test_expect_success '[bootstrap] config with with impossible parent' '
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ test_expect_success '[bootstrap] config with with impossible parent' '
 	]
 	EOT
 	test_must_fail flux start --test-size=1 --test-hosts=fake0 \
-	    -o,-c conf4e /bin/true
+	    -c conf4e /bin/true
 '
 
 test_expect_success '[bootstrap] config with hostname not found' '
@@ -226,8 +226,8 @@ test_expect_success 'start size=2 instance with ipc://' '
 	host = "fake1"
 	EOT
 	flux start -s2 --test-hosts=fake[0-1] \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
-		-o,--config-path=conf8 \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+		--config-path=conf8 \
 		./attrdump.sh >ipc.out &&
 	cat <<-EXP >ipc.exp &&
 	2
@@ -256,8 +256,8 @@ test_expect_success 'start size=3 instance with ipc:// and custom topology' '
 	parent = "fake1"
 	EOT
 	flux start --test-size=3 --test-hosts=fake[0-2] \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
-		-o,--config-path=conf8a \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+		--config-path=conf8a \
 		flux getattr tbon.maxlevel >conf8a.out &&
 	echo 2 >conf8a.exp &&
 	test_cmp conf8a.exp conf8a.out
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ test_expect_success NO_CHAIN_LINT 'a warning is printed when upstream URI has un
 	host = "fake1"
 	EOT
 	FLUX_FAKE_HOSTNAME=fake1 \
-		flux broker -vv -Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+		flux broker -vv -Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 		--config-path=conf8b 2>warn.err &
 	echo $! >warn.pid &&
 	waitgrep "unable to resolve upstream peer" warn.err 30
@@ -324,8 +324,8 @@ test_expect_success 'start size=4 instance with tcp://' '
 	host = "fake[2-3]"
 	EOT
 	flux start -s4 --test-hosts=fake[0-3] \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
-		-o,--config-path=conf9 \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+		--config-path=conf9 \
 		./attrdump.sh >tcp.out &&
 	cat <<-EXP >tcp.exp &&
 	4
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ test_expect_success 'tbon.zmq_io_threads config only applies to rank 0' '
 	0: 4
 	1: 1
 	EOT2
-	flux start -s2 -o,--config-path=zmq_io_threads.toml \
+	flux start -s2 --config-path=zmq_io_threads.toml \
 		flux exec --label-io flux getattr tbon.zmq_io_threads \
 		| sort >t4.out &&
 	test_cmp t4.exp t4.out
@@ -530,8 +530,8 @@ test_expect_success 'tbon.zmq_io_threads broker attr overrides' '
 	1: 1
 	EOT2
 	flux start -s2 \
-		-o,--config-path=zmq_io_threads.toml \
-		-o,-Stbon.zmq_io_threads=2 \
+		--config-path=zmq_io_threads.toml \
+		-Stbon.zmq_io_threads=2 \
 		flux exec --label-io flux getattr tbon.zmq_io_threads \
 		| sort >t2.out &&
 	test_cmp t2.exp t2.out
diff --git a/t/t0014-runlevel.t b/t/t0014-runlevel.t
index 193cff972c4e..e3b3ac369fb2 100755
--- a/t/t0014-runlevel.t
+++ b/t/t0014-runlevel.t
@@ -9,15 +9,15 @@ test -n "$FLUX_TESTS_LOGFILE" && set -- "$@" --logfile --debug
 . `dirname $0`/sharness.sh
 
 test_expect_success 'initial program is run when rc1/rc3 are nullified' '
-	flux start -o,-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+	flux start -Slog-stderr-level=6 \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 		/bin/true 2>normal.log
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rc1 failure causes instance failure' '
 	test_expect_code 1 flux start \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=/bin/false,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
-		-o,-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path=/bin/false -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+		-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
 		sleep 3600 2>rc1_failure.log
 '
 
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ test_expect_success 'rc1 bad path handled same as failure' '
 	(
 	  SHELL=/bin/sh &&
 	  test_expect_code 127 flux start \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=rc1-nonexist,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
-		-o,-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path=rc1-nonexist -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+		-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
 		/bin/true 2>bad1.log
 	)
 '
@@ -34,79 +34,79 @@ test_expect_success 'rc1 bad path handled same as failure' '
 test_expect_success 'default initial program is $SHELL' '
 	run_timeout --env=SHELL=/bin/sh 60 \
 		flux $SHARNESS_TEST_SRCDIR/scripts/runpty.py -i none \
-		flux start -o,-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+		flux start -Slog-stderr-level=6 \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 		>shell.log &&
 	grep "rc2.0: /bin/sh Exited" shell.log
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rc2 failure if stdin not a tty' '
 	test_expect_code 1 \
-		flux start -o,-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+		flux start -Slog-stderr-level=6 \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
                 2>shell-notty.log &&
 	grep "not a tty" shell-notty.log
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rc3 failure causes instance failure' '
 	test_expect_code 1 flux start \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc3_path=/bin/false \
-		-o,-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
+		-Sbroker.rc3_path=/bin/false \
+		-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
 		/bin/true 2>rc3_failure.log
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'broker.rc2_none terminates by signal without error' '
 	for timeout in 0.5 1 2 4; do
 	    run_timeout -s ALRM $timeout flux start \
-		-o,-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path=,-Sbroker.rc2_none &&
+		-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= -Sbroker.rc2_none &&
 	    break
 	done
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'flux admin cleanup-push /bin/true works' '
-	flux start -o,-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+	flux start -Slog-stderr-level=6 \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 		flux admin cleanup-push /bin/true
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'flux admin cleanup-push /bin/false causes instance failure' '
-	test_expect_code 1 flux start -o,-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+	test_expect_code 1 flux start -Slog-stderr-level=6 \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 		flux admin cleanup-push /bin/false
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'cleanup does not run if rc1 fails' '
-	test_expect_code 1 flux start -o,-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=/bin/false,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+	test_expect_code 1 flux start -Slog-stderr-level=6 \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path=/bin/false -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 		flux admin cleanup-push memorable-string 2>nocleanup.err && \
 	test_must_fail grep memorable-string nocleanup.err
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'flux admin cleanup-push (empty) fails' '
 	test_expect_code 1 flux start \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 		flux admin cleanup-push "" 2>push.err &&
 	grep "cannot push an empty command line" push.err
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'flux admin cleanup-push with no commands fails' '
 	test_expect_code 1 flux start \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 		flux admin cleanup-push </dev/null 2>push2.err &&
 	grep "commands array is empty" push2.err
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'flux admin cleanup-push (stdin) works' '
-	echo /bin/true | flux start -o,-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+	echo /bin/true | flux start -Slog-stderr-level=6 \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 		flux admin cleanup-push 2>push-stdin.err &&
 	grep cleanup.0 push-stdin.err
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'flux admin cleanup-push (stdin) retains cmd block order' '
-	flux start -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
-		-o,-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
+	flux start -Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+		-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
 		flux admin cleanup-push <<-EOT 2>hello.err &&
 	echo Hello world
 	echo Hello solar system
@@ -117,9 +117,9 @@ test_expect_success 'flux admin cleanup-push (stdin) retains cmd block order' '
 
 test_expect_success 'capture the environment for all three rc scripts' '
 	SLURM_FOO=42 flux start \
-		-o,-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path="bash -c printenv >rc1.env" \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc3_path="bash -c printenv >rc3.env" \
+		-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path="bash -c printenv >rc1.env" \
+		-Sbroker.rc3_path="bash -c printenv >rc3.env" \
 		"bash -c printenv >rc2.env"
 '
 
@@ -163,9 +163,9 @@ test_expect_success 'job environment is not set in rc scripts' '
 
 test_expect_success 'capture the environment for instance run as a job' '
 	flux start flux run flux start \
-		-o,-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path="bash -c printenv >rc1.env2" \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc3_path="bash -c printenv >rc3.env2" \
+		-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path="bash -c printenv >rc1.env2" \
+		-Sbroker.rc3_path="bash -c printenv >rc3.env2" \
 		"bash -c printenv >rc2.env2"
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t0018-content-files.t b/t/t0018-content-files.t
index 018e7110de5c..b0004d4cf18a 100755
--- a/t/t0018-content-files.t
+++ b/t/t0018-content-files.t
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ test_description='Test content-files backing store service'
 
 . `dirname $0`/sharness.sh
 
-test_under_flux 1 minimal -o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd)
+test_under_flux 1 minimal -Sstatedir=$(pwd)
 
 BLOBREF=${FLUX_BUILD_DIR}/t/kvs/blobref
 RPC=${FLUX_BUILD_DIR}/t/request/rpc
diff --git a/t/t0019-tbon-config.t b/t/t0019-tbon-config.t
index 96a3ee053fcc..599223bfa9c8 100755
--- a/t/t0019-tbon-config.t
+++ b/t/t0019-tbon-config.t
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@ test_description='Test the brokers tbon.* configuration'
 test -n "$FLUX_TESTS_LOGFILE" && set -- "$@" --logfile
 . `dirname $0`/sharness.sh
 
-ARGS="-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path="
+ARGS="-Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path="
 
 test_expect_success 'flux-start with size 2 works with tbon.zmqdebug' '
-	flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Stbon.zmqdebug=1 -s2 /bin/true
+	flux start ${ARGS} -Stbon.zmqdebug=1 -s2 /bin/true
 '
 test_expect_success 'flux-start with non-integer tbon.zmqdebug fails' '
-	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Stbon.zmqdebug=foo /bin/true
+	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -Stbon.zmqdebug=foo /bin/true
 '
 test_expect_success 'tbon.endpoint can be read' '
 	ATTR_VAL=`flux start ${ARGS} -s2 flux getattr tbon.endpoint` &&
@@ -30,25 +30,25 @@ test_expect_success 'tbon.endpoint uses tcp:// if process mapping unavailable' '
 	grep "^tcp" endpoint2.out
 '
 test_expect_success 'tbon.endpoint uses tcp:// if tbon.prefertcp is set' '
-	flux start ${ARGS} -s2 -o,-Stbon.prefertcp=1 \
+	flux start ${ARGS} -s2 -Stbon.prefertcp=1 \
 		flux getattr tbon.endpoint >endpoint2.out &&
 	grep "^tcp" endpoint2.out
 '
 test_expect_success 'FLUX_IPADDR_INTERFACE=lo works' '
 	FLUX_IPADDR_INTERFACE=lo flux start \
-		${ARGS} -s2 -o,-Stbon.prefertcp=1 \
+		${ARGS} -s2 -Stbon.prefertcp=1 \
 		flux getattr tbon.endpoint >endpoint3.out &&
 	grep "127.0.0.1" endpoint3.out
 '
 test_expect_success 'tbon.interface-hint=lo works' '
-	flux start -o,-Stbon.interface-hint=lo \
-		${ARGS} -s2 -o,-Stbon.prefertcp=1 \
+	flux start -Stbon.interface-hint=lo \
+		${ARGS} -s2 -Stbon.prefertcp=1 \
 		flux getattr tbon.endpoint >endpoint3a.out &&
 	grep "127.0.0.1" endpoint3a.out
 '
 test_expect_success 'tbon.interface-hint=127.0.0.0/8 works' '
-	flux start -o,-Stbon.interface-hint=127.0.0.0/8 \
-		${ARGS} -s2 -o,-Stbon.prefertcp=1 \
+	flux start -Stbon.interface-hint=127.0.0.0/8 \
+		${ARGS} -s2 -Stbon.prefertcp=1 \
 		flux getattr tbon.endpoint >endpoint3b.out &&
 	grep "127.0.0.1" endpoint3b.out
 '
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ test_expect_success 'TOML tbon.interface-hint=127.0.0.0/8 works' '
 	cat >hint.toml <<-EOT &&
 	tbon.interface-hint = "127.0.0.0/8"
 	EOT
-	flux start -o,--config-path=hint.toml \
-		${ARGS} -s2 -o,-Stbon.prefertcp=1 \
+	flux start --config-path=hint.toml \
+		${ARGS} -s2 -Stbon.prefertcp=1 \
 		flux getattr tbon.endpoint >endpoint3c.out &&
 	grep "127.0.0.1" endpoint3c.out
 '
@@ -65,19 +65,19 @@ test_expect_success 'TOML tbon.interface-hint=wrong type fails' '
 	cat >badhint.toml <<-EOT &&
 	tbon.interface-hint = 42
 	EOT
-	test_must_fail flux start -o,--config-path=badhint.toml ${ARGS} true
+	test_must_fail flux start --config-path=badhint.toml ${ARGS} true
 '
 test_expect_success 'tbon.interface-hint=badiface fails' '
 	test_must_fail_or_be_terminated flux start \
-		-o,-Stbon.interface-hint=badiface \
-		${ARGS} -s2 -o,-Stbon.prefertcp=1 true
+		-Stbon.interface-hint=badiface \
+		${ARGS} -s2 -Stbon.prefertcp=1 true
 '
 test_expect_success 'tbon.interface-hint=default-route works' '
-	flux start -o,-Stbon.interface-hint=default-route,-Stbon.prefertcp=1 \
+	flux start -Stbon.interface-hint=default-route -Stbon.prefertcp=1 \
 		${ARGS} -s2 true
 '
 test_expect_success 'tbon.interface-hint=hostname works' '
-	flux start -o,-Stbon.interface-hint=hostname,-Stbon.prefertcp=1 \
+	flux start -Stbon.interface-hint=hostname -Stbon.prefertcp=1 \
 		${ARGS} -s2 true
 '
 test_expect_success 'tbon.interface-hint defaults to default-router' '
@@ -85,19 +85,19 @@ test_expect_success 'tbon.interface-hint defaults to default-router' '
 	grep default-route defhint.out
 '
 test_expect_success 'tbon.interface-hint default comes from parent' '
-	flux start -o,-Stbon.interface-hint=hostname \
+	flux start -Stbon.interface-hint=hostname \
 	    flux alloc -N1 flux getattr tbon.interface-hint >childhint.out &&
 	grep hostname childhint.out
 '
 test_expect_success 'tbon.interface-hint from parent can be overridden' '
-	flux start -o,-Stbon.interface-hint=hostname \
+	flux start -Stbon.interface-hint=hostname \
 	    flux alloc -N1 --broker-opts=-Stbon.interface-hint=default-router \
 	    flux getattr tbon.interface-hint >childhint2.out &&
 	grep default-router childhint2.out
 '
 test_expect_success 'tbon.endpoint cannot be set' '
 	test_must_fail_or_be_terminated flux start ${ARGS} -s2 \
-		-o,--setattr=tbon.endpoint=ipc:///tmp/customflux /bin/true
+		--setattr=tbon.endpoint=ipc:///tmp/customflux /bin/true
 '
 test_expect_success 'tbon.parent-endpoint cannot be read on rank 0' '
 	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -s2 flux getattr tbon.parent-endpoint
@@ -108,28 +108,28 @@ test_expect_success 'tbon.parent-endpoint can be read on not rank 0' '
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker -Stbon.fanout=4 is an alias for tbon.topo=kary:4' '
 	echo kary:4 >fanout.exp &&
-	flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Stbon.fanout=4 \
+	flux start ${ARGS} -Stbon.fanout=4 \
 		flux getattr tbon.topo >fanout.out &&
 	test_cmp fanout.exp fanout.out
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker -Stbon.topo=kary:8 option works' '
 	echo kary:8 >topo.exp &&
-	flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Stbon.topo=kary:8 \
+	flux start ${ARGS} -Stbon.topo=kary:8 \
 		flux getattr tbon.topo >topo.out &&
 	test_cmp topo.exp topo.out
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker -Stbon.topo=kary:0 works' '
-	flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Stbon.topo=kary:0 /bin/true
+	flux start ${ARGS} -Stbon.topo=kary:0 /bin/true
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker -Stbon.topo=custom option works' '
 	echo custom >topo2.exp &&
-	flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Stbon.topo=custom \
+	flux start ${ARGS} -Stbon.topo=custom \
 		flux getattr tbon.topo >topo2.out &&
 	test_cmp topo2.exp topo2.out
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker -Stbon.topo=binomial option works' '
 	echo binomial >topo_binomial.exp &&
-	flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Stbon.topo=binomial \
+	flux start ${ARGS} -Stbon.topo=binomial \
 		flux getattr tbon.topo >topo_binomial.out &&
 	test_cmp topo_binomial.exp topo_binomial.out
 '
diff --git a/t/t0024-content-s3.t b/t/t0024-content-s3.t
index 6d85ce0950b4..a6d58cc733fa 100755
--- a/t/t0024-content-s3.t
+++ b/t/t0024-content-s3.t
@@ -347,14 +347,14 @@ EOF
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'run instance with content-s3 module loaded' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=broker.rc1_path=$(pwd)/rc1-content-s3 \
-                   -o,--setattr=broker.rc3_path=$(pwd)/rc3-content-s3 \
+	flux start --setattr=broker.rc1_path=$(pwd)/rc1-content-s3 \
+                   --setattr=broker.rc3_path=$(pwd)/rc3-content-s3 \
 	           flux kvs put testkey=43
 '
 
 test_expect_success 're-run instance with content-s3 module loaded' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=broker.rc1_path=$(pwd)/rc1-content-s3 \
-                   -o,--setattr=broker.rc3_path=$(pwd)/rc3-content-s3 \
+	flux start --setattr=broker.rc1_path=$(pwd)/rc1-content-s3 \
+                   --setattr=broker.rc3_path=$(pwd)/rc3-content-s3 \
 	           flux kvs get testkey >gets3.out
 '
 
@@ -364,8 +364,8 @@ test_expect_success 'content from previous instance survived (s3)' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 're-run instance, verify checkpoint date saved (s3)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=broker.rc1_path=$(pwd)/rc1-content-s3 \
-                   -o,--setattr=broker.rc3_path=$(pwd)/rc3-content-s3 \
+	flux start --setattr=broker.rc1_path=$(pwd)/rc1-content-s3 \
+                   --setattr=broker.rc3_path=$(pwd)/rc3-content-s3 \
 	           flux dmesg >dmesgs3.out
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t0025-broker-state-machine.t b/t/t0025-broker-state-machine.t
index bdec1e00adf1..d551d7c3bbe9 100755
--- a/t/t0025-broker-state-machine.t
+++ b/t/t0025-broker-state-machine.t
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ test -n "$FLUX_TESTS_LOGFILE" && set -- "$@" --logfile
 
 RPC=${FLUX_BUILD_DIR}/t/request/rpc
 SRPC=${FLUX_BUILD_DIR}/t/request/rpc_stream
-ARGS="-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path="
+ARGS="-Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path="
 GROUPSCMD="flux python ${SHARNESS_TEST_SRCDIR}/scripts/groups.py"
 
 test_expect_success 'quorum reached on instance with 1 TBON level' '
@@ -31,28 +31,28 @@ test_expect_success 'quorum reached on instance with 3 TBON levels' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'broker.quorum can be set on the command line' '
-	flux start -s3 ${ARGS} -o,-Sbroker.quorum=3 \
+	flux start -s3 ${ARGS} -Sbroker.quorum=3 \
 		${GROUPSCMD} get broker.online >full1_explicit.out &&
 	test_cmp full1.exp full1_explicit.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'broker fails with malformed broker.quorum' '
 	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} \
-		-o,-Sbroker.quorum=9-10 /bin/true 2>qmalformed.err &&
+		-Sbroker.quorum=9-10 /bin/true 2>qmalformed.err &&
 	grep "Error parsing broker.quorum attribute" qmalformed.err
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'broker fails with broker.quorum that exceeds size' '
 	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} \
-		-o,-Sbroker.quorum=99 /bin/true 2>qtoobig.err &&
+		-Sbroker.quorum=99 /bin/true 2>qtoobig.err &&
 	grep "Error parsing broker.quorum attribute" qtoobig.err
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker.quorum can be 0 for compatibility' '
-	flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Sbroker.quorum=0 /bin/true 2>compat1.err &&
+	flux start ${ARGS} -Sbroker.quorum=0 /bin/true 2>compat1.err &&
 	grep assuming compat1.err
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker.quorum can be 0-1 (size=2) for compatibility' '
-	flux start -s2 ${ARGS} -o,-Sbroker.quorum=0-1 /bin/true 2>compat2.err &&
+	flux start -s2 ${ARGS} -Sbroker.quorum=0-1 /bin/true 2>compat2.err &&
 	grep assuming compat2.err
 '
 test_expect_success 'create rc1 that blocks on FIFO for rank != 0' '
@@ -81,10 +81,10 @@ test_expect_success 'instance functions with late-joiner' '
 	mkfifo fifo &&
 	run_timeout 60 \
 		flux start -s2 \
-		-o,-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path="$(pwd)/rc1_block" \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
-		-o,-Sbroker.quorum=1 \
+		-Slog-stderr-level=6 \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path="$(pwd)/rc1_block" \
+		-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+		-Sbroker.quorum=1 \
 		$(pwd)/rc2_unblock >late.out &&
 	test_cmp late.exp late.out
 '
@@ -114,8 +114,8 @@ test_expect_success 'create rc script that prints current state' '
 test_expect_success 'monitor reports INIT(2) in rc1' '
 	echo 2 >rc1.exp &&
 	flux start \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=$(pwd)/rc_getstate \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path=$(pwd)/rc_getstate \
+		-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 		/bin/true &&
 	test_cmp rc1.exp rc.out
 '
@@ -123,8 +123,8 @@ test_expect_success 'monitor reports INIT(2) in rc1' '
 test_expect_success 'monitor reports RUN(4) in rc2' '
 	echo 4 >rc2.exp &&
 	flux start \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path= \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path= \
+		-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 		$(pwd)/rc_getstate &&
 	test_cmp rc2.exp rc.out
 '
@@ -132,8 +132,8 @@ test_expect_success 'monitor reports RUN(4) in rc2' '
 test_expect_success 'monitor reports CLEANUP(5) in cleanup script' '
 	echo 5 >cleanup.exp &&
 	flux start \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path= \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path= \
+		-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 		bash -c "echo $(pwd)/rc_getstate | flux admin cleanup-push" &&
 	test_cmp cleanup.exp rc.out
 '
@@ -141,14 +141,14 @@ test_expect_success 'monitor reports CLEANUP(5) in cleanup script' '
 test_expect_success 'monitor reports FINALIZE(7) in rc3' '
 	echo 7 >rc3.exp &&
 	flux start \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path= \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc3_path=$(pwd)/rc_getstate \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path= \
+		-Sbroker.rc3_path=$(pwd)/rc_getstate \
 		/bin/true &&
 	test_cmp rc3.exp rc.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'capture state transitions from size=1 instance' '
-	flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Slog-filename=states.log /bin/true
+	flux start ${ARGS} -Slog-filename=states.log /bin/true
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'all expected events and state transitions occurred' '
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ test_expect_success 'all expected events and state transitions occurred' '
 
 test_expect_success 'capture state transitions from size=2 instance' '
 	flux start ${ARGS} --test-size=2 \
-		-o,-Slog-stderr-level=6,-Slog-stderr-mode=local \
+		-Slog-stderr-level=6 -Slog-stderr-mode=local \
 		/bin/true 2>states2.log
 '
 
@@ -195,9 +195,9 @@ test_expect_success 'all expected events and state transitions occurred on rank
 
 test_expect_success 'capture state transitions from instance with rc1 failure' '
 	test_expect_code 1 flux start \
-	    -o,-Slog-filename=states_rc1.log \
-	    -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=/bin/false \
-	    -o,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+	    -Slog-filename=states_rc1.log \
+	    -Sbroker.rc1_path=/bin/false \
+	    -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 	    /bin/true
 '
 
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ test_expect_success 'all expected events and state transitions occurred' '
 
 test_expect_success 'capture state transitions from instance with rc2 failure' '
 	test_expect_code 1 flux start \
-	    -o,-Slog-filename=states_rc2.log \
+	    -Slog-filename=states_rc2.log \
 	    ${ARGS} \
 	    /bin/false
 '
@@ -231,9 +231,9 @@ test_expect_success 'all expected events and state transitions occurred' '
 
 test_expect_success 'capture state transitions from instance with rc3 failure' '
 	test_expect_code 1 flux start \
-	    -o,-Slog-filename=states_rc3.log \
-	    -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path= \
-	    -o,-Sbroker.rc3_path=/bin/false \
+	    -Slog-filename=states_rc3.log \
+	    -Sbroker.rc1_path= \
+	    -Sbroker.rc3_path=/bin/false \
 	    /bin/true
 '
 
@@ -251,21 +251,21 @@ test_expect_success 'all expected events and state transitions occurred' '
 
 test_expect_success 'instance rc1 failure exits with norestart code' '
 	test_expect_code 99 flux start \
-	    -o,-Sbroker.exit-norestart=99 \
-	    -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=/bin/false \
-	    -o,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+	    -Sbroker.exit-norestart=99 \
+	    -Sbroker.rc1_path=/bin/false \
+	    -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 	    /bin/true
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'broker.quorum-timeout=none is accepted' '
-	flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Sbroker.quorum-timeout=none /bin/true
+	flux start ${ARGS} -Sbroker.quorum-timeout=none /bin/true
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'broker.quorum-timeout=3h is accepted' '
-	flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Sbroker.quorum-timeout=3h /bin/true
+	flux start ${ARGS} -Sbroker.quorum-timeout=3h /bin/true
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker.quorum-timeout=x fails' '
-	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -o,-Sbroker.quorum-timeout=x /bin/true
+	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} -Sbroker.quorum-timeout=x /bin/true
 '
 test_expect_success 'create rc1 that sleeps for 2s on rank != 0' '
 	cat <<-EOT >rc1_sleep &&
@@ -277,9 +277,9 @@ test_expect_success 'create rc1 that sleeps for 2s on rank != 0' '
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker.quorum-timeout works' '
 	flux start -s2 ${ARGS} \
-		-o,-Slog-filename=timeout.log \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path="$(pwd)/rc1_sleep" \
-		-o,-Sbroker.quorum-timeout=1s /bin/true
+		-Slog-filename=timeout.log \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path="$(pwd)/rc1_sleep" \
+		-Sbroker.quorum-timeout=1s /bin/true
 '
 test_expect_success 'logs contain quorum delayed/reached messages' '
 	grep "quorum delayed" timeout.log &&
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ test_expect_success 'broker.cleanup-timeout default is none' '
 
 test_expect_success 'broker.cleanup-timeout=3h is accepted' '
 	flux start ${ARGS} \
-		-o,-Sbroker.cleanup-timeout=3h \
+		-Sbroker.cleanup-timeout=3h \
 		flux getattr broker.cleanup-timeout >cto2.out &&
 	cat >cto2.exp <<-EOT &&
 	3h
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ test_expect_success 'broker.cleanup-timeout=3h is accepted' '
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker.cleanup-timeout=x fails' '
 	test_must_fail flux start ${ARGS} \
-		-o,-Sbroker.cleanup-timeout=x true
+		-Sbroker.cleanup-timeout=x true
 '
 test_expect_success 'create rc1 that hangs in cleanup' '
 	cat <<-EOT >rc1_cleanup &&
@@ -328,9 +328,9 @@ test_expect_success 'create initial program that SIGTERMs broker' '
 '
 test_expect_success 'cleanup gets SIGHUP after broker.cleanup-timeout expires' '
 	test_expect_code 129 flux start -s2 ${ARGS} \
-		-o,-Slog-filename=cleanup.log \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path="$(pwd)/rc1_cleanup" \
-		-o,-Sbroker.cleanup-timeout=1s \
+		-Slog-filename=cleanup.log \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path="$(pwd)/rc1_cleanup" \
+		-Sbroker.cleanup-timeout=1s \
 		./killbroker 15 60
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t0028-content-backing-none.t b/t/t0028-content-backing-none.t
index abc72df1b079..bb74967a9d39 100755
--- a/t/t0028-content-backing-none.t
+++ b/t/t0028-content-backing-none.t
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ test_expect_success 'unload kvs' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'content.backing-module input of none works' '
-        flux start -o,-Scontent.backing-module=none /bin/true
+        flux start -Scontent.backing-module=none /bin/true
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'removedcontent module' '
diff --git a/t/t0090-content-enospc.t b/t/t0090-content-enospc.t
index 5c96b681056d..fa2cfd8b8be6 100755
--- a/t/t0090-content-enospc.t
+++ b/t/t0090-content-enospc.t
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ test_expect_success 'flux still operates with content-sqlite running out of spac
 	rm -rf /test/tmpfs-1m/* &&
 	mkdir /test/tmpfs-1m/statedir &&
 	test_must_fail flux start \
-	    -o,-Scontent.backing-module=content-sqlite \
-	    -o,-Sstatedir=/test/tmpfs-1m/statedir \
+	    -Scontent.backing-module=content-sqlite \
+	    -Sstatedir=/test/tmpfs-1m/statedir \
 	    "./fillstatedir.sh; flux dmesg; flux run echo helloworld" > sql.out 2> sql.err &&
 	grep -q "No space left on device" sql.out &&
 	grep "helloworld" sql.out
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ test_expect_success 'flux still operates with content-files running out of space
 	rm -rf /test/tmpfs-1m/* &&
 	mkdir /test/tmpfs-1m/statedir &&
 	test_must_fail flux start \
-	    -o,-Scontent.backing-module=content-files \
-	    -o,-Sstatedir=/test/tmpfs-1m/statedir \
+	    -Scontent.backing-module=content-files \
+	    -Sstatedir=/test/tmpfs-1m/statedir \
 	    "./fillstatedir.sh; flux dmesg; flux run echo helloworld" > files.out 2> files.err &&
 	grep -q "No space left on device" files.out &&
 	grep "helloworld" files.out
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ test_expect_success 'content flush returns error on ENOSPC' '
 	rm -rf /test/tmpfs-1m/* &&
 	mkdir /test/tmpfs-1m/statedir &&
 	test_must_fail flux start \
-	    -o,-Scontent.backing-module=content-sqlite \
-	    -o,-Sstatedir=/test/tmpfs-1m/statedir \
+	    -Scontent.backing-module=content-sqlite \
+	    -Sstatedir=/test/tmpfs-1m/statedir \
 	    "./fillstatedir.sh; flux dmesg; flux content flush" > flush.out 2> flush.err &&
 	grep -q "No space left on device" flush.out &&
 	grep "content.flush: No space left on device" flush.err
diff --git a/t/t2004-hydra.t b/t/t2004-hydra.t
index da29b1c14f47..e937cf614063 100755
--- a/t/t2004-hydra.t
+++ b/t/t2004-hydra.t
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ test_description='Test that MPICH Hydra can launch Flux'
 test -n "$FLUX_TESTS_LOGFILE" && set -- "$@" --logfile
 . `dirname $0`/sharness.sh
 PMI_INFO=${FLUX_BUILD_DIR}/src/common/libpmi/test_pmi_info
-ARGS="-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path="
+ARGS="-Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path="
 
 if ! which mpiexec.hydra 2>/dev/null; then
     skip_all='skipping hydra-launching-flux tests, mpiexec.hydra unavailable'
diff --git a/t/t2008-althash.t b/t/t2008-althash.t
index 42cc6c3dcfbd..546f51e82e2d 100755
--- a/t/t2008-althash.t
+++ b/t/t2008-althash.t
@@ -18,21 +18,21 @@ if test -n "$S3_ACCESS_KEY_ID"; then
 fi
 
 test_expect_success 'Started instance with content.hash=sha1' '
-	OUT=$(flux start -o,-Scontent.hash=sha1 \
+	OUT=$(flux start -Scontent.hash=sha1 \
 	    flux getattr content.hash) &&
 	test "$OUT" = "sha1"
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'Started instance with content.hash=sha256' '
-	OUT=$(flux start -o,-Scontent.hash=sha256 \
+	OUT=$(flux start -Scontent.hash=sha256 \
 	    flux getattr content.hash) &&
 	test "$OUT" = "sha256"
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'Started instance with content.hash=sha256,content-files' '
-	OUT=$(flux start -o,-Scontent.hash=sha256 \
-	    -o,-Scontent.backing-module=content-files \
-	    -o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd) \
+	OUT=$(flux start -Scontent.hash=sha256 \
+	    -Scontent.backing-module=content-files \
+	    -Sstatedir=$(pwd) \
 	    flux getattr content.hash) &&
 	test "$OUT" = "sha256" &&
 	ls -1 content.files | tail -1 | grep sha256
@@ -58,20 +58,20 @@ test_expect_success S3 'create content-s3.toml from env' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success S3 'Started instance with content.hash=sha256,content-s3' '
-	OUT=$(flux start -o,-Scontent.hash=sha256 \
-	    -o,-Scontent.backing-module=content-s3 \
+	OUT=$(flux start -Scontent.hash=sha256 \
+	    -Scontent.backing-module=content-s3 \
 	    flux getattr content.hash) &&
 	test "$OUT" = "sha256"
 '
 test_expect_success S3 'Content store nil returns correct hash for sha256' '
-	OUT=$(flux start -o,-Scontent.hash=sha256 \
-	    -o,-Scontent.backing-module=content-s3 \
+	OUT=$(flux start -Scontent.hash=sha256 \
+	    -Scontent.backing-module=content-s3 \
 	    flux content store </dev/null) &&
 	test "$OUT" = "$nil256"
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'Attempt to start instance with invalid hash fails hard' '
-	test_must_fail flux start -o,-Scontent.hash=wronghash /bin/true
+	test_must_fail flux start -Scontent.hash=wronghash /bin/true
 '
 
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t2010-kvs-snapshot-restore.t b/t/t2010-kvs-snapshot-restore.t
index f4ccab08ddf6..6ab0038ad72b 100755
--- a/t/t2010-kvs-snapshot-restore.t
+++ b/t/t2010-kvs-snapshot-restore.t
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ CHANGECHECKPOINT=${FLUX_SOURCE_DIR}/t/kvs/change-checkpoint.py
 #
 
 test_expect_success 'run instance with statedir set (sqlite)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 		   flux kvs put --sequence testkey=42 \
 		   > start_sequence_sqlite.out
 '
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ test_expect_success 'content.sqlite file exists after instance exited' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 're-run instance with statedir set (sqlite)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 		   flux kvs get testkey >getsqlite.out
 '
 
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ test_expect_success 'content from previous instance survived (sqlite)' '
 # increase over several restarts
 
 test_expect_success 're-run instance, get sequence number 1 (sqlite)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 		   flux kvs version > restart_version_sqlite1.out
 '
 
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ test_expect_success 'restart sequence number increasing 1 (sqlite)' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 're-run instance, get sequence number 2 (sqlite)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 		   flux kvs version > restart_version_sqlite2.out
 '
 
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ test_expect_success 'restart sequence number increasing 2 (sqlite)' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 're-run instance, verify checkpoint date saved (sqlite)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 		   flux dmesg >dmesgsqlite1.out
 '
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ test_expect_success 'verify date in flux logs (sqlite)' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 're-run instance, get rootref (sqlite)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 		   flux kvs getroot -b > getrootsqlite.out
 '
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ test_expect_success 'write rootref to checkpoint path, emulating checkpoint vers
 '
 
 test_expect_success 're-run instance, verify checkpoint correctly loaded (sqlite)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 		   flux dmesg >dmesgsqlite2.out
 '
 
@@ -114,9 +114,9 @@ EOF
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'run instance with statedir set (files)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
-		   -o,--setattr=broker.rc1_path=$(pwd)/rc1-content-files \
-		   -o,--setattr=broker.rc3_path=$(pwd)/rc3-content-files \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+		   --setattr=broker.rc1_path=$(pwd)/rc1-content-files \
+		   --setattr=broker.rc3_path=$(pwd)/rc3-content-files \
 		   flux kvs put --sequence testkey=43 > start_sequence_files.out
 '
 
@@ -126,9 +126,9 @@ test_expect_success 'content.files dir and kvs-primary exist after instance exit
 '
 
 test_expect_success 're-run instance with statedir set (files)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
-		   -o,--setattr=broker.rc1_path=$(pwd)/rc1-content-files \
-		   -o,--setattr=broker.rc3_path=$(pwd)/rc3-content-files \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+		   --setattr=broker.rc1_path=$(pwd)/rc1-content-files \
+		   --setattr=broker.rc3_path=$(pwd)/rc3-content-files \
 		   flux kvs get testkey >getfiles.out
 '
 
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ test_expect_success 'content from previous instance survived (files)' '
 # increase over several restarts
 
 test_expect_success 're-run instance, get sequence number 1 (files)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 		   flux kvs version > restart_version_files1.out
 '
 
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ test_expect_success 'restart sequence number increasing 1 (files)' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 're-run instance, get sequence number 2 (files)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 		   flux kvs version > restart_version_files2.out
 '
 
@@ -164,9 +164,9 @@ test_expect_success 'restart sequence number increasing 2 (files)' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 're-run instance, verify checkpoint date saved (files)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
-		   -o,--setattr=broker.rc1_path=$(pwd)/rc1-content-files \
-		   -o,--setattr=broker.rc3_path=$(pwd)/rc3-content-files \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+		   --setattr=broker.rc1_path=$(pwd)/rc1-content-files \
+		   --setattr=broker.rc3_path=$(pwd)/rc3-content-files \
 		   flux dmesg >dmesgfiles.out
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t2212-job-manager-plugins.t b/t/t2212-job-manager-plugins.t
index fc073721f97b..304662dfb41e 100755
--- a/t/t2212-job-manager-plugins.t
+++ b/t/t2212-job-manager-plugins.t
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ test_description='Test job manager jobtap plugin interface'
 
 mkdir -p config
 
-test_under_flux 4 job -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/config
+test_under_flux 4 job --config-path=$(pwd)/config
 
 flux setattr log-stderr-level 1
 
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ test_expect_success 'job-manager: plugins can be loaded by configuration' '
 	  { load = "${PLUGINPATH}/args.so" },
 	]
 	EOF
-	flux start -o,-c $(pwd)/testconf flux jobtap list > confplugins.out &&
+	flux start -c $(pwd)/testconf flux jobtap list > confplugins.out &&
 	test_debug "cat confplugins.out" &&
 	grep args confplugins.out &&
 	grep test confplugins.out
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ test_expect_success 'job-manager: bad plugins config is detected' '
 	EOF
 	test_must_fail \
 	    flux bulksubmit -n1 --watch --log=badconf.{}.log \
-	        flux start -o,-c$(pwd)/badconf/{} /bin/true ::: a b c d &&
+	        flux start -c$(pwd)/badconf/{} /bin/true ::: a b c d &&
 	test_debug "echo a:; cat badconf.a.log" &&
 	grep "config must be an array" badconf.a.log &&
 	test_debug "echo b:; cat badconf.b.log" &&
diff --git a/t/t2219-job-manager-restart.t b/t/t2219-job-manager-restart.t
index 84559958dd36..8c4e215ed4f3 100755
--- a/t/t2219-job-manager-restart.t
+++ b/t/t2219-job-manager-restart.t
@@ -9,13 +9,13 @@ DUMPS=${SHARNESS_TEST_SRCDIR}/job-manager/dumps
 export FLUX_DISABLE_JOB_CLEANUP=t
 
 test_expect_success 'start instance with empty kvs, run one job, and dump' '
-	flux start -o,-Scontent.dump=dump.tar \
+	flux start -Scontent.dump=dump.tar \
 	    flux run --env-remove=* /bin/true &&
 	test -f $(pwd)/dump.tar
 '
 
 restart_flux() {
-	flux start -o,-Scontent.restore=$1 \
+	flux start -Scontent.restore=$1 \
 		flux module stats job-manager
 }
 
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ restart_flux() {
 # "not replayed" warnings were logged
 restart_with_job_warning() {
 	local out=$(basename $1).dmesg
-	flux start -o,-Scontent.restore=$1 /bin/true 2>$out
+	flux start -Scontent.restore=$1 /bin/true 2>$out
 	result=$?
 	cat $out
 	test $result -eq 0 && grep -q "not replayed:" $out
@@ -67,17 +67,17 @@ test_expect_success 'purging all jobs triggers jobid checkpoint update' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'verify that anon queue disable persists across restart' '
-	flux start -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_dis.tar \
+	flux start -Scontent.dump=dump_dis.tar \
 	    flux queue disable disable-restart-test &&
-	flux start -o,-Scontent.restore=dump_dis.tar \
+	flux start -Scontent.restore=dump_dis.tar \
 	    flux queue status >dump_dis.out &&
 	grep "disabled: disable-restart-test" dump_dis.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'verify that anon queue stopped persists across restart' '
-	flux start -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_stopped.tar \
+	flux start -Scontent.dump=dump_stopped.tar \
 	    flux queue stop stop-restart-test &&
-	flux start -o,-Scontent.restore=dump_stopped.tar \
+	flux start -Scontent.restore=dump_stopped.tar \
 	    flux queue status >dump_stopped.out &&
 	grep "stopped: stop-restart-test" dump_stopped.out
 '
@@ -88,24 +88,24 @@ test_expect_success 'verify that named queue enable/disable persists across rest
 	[queues.debug]
 	[queues.batch]
 	EOT
-	flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_queue_enable1.tar \
+	flux start --config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
+	    -Scontent.dump=dump_queue_enable1.tar \
 	    flux queue status >dump_queue_enable_1.out &&
-	flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
-	    -o,-Scontent.restore=dump_queue_enable1.tar \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_queue_enable2.tar \
+	flux start --config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
+	    -Scontent.restore=dump_queue_enable1.tar \
+	    -Scontent.dump=dump_queue_enable2.tar \
 	    flux queue disable --queue=batch xyzzy &&
-	flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
-	    -o,-Scontent.restore=dump_queue_enable2.tar \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_queue_enable3.tar \
+	flux start --config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
+	    -Scontent.restore=dump_queue_enable2.tar \
+	    -Scontent.dump=dump_queue_enable3.tar \
 	    flux queue status >dump_queue_enable_2.out &&
-	flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
-	    -o,-Scontent.restore=dump_queue_enable3.tar \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_queue_enable4.tar \
+	flux start --config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
+	    -Scontent.restore=dump_queue_enable3.tar \
+	    -Scontent.dump=dump_queue_enable4.tar \
 	    flux queue enable --queue=batch &&
-	flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
-	    -o,-Scontent.restore=dump_queue_enable4.tar \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_queue_enable5.tar \
+	flux start --config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
+	    -Scontent.restore=dump_queue_enable4.tar \
+	    -Scontent.dump=dump_queue_enable5.tar \
 	    flux queue status >dump_queue_enable_3.out &&
 	grep "^debug: Job submission is enabled" dump_queue_enable_1.out &&
 	grep "^batch: Job submission is enabled" dump_queue_enable_1.out &&
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ test_expect_success 'verify that named queue enable/disable persists across rest
 # N.B. no named queues configured in this test, so anon queue is what
 # is tested
 test_expect_success 'verify that instance can restart after config change' '
-	flux start -o,-Scontent.restore=dump_queue_enable5.tar \
+	flux start -Scontent.restore=dump_queue_enable5.tar \
 	    flux queue status >dump_queue_reconf.out &&
 	grep "^Job submission is enabled" dump_queue_reconf.out
 '
@@ -129,24 +129,24 @@ test_expect_success 'verify that named queue start/stop persists across restart'
 	[queues.debug]
 	[queues.batch]
 	EOT
-	flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_queue_start1.tar \
+	flux start --config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
+	    -Scontent.dump=dump_queue_start1.tar \
 	    flux queue status >dump_queue_start_1.out &&
-	flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
-	    -o,-Scontent.restore=dump_queue_start1.tar \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_queue_start2.tar \
+	flux start --config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
+	    -Scontent.restore=dump_queue_start1.tar \
+	    -Scontent.dump=dump_queue_start2.tar \
 	    flux queue start --queue=batch &&
-	flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
-	    -o,-Scontent.restore=dump_queue_start2.tar \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_queue_start3.tar \
+	flux start --config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
+	    -Scontent.restore=dump_queue_start2.tar \
+	    -Scontent.dump=dump_queue_start3.tar \
 	    flux queue status >dump_queue_start_2.out &&
-	flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
-	    -o,-Scontent.restore=dump_queue_start3.tar \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_queue_start4.tar \
+	flux start --config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
+	    -Scontent.restore=dump_queue_start3.tar \
+	    -Scontent.dump=dump_queue_start4.tar \
 	    flux queue stop --queue=batch xyzzy &&
-	flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
-	    -o,-Scontent.restore=dump_queue_start4.tar \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_queue_start5.tar \
+	flux start --config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
+	    -Scontent.restore=dump_queue_start4.tar \
+	    -Scontent.dump=dump_queue_start5.tar \
 	    flux queue status >dump_queue_start_3.out &&
 	grep "^debug: Scheduling is stopped" dump_queue_start_1.out &&
 	grep "^batch: Scheduling is stopped" dump_queue_start_1.out &&
@@ -162,14 +162,14 @@ test_expect_success 'checkpointed queue no longer configured on restart is ignor
 	[queues.debug]
 	[queues.batch]
 	EOT
-	flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_queue_missing.tar \
+	flux start --config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
+	    -Scontent.dump=dump_queue_missing.tar \
 	    flux queue disable --queue batch xyzzy &&
 	cat >conf.d/queues.toml <<-EOT &&
 	[queues.debug]
 	EOT
-	flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
-	    -o,-Scontent.restore=dump_queue_missing.tar \
+	flux start --config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
+	    -Scontent.restore=dump_queue_missing.tar \
 	    flux queue status >dump_queue_missing.out &&
 	grep "^debug: Job submission is enabled" dump_queue_missing.out &&
 	grep "^debug: Scheduling is stopped" dump_queue_missing.out &&
@@ -182,15 +182,15 @@ test_expect_success 'new queue configured on restart uses defaults' '
 	[queues.debug]
 	[queues.batch]
 	EOT
-	flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_queue_ignored.tar \
+	flux start --config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
+	    -Scontent.dump=dump_queue_ignored.tar \
 	    flux queue disable --queue batch xyzzy &&
 	cat >conf.d/queues.toml <<-EOT &&
 	[queues.debug]
 	[queues.newqueue]
 	EOT
-	flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
-	    -o,-Scontent.restore=dump_queue_ignored.tar \
+	flux start --config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
+	    -Scontent.restore=dump_queue_ignored.tar \
 	    flux queue status >dump_queue_ignored.out &&
 	grep "^debug: Job submission is enabled" dump_queue_ignored.out &&
 	grep "^debug: Scheduling is stopped" dump_queue_ignored.out &&
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ test_expect_success 'new queue configured on restart uses defaults' '
 
 test_expect_success 'bad job directory is moved to lost+found' '
 	flux start \
-	    -o,-Scontent.restore=${DUMPS}/warn/dump-shorteventlog.tar.bz2 \
+	    -Scontent.restore=${DUMPS}/warn/dump-shorteventlog.tar.bz2 \
 	    flux kvs dir -R lost+found
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t2240-queue-cmd.t b/t/t2240-queue-cmd.t
index 860e0f7356f3..deaa5e67e383 100755
--- a/t/t2240-queue-cmd.t
+++ b/t/t2240-queue-cmd.t
@@ -127,12 +127,12 @@ test_expect_success 'flux-queue: status reports no reason for stop' '
 
 test_expect_success 'flux-queue: stop with --nocheckpoint works' '
 	flux start \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_queue_nocheckpoint1.tar \
+	    -Scontent.dump=dump_queue_nocheckpoint1.tar \
 	    flux queue stop &&
 	tar -xvf dump_queue_nocheckpoint1.tar &&
 	cat checkpoint/job-manager | jq -e ".queue[0].start == false" &&
 	flux start \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_queue_nocheckpoint2.tar \
+	    -Scontent.dump=dump_queue_nocheckpoint2.tar \
 	    flux queue stop --nocheckpoint &&
 	tar -xvf dump_queue_nocheckpoint2.tar &&
 	cat checkpoint/job-manager | jq -e ".queue[0].start == true"
@@ -547,14 +547,14 @@ test_expect_success 'flux-queue: stop with named queues and --nocheckpoint works
 	EOT
 	chmod +x ./stopqueues.sh &&
 	chmod +x ./stopqueuesnocheckpoint.sh &&
-	flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_queue_named_nocheckpoint1.tar \
+	flux start --config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
+	    -Scontent.dump=dump_queue_named_nocheckpoint1.tar \
 	    ./stopqueues.sh &&
 	tar -xvf dump_queue_named_nocheckpoint1.tar &&
 	cat checkpoint/job-manager | jq -e ".queue[0].start == false" &&
 	cat checkpoint/job-manager | jq -e ".queue[1].start == false" &&
-	flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=dump_queue_named_nocheckpoint2.tar \
+	flux start --config-path=$(pwd)/conf.d \
+	    -Scontent.dump=dump_queue_named_nocheckpoint2.tar \
 	    ./stopqueuesnocheckpoint.sh &&
 	tar -xvf dump_queue_named_nocheckpoint2.tar &&
 	cat checkpoint/job-manager | jq -e ".queue[0].start == true" &&
diff --git a/t/t2245-policy-config.t b/t/t2245-policy-config.t
index e3f7e9c9b876..3f9f326113c7 100755
--- a/t/t2245-policy-config.t
+++ b/t/t2245-policy-config.t
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ test_expect_success 'a bad config is detected at initialization too' '
 	cat >badconf.toml <<-EOT &&
 	policy.foo = 1
 	EOT
-	test_must_fail flux start -o,--config-path=badconf.toml true
+	test_must_fail flux start --config-path=badconf.toml true
 '
 
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t2273-job-alloc-bypass.t b/t/t2273-job-alloc-bypass.t
index 9dcf1f85dedf..af0fe4b423d3 100755
--- a/t/t2273-job-alloc-bypass.t
+++ b/t/t2273-job-alloc-bypass.t
@@ -130,14 +130,14 @@ test_expect_success 'generate a script to submit a testexec+alloc-bypass job' '
 '
 test_expect_success 'run test job in a persistent instance' '
 	FLUX_DISABLE_JOB_CLEANUP=t flux start -s1 \
-	    -o,--config-path=config.toml \
-	    -o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd) \
+	    --config-path=config.toml \
+	    -Sstatedir=$(pwd) \
 	    ./prog.sh
 '
 test_expect_success 'restart that instance and get the resource alloc count' '
 	FLUX_DISABLE_JOB_CLEANUP=t flux start -s1 \
-	    -o,--config-path=config.toml \
-	    -o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd) \
+	    --config-path=config.toml \
+	    -Sstatedir=$(pwd) \
 	    sh -c "flux jobs -no {state} \$(flux job last); \
 	        FLUX_RESOURCE_LIST_RPC=sched.resource-status \
 		flux resource list -s allocated -no {nnodes}" >restart.out
@@ -151,8 +151,8 @@ test_expect_success 'the job was running and resources were not allocated' '
 '
 test_expect_success 'restart that instance and cancel the job' '
 	flux start -s1 \
-	    -o,--config-path=config.toml \
-	    -o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd) \
+	    --config-path=config.toml \
+	    -Sstatedir=$(pwd) \
 	    sh -c "flux cancel \$(flux job last); \
 	    flux job wait-event -vvv \$(flux job last) clean"
 '
diff --git a/t/t2312-resource-exclude.t b/t/t2312-resource-exclude.t
index 835626a6d524..0253c229c8fe 100755
--- a/t/t2312-resource-exclude.t
+++ b/t/t2312-resource-exclude.t
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ exclude = "0"
 EOT
 
 SIZE=4
-test_under_flux $SIZE full -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/exclude.toml
+test_under_flux $SIZE full --config-path=$(pwd)/exclude.toml
 
 # Usage: waitup N
 #   where N is a count of online ranks
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ test_expect_success 'config with bad exclude idset fails' '
 	[resource]
 	exclude = "xxzz"
 	EOT
-	test_must_fail flux start -o,--config-path=resource.toml true
+	test_must_fail flux start --config-path=resource.toml true
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'config with out of range exclude idset fails' '
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ test_expect_success 'config with out of range exclude idset fails' '
 	[resource]
 	exclude = "1"
 	EOT
-	test_must_fail flux start -o,--config-path=resource.toml true
+	test_must_fail flux start --config-path=resource.toml true
 '
 
 # See flux-framework/flux-core#5337
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ test_expect_success 'test instance can exclude ranks' '
 	[resource]
 	exclude = "1"
 	EOT
-	test $(flux start -s2 -o,--config-path=exclude.toml \
+	test $(flux start -s2 --config-path=exclude.toml \
 	    flux resource status -s exclude -no {nnodes}) -eq 1
 '
 test_expect_success 'test instance fails to exclude hostnames' '
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ test_expect_success 'test instance fails to exclude hostnames' '
 	[resource]
 	exclude = "$(hostname -s)"
 	EOT
-	test_must_fail flux start -s2 -o,--config-path=exclude2.toml \
+	test_must_fail flux start -s2 --config-path=exclude2.toml \
 	    /bin/true 2>exclude2.err &&
 	grep "R is unavailable" exclude2.err
 '
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ test_expect_success 'instance with configured R can exclude hostnames' '
 	hosts = "$(hostname -s)"
 	cores = "0"
 	EOT
-	test $(flux start -s1 -o,--config-path=exclude3.toml \
+	test $(flux start -s1 --config-path=exclude3.toml \
 	    flux resource status -s exclude -no {nnodes}) -eq 1
 '
 test_expect_success 'incorrect excluded hostnames raises correct error' '
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ test_expect_success 'incorrect excluded hostnames raises correct error' '
 	hosts = "$(hostname -s)"
 	cores = "0"
 	EOT
-	test_must_fail flux start -o,--config-path=exclude4.toml true \
+	test_must_fail flux start --config-path=exclude4.toml true \
 		2>exclude4.err &&
 	test_debug "cat exclude4.err" &&
 	grep "invalid hosts: badhost" exclude4.err
diff --git a/t/t2313-resource-acquire.t b/t/t2313-resource-acquire.t
index bc6808c22a6b..46fc642bbb28 100755
--- a/t/t2313-resource-acquire.t
+++ b/t/t2313-resource-acquire.t
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ exclude = "0"
 EOT
 
 SIZE=4
-test_under_flux $SIZE full -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/exclude.toml
+test_under_flux $SIZE full --config-path=$(pwd)/exclude.toml
 
 RPC=${FLUX_BUILD_DIR}/t/request/rpc
 RPC_STREAM=${FLUX_BUILD_DIR}/t/request/rpc_stream
diff --git a/t/t2315-resource-system.t b/t/t2315-resource-system.t
index 1c78ee9f10b9..b29bd08b9b83 100755
--- a/t/t2315-resource-system.t
+++ b/t/t2315-resource-system.t
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ test_expect_success 'create config file pointing to test R' '
 
 test_expect_success 'start instance with config file and dump R' '
 	flux start -s2 \
-		-o,--config-path=$(pwd),-Slog-filename=logfile \
+		--config-path=$(pwd) -Slog-filename=logfile \
 		flux kvs get resource.R >R.out
 '
 
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ test_expect_success 'invalid R causes instance to fail with error' '
 	path = "$(pwd)/bad/R"
 	EOF
 	test_must_fail flux start -s2 \
-		-o,--config-path=$(pwd)/bad,-Slog-filename=bad/logfile \
+		--config-path=$(pwd)/bad -Slog-filename=bad/logfile \
 		flux kvs get resource.R >bad/R.out &&
 	grep "error parsing R: invalid version=42" bad/logfile
 '
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ test_expect_success 'missing scheduling key causes instance to fail with error'
 	scheduling = "missing"
 	EOF
 	test_must_fail flux start -s2 \
-	       -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/sched.enoent \
-	       -o,,-Slog-filename=sched.enoent/logfile \
+	       --config-path=$(pwd)/sched.enoent \
+	       -Slog-filename=sched.enoent/logfile \
 	       flux kvs get resource.R >sched.enoent/R.out &&
 	grep -i "resource.scheduling:.*no such" sched.enoent/logfile
 '
@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@ test_expect_success 'resource.scheduling key amends resource.path' '
 	scheduling = "$(pwd)/sched.good/sched.json"
 	EOF
 	flux start -s2 \
-	       -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/sched.good \
-	       -o,,-Slog-filename=sched.good/logfile \
+	       --config-path=$(pwd)/sched.good \
+	       -Slog-filename=sched.good/logfile \
 	       flux kvs get resource.R >sched.good/R.out &&
 	jq -S < sched.good/R.out &&
 	jq -e < sched.good/R.out ".scheduling == {\"test\": 1}"
@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ test_expect_success 'invalid scheduling key causes instance to fail with error'
 	scheduling = "$(pwd)/sched.bad/sched.json"
 	EOF
 	test_must_fail flux start -s2 \
-	       -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/sched.bad \
-	       -o,,-Slog-filename=sched.bad/logfile \
+	       --config-path=$(pwd)/sched.bad \
+	       -Slog-filename=sched.bad/logfile \
 	       flux kvs get resource.R >sched.bad/R.out &&
 	grep "error loading resource.scheduling" sched.bad/logfile
 '
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ test_expect_success 'missing ranks in R are drained' '
 	path = "$(pwd)/missing/R"
 	EOF
 	flux start -s3 \
-		-o,--config-path=$(pwd)/missing,-Slog-filename=missing/logfile \
+		--config-path=$(pwd)/missing -Slog-filename=missing/logfile \
 		flux kvs get resource.R >missing/R.out &&
 	grep "draining: rank 2 not found in expected ranks" missing/logfile
 '
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ test_expect_success 'ranks can be excluded by configuration' '
 	exclude = "0"
 	EOF
 	flux start -s 2 \
-		-o,--config-path=$(pwd)/${name},-Slog-filename=${name}/logfile \
+		--config-path=$(pwd)/${name} -Slog-filename=${name}/logfile \
 		flux resource list -s up -no {nnodes} > ${name}/nnodes &&
 	test "$(cat ${name}/nnodes)" = "1"
 '
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ test_expect_success 'invalid exclude ranks cause instance failure' '
 	exclude = "0-4"
 	EOF
 	test_must_fail flux start -s 2 \
-		-o,--config-path=$(pwd)/${name},-Slog-filename=${name}/logfile \
+		--config-path=$(pwd)/${name} -Slog-filename=${name}/logfile \
 		flux resource list -s up -no {nnodes} > ${name}/nnodes &&
     grep "out of range" ${name}/logfile
 '
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ test_expect_success 'invalid exclude hosts cause instance failure' '
 	exclude = "nosuchhost"
 	EOF
 	test_must_fail flux start -s 2 \
-		-o,--config-path=$(pwd)/${name},-Slog-filename=${name}/logfile \
+		--config-path=$(pwd)/${name} -Slog-filename=${name}/logfile \
 		flux resource list -s up -no {nnodes} > ${name}/nnodes &&
     grep "invalid hosts: nosuchhost" ${name}/logfile
 '
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ test_expect_success 'gpu resources in configured R are not verified' '
 	path = "$(pwd)/${name}/R"
 	EOF
 	flux start -s 1\
-		-o,--config-path=$(pwd)/${name},-Slog-filename=${name}/logfile \
+		--config-path=$(pwd)/${name} -Slog-filename=${name}/logfile \
 		flux resource list -s up -no {rlist} > ${name}/rlist &&
 	test_debug "cat ${name}/rlist" &&
 	grep "gpu\[42-43\]" ${name}/rlist
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ test_expect_success MULTICORE 'resource norestrict option works' '
 	norestrict = true
 	EOF
 	hwloc-bind core:0 flux start -s1 \
-		-o,--config-path=$(pwd)/${name},-Slog-filename=${name}/logfile \
+		--config-path=$(pwd)/${name} -Slog-filename=${name}/logfile \
 		flux run -N1 --exclusive \
 		  sh -c "hwloc-bind --get | hwloc-calc --number-of core | tail -n1" \
 		    >${name}/ncores &&
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ test_expect_success 'resources can be configured in TOML' '
 	properties = ["batch"]
 	EOF
 	flux start -s 1 \
-		-o,--config-path=$(pwd)/${name},-Slog-filename=${name}/logfile \
+		--config-path=$(pwd)/${name} -Slog-filename=${name}/logfile \
 		flux resource list -s all -n \
 		   -o "{state} {properties} {nnodes} {ncores} {ngpus} {nodelist}" \
 		   > ${name}/output &&
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ test_expect_success 'bad resource.config causes instance failure' '
 	config = []
 	EOF
 	test_must_fail flux start -s 1 \
-		-o,--config-path=$(pwd)/${name},-Slog-filename=${name}/logfile \
+		--config-path=$(pwd)/${name} -Slog-filename=${name}/logfile \
 		flux resource list -s up > ${name}/output 2>&1 &&
 	test_debug "cat ${name}/output" &&
 	grep "no hosts configured" ${name}/output
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ test_expect_success 'resource.scheduling key amends [resource.config]' '
 	cores = "0-3"
 	EOF
 	flux start -s 1 \
-		-o,--config-path=$(pwd)/${name},-Slog-filename=${name}/logfile \
+		--config-path=$(pwd)/${name} -Slog-filename=${name}/logfile \
 		flux kvs get resource.R > ${name}/R.json &&
 	jq -S < ${name}/R.json &&
 	jq -e < ${name}/R.json ".scheduling.foo == true"
diff --git a/t/t2403-job-exec-conf.t b/t/t2403-job-exec-conf.t
index 6f02e3e56fe1..c2b284c77e5f 100755
--- a/t/t2403-job-exec-conf.t
+++ b/t/t2403-job-exec-conf.t
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ test_expect_success 'job-exec: kill-timeout can be set in exec conf' '
 	[exec]
 	kill-timeout = ".5m"
 	EOF
-	flux start -o,--config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
+	flux start --config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
 		flux module stats job-exec > ${name}.json 2>&1 &&
 	test_debug "jq -S . < ${name}.json" &&
 	cat ${name}.json | jq ".[\"kill-timeout\"] == 30"
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ test_expect_success 'job-exec: bad kill-timeout config causes module failure' '
 	[exec]
 	kill-timeout = "foo"
 	EOF
-	test_must_fail flux start -o,--config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
+	test_must_fail flux start --config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
 		flux dmesg > ${name}.log 2>&1 &&
 	grep "invalid kill-timeout: foo" ${name}.log
 '
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ test_expect_success 'job-exec: term/kill-signal can be set in exec conf' '
 	kill-signal = "SIGINT"
 	term-signal = "SIGHUP"
 	EOF
-	flux start -o,--config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
+	flux start --config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
 		flux module stats job-exec > ${name}.json 2>&1 &&
 	cat ${name}.json | jq ".[\"kill-signal\"] == \"SIGINT\"" &&
 	cat ${name}.json | jq ".[\"term-signal\"] == \"SIGTERM\""
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ test_expect_success 'job-exec: bad term/kill-signal config causes module failure
 	[exec]
 	kill-signal = "foo"
 	EOF
-	test_must_fail flux start -o,--config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
+	test_must_fail flux start --config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
 		flux dmesg > ${name}.log 2>&1 &&
 	grep "invalid kill-signal: foo" ${name}.log
 '
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ test_expect_success 'job-exec: job-shell can be set in exec conf' '
 	[exec]
 	job-shell = "my-flux-shell"
 	EOF
-	flux start -o,--config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
+	flux start --config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
 		flux module stats -p bulk-exec.config.default_job_shell job-exec > ${name}.out 2>&1 &&
 	grep "my-flux-shell" ${name}.out
 '
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ test_expect_success 'job-exec: bad job-shell config causes module failure' '
 	[exec]
 	job-shell = 42
 	EOF
-	test_must_fail flux start -o,--config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
+	test_must_fail flux start --config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
 		flux dmesg > ${name}.log 2>&1 &&
 	grep "error reading config value exec.job-shell" ${name}.log
 '
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ test_expect_success 'job-exec: imp path can be set in exec conf' '
 	[exec]
 	imp = "my-flux-imp"
 	EOF
-	flux start -o,--config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
+	flux start --config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
 		flux module stats -p bulk-exec.config.flux_imp_path job-exec > ${name}.out 2>&1 &&
 	grep "my-flux-imp" ${name}.out
 '
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ test_expect_success 'job-exec: bad imp config causes module failure' '
 	[exec]
 	imp = 42
 	EOF
-	test_must_fail flux start -o,--config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
+	test_must_fail flux start --config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
 		flux dmesg > ${name}.log 2>&1 &&
 	grep "error reading config value exec.imp" ${name}.log
 '
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ test_expect_success 'job-exec: exec service can be set in exec conf' '
 	[exec]
 	service = "bar"
 	EOF
-	flux start -o,--config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
+	flux start --config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
 		flux module stats -p bulk-exec.config.exec_service job-exec > ${name}.out 2>&1 &&
 	grep "bar" ${name}.out
 '
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ test_expect_success 'job-exec: exec service override can be set in exec conf' '
 	service = "bar"
 	service-override = true
 	EOF
-	flux start -o,--config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
+	flux start --config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
 		flux module stats -p bulk-exec.config.exec_service_override job-exec > ${name}.out 2>&1 &&
 	val=$(cat ${name}.out) &&
 	test $val -eq 1
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ test_expect_success 'job-exec: sdexex properties can be set in exec conf' '
 	MemoryHigh = "200M"
 	MemoryMax = "100M"
 	EOF
-	flux start -o,--config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
+	flux start --config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
 		flux module stats -p bulk-exec.config.sdexec_properties job-exec > ${name}.out 2>&1 &&
 	jq -e ".MemoryHigh == \"200M\"" < ${name}.out &&
 	jq -e ".MemoryMax == \"100M\"" < ${name}.out
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ test_expect_success 'job-exec: bad sdexec properties causes module failure (type
 	service = "sdexec"
 	sdexec-properties = 42
 	EOF
-	test_must_fail flux start -o,--config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
+	test_must_fail flux start --config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
 		flux dmesg > ${name}.log 2>&1 &&
 	grep "exec.sdexec-properties is not a table" ${name}.log
 '
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ test_expect_success 'job-exec: bad sdexec properties causes module failure (type
 	[exec.sdexec-properties]
 	MemoryHigh = 42
 	EOF
-	test_must_fail flux start -o,--config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
+	test_must_fail flux start --config-path=${name}.toml -s1 \
 		flux dmesg > ${name}.log 2>&1 &&
 	grep "exec.sdexec-properties.MemoryHigh is not a string" ${name}.log
 '
diff --git a/t/t2408-sdbus-recovery.t b/t/t2408-sdbus-recovery.t
index 876f8f88c0d1..e7712a19b288 100755
--- a/t/t2408-sdbus-recovery.t
+++ b/t/t2408-sdbus-recovery.t
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ cat >config/config.toml <<EOF
 sdbus-debug = true
 EOF
 
-test_under_flux 1 minimal -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/config
+test_under_flux 1 minimal --config-path=$(pwd)/config
 
 flux setattr log-stderr-level 1
 
diff --git a/t/t2410-sdexec-memlimit.t b/t/t2410-sdexec-memlimit.t
index 13b0fb69e9cd..e107494d0ef8 100755
--- a/t/t2410-sdexec-memlimit.t
+++ b/t/t2410-sdexec-memlimit.t
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ if ! $(pwd)/getcg.sh cgroup.controllers | grep memory; then
 	test_done
 fi
 
-test_under_flux 1 full -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/config
+test_under_flux 1 full --config-path=$(pwd)/config
 
 flux setattr log-stderr-level 7
 
diff --git a/t/t2411-sdexec-job.t b/t/t2411-sdexec-job.t
index 74c0bb7c934b..2389c9622fa5 100755
--- a/t/t2411-sdexec-job.t
+++ b/t/t2411-sdexec-job.t
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ sdexec-debug = true
 service-override = true
 EOT
 
-test_under_flux 2 full -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/config
+test_under_flux 2 full --config-path=$(pwd)/config
 
 flux exec flux setattr log-stderr-level 7
 
diff --git a/t/t2806-config-cmd.t b/t/t2806-config-cmd.t
index 889afdb17a3f..4058368dbb8a 100755
--- a/t/t2806-config-cmd.t
+++ b/t/t2806-config-cmd.t
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ f = [ "fubar", "barfu" ]
 a = true
 EOF
 
-test_under_flux 1 minimal -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/config
+test_under_flux 1 minimal --config-path=$(pwd)/config
 
 runas_guest() {
         local userid=$(($(id -u)+1))
diff --git a/t/t2807-dump-cmd.t b/t/t2807-dump-cmd.t
index 21472f821c16..ee0115fd990c 100755
--- a/t/t2807-dump-cmd.t
+++ b/t/t2807-dump-cmd.t
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ test_description='Test flux dump/restore'
 
 . $(dirname $0)/sharness.sh
 
-test_under_flux 1 minimal -o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd)
+test_under_flux 1 minimal -Sstatedir=$(pwd)
 
 QUERYCMD="flux python ${FLUX_SOURCE_DIR}/t/scripts/sqlite-query.py"
 
@@ -193,14 +193,14 @@ test_expect_success 'restore --no-cache with no backing store fails' '
 '
 test_expect_success 'run a flux instance, preserving content.sqlite' '
 	mkdir test &&
-	flux start -o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd)/test /bin/true
+	flux start -Sstatedir=$(pwd)/test /bin/true
 '
 
 reader() {
 	local dbdir=$1
-        flux start -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path= \
-                -o,-Sbroker.rc3_path=\
-                -o,-Sstatedir=$dbdir\
+        flux start -Sbroker.rc1_path= \
+                -Sbroker.rc3_path=\
+                -Sstatedir=$dbdir\
                 bash -c "\
                         flux module load content && \
                         flux module load content-sqlite && \
@@ -212,9 +212,9 @@ reader() {
 
 writer() {
 	local dbdir=$1
-        flux start -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path= \
-                -o,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
-                -o,-Sstatedir=$dbdir \
+        flux start -Sbroker.rc1_path= \
+                -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+                -Sstatedir=$dbdir \
                 bash -c "\
                         flux module load content && \
                         flux module load content-sqlite && \
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ test_expect_success 'perform offline garbage collection with dump/restore' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'restart flux instance and try to run a job' '
-	flux start -o,-Sstatedir=test \
+	flux start -Sstatedir=test \
 		flux run /bin/true
 '
 
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ test_expect_success 'restore bigdump.tar with size limit' '
 test_expect_success 'rc1 skips blob that exceeds 100M limit' '
 	dd if=/dev/zero of=big/hugeblob bs=1048576 count=120 &&
 	tar cvf bigdump2.tar big &&
-	flux start -o,-Scontent.restore=bigdump2.tar \
+	flux start -Scontent.restore=bigdump2.tar \
 		/bin/true 2>bigdump3.err &&
 	grep "exceeds" bigdump3.err
 '
diff --git a/t/t2808-shutdown-cmd.t b/t/t2808-shutdown-cmd.t
index 4cbb2d73e71a..90c01109c33d 100755
--- a/t/t2808-shutdown-cmd.t
+++ b/t/t2808-shutdown-cmd.t
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cancel that job' '
 
 test_expect_success 'run instance with no initial program and wait for it to start' '
 	flux submit --wait-event=start \
-		flux start -o,-Sbroker.rc2_none >jobid3 &&
+		flux start -Sbroker.rc2_none >jobid3 &&
 	run_timeout 30 bash -c "while ! flux uri $(cat jobid3) >uri3; do \
 		sleep 0.1; \
 	done"
diff --git a/t/t2809-job-purge.t b/t/t2809-job-purge.t
index f6ff0fc29b0f..de773ce9e529 100755
--- a/t/t2809-job-purge.t
+++ b/t/t2809-job-purge.t
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ test_expect_success 'new instance with bad config fails to start' '
 	[job-manager]
 	inactive-num-limit = -42
 	EOT
-	test_must_fail flux start -o,--config-path=$(pwd)/config \
+	test_must_fail flux start --config-path=$(pwd)/config \
 		/bin/true 2>badnum2.err &&
 	grep "must be >= 0" badnum2.err
 '
diff --git a/t/t2810-kvs-garbage-collect.t b/t/t2810-kvs-garbage-collect.t
index e5e86c64534e..5d43c727065a 100755
--- a/t/t2810-kvs-garbage-collect.t
+++ b/t/t2810-kvs-garbage-collect.t
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ test_expect_success 'create test script' '
 '
 test_expect_success 'run instance that leaves an auto dump' '
 	mkdir -p state &&
-	flux start -o,-Sstatedir=state \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=auto \
-	    -o,-Slog-filename=dmesg.log \
+	flux start -Sstatedir=state \
+	    -Scontent.dump=auto \
+	    -Slog-filename=dmesg.log \
 	    ./runjobs.sh >object_count
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker logs report dump activity' '
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ test_expect_success 'dump exists and RESTORE symlink is valid' '
 	test -f $(cat archive)
 '
 test_expect_success 'restart instance with auto restore' '
-	flux start -o,-Sstatedir=state \
-	    -o,-Scontent.restore=auto \
-	    -o,-Slog-filename=dmesg2.log \
+	flux start -Sstatedir=state \
+	    -Scontent.restore=auto \
+	    -Slog-filename=dmesg2.log \
 	    flux module stats \
 	        --type int --parse object_count content-sqlite >object_count2
 '
@@ -59,9 +59,9 @@ test_expect_success 'archive file remains' '
 # - explicitly named dump file (not auto)
 #
 test_expect_success 'run instance that leaves a named dump' '
-	flux start -o,-Slog-filename=dmesg3.log \
-	    -o,-Scontent.dump=foo.tgz \
-	    -o,-Scontent.backing-module=content-files \
+	flux start -Slog-filename=dmesg3.log \
+	    -Scontent.dump=foo.tgz \
+	    -Scontent.backing-module=content-files \
 	    ./runjobs.sh >object_count3
 '
 test_expect_success 'broker logs report dump activity' '
@@ -74,9 +74,9 @@ test_expect_success 'no RESTORE link was created because path is explicit' '
 	test_must_fail test -h dump/RESTORE
 '
 test_expect_success 'restart instance and restore' '
-	flux start -o,-Slog-filename=dmesg4.log \
-	    -o,-Scontent.restore=foo.tgz \
-	    -o,-Scontent.backing-module=content-files \
+	flux start -Slog-filename=dmesg4.log \
+	    -Scontent.restore=foo.tgz \
+	    -Scontent.backing-module=content-files \
 	    flux module stats \
 	        --type int --parse object_count content-files >object_count4
 '
diff --git a/t/t2812-flux-job-last.t b/t/t2812-flux-job-last.t
index d99fd4ef46f0..0056cfa31841 100755
--- a/t/t2812-flux-job-last.t
+++ b/t/t2812-flux-job-last.t
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ test_expect_success 'flux-job last lists inactive jobs after instance restart' '
 	flux job last "[:]" >lastdump.exp &&
 	flux queue idle &&
 	flux dump dump.tgz &&
-	flux start -o,-Scontent.restore=dump.tgz \
+	flux start -Scontent.restore=dump.tgz \
 		flux job last "[:]" >lastdump.out &&
 	test_cmp lastdump.exp lastdump.out
 '
diff --git a/t/t3100-flux-in-flux.t b/t/t3100-flux-in-flux.t
index 36e146bdbdbb..c54dbe2222c7 100755
--- a/t/t3100-flux-in-flux.t
+++ b/t/t3100-flux-in-flux.t
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ SIZE=$(test_size_large)
 test_under_flux ${SIZE}
 echo "# $0: flux session size will be ${SIZE}"
 
-ARGS="-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=,-Sbroker.rc3_path="
+ARGS="-Sbroker.rc1_path= -Sbroker.rc3_path="
 test_expect_success "flux can run flux instance as a job" '
 	run_timeout 60 flux run -n1 -N1 \
 		flux start ${ARGS} flux getattr size >size.out &&
diff --git a/t/t3200-instance-restart.t b/t/t3200-instance-restart.t
index c0c04d577ee3..7484d1850db6 100755
--- a/t/t3200-instance-restart.t
+++ b/t/t3200-instance-restart.t
@@ -13,22 +13,22 @@ if test -n "$S3_ACCESS_KEY_ID"; then
 fi
 
 test_expect_success 'run a job in persistent instance' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 	           flux submit /bin/true >id1.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'restart instance and run another job' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 	           flux submit /bin/true >id2.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'restart instance and run another job' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 	           flux submit /bin/true >id3.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'restart instance and list inactive jobs' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 	           flux jobs --no-header --format={id} \
 		   	--filter=INACTIVE >list.out
 '
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ test_expect_success 'job IDs were issued in ascending order' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'restart instance and capture startlog' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 	           flux startlog >startlog.out
 '
 test_expect_success 'startlog shows 5 run periods' '
@@ -56,14 +56,14 @@ test_expect_success 'most recent period is still running' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'doctor startlog to look like a crash' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=$SHARNESS_TEST_SRCDIR/rc/rc1-kvs \
-		-o,-Sbroker.rc3_path=$SHARNESS_TEST_SRCDIR/rc/rc3-kvs \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+		-Sbroker.rc1_path=$SHARNESS_TEST_SRCDIR/rc/rc1-kvs \
+		-Sbroker.rc3_path=$SHARNESS_TEST_SRCDIR/rc/rc3-kvs \
 		flux startlog --post-start-event
 '
 test_expect_success 'run flux and capture logs on stderr' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
-		-o,--setattr=log-stderr-level=6 \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+		--setattr=log-stderr-level=6 \
 		/bin/true 2>improper.err
 '
 test_expect_success 'improper shutdown was logged' '
@@ -72,14 +72,14 @@ test_expect_success 'improper shutdown was logged' '
 
 test_expect_success 'run a job in persistent instance (content-files)' '
 	flux start \
-	    -o,-Scontent.backing-module=content-files \
-	    -o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd) \
+	    -Scontent.backing-module=content-files \
+	    -Sstatedir=$(pwd) \
 	    flux submit /bin/true >files_id1.out
 '
 test_expect_success 'restart instance and list inactive jobs' '
 	flux start \
-	    -o,-Scontent.backing-module=content-files \
-	    -o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd) \
+	    -Scontent.backing-module=content-files \
+	    -Sstatedir=$(pwd) \
 	    flux jobs --no-header --format={id} \
 	        --filter=INACTIVE >files_list.out
 '
@@ -108,12 +108,12 @@ test_expect_success S3 'create content-s3.toml from env' '
 
 test_expect_success S3 'run a job in persistent instance (content-s3)' '
 	flux start \
-	    -o,-Scontent.backing-module=content-s3 \
+	    -Scontent.backing-module=content-s3 \
 	    flux submit /bin/true >files_id2.out
 '
 test_expect_success S3 'restart instance and list inactive jobs' '
 	flux start \
-	    -o,-Scontent.backing-module=content-s3 \
+	    -Scontent.backing-module=content-s3 \
 	    flux jobs --no-header --format={id} \
 	        --filter=INACTIVE >files_list2.out
 '
diff --git a/t/t3201-crontabs.t b/t/t3201-crontabs.t
index 7beadee9e717..51cb7a61b117 100755
--- a/t/t3201-crontabs.t
+++ b/t/t3201-crontabs.t
@@ -9,21 +9,21 @@ test -n "$FLUX_TESTS_LOGFILE" && set -- "$@" --logfile
 
 test_expect_success 'empty cron.directory works' '
 	mkdir cron.d &&
-	flux start -o,-Scron.directory=cron.d /bin/true
+	flux start -Scron.directory=cron.d /bin/true
 '
 test_expect_success 'non-existent cron.directory works' '
-	flux start -o,-Scron.directory=noexist /bin/true
+	flux start -Scron.directory=noexist /bin/true
 '
 test_expect_success 'cron.directory with subdirectory works' '
 	rm -rf cron.d &&
 	mkdir -p cron.d/subdir &&
-	flux start -o,-Scron.directory=cron.d /bin/true
+	flux start -Scron.directory=cron.d /bin/true
 '
 test_expect_success 'cron.directory with non-crontab file fails' '
 	rm -rf cron.d &&
 	mkdir cron.d &&
 	echo zzz >cron.d/badtab &&
-	test_must_fail flux start -o,-Scron.directory=cron.d \
+	test_must_fail flux start -Scron.directory=cron.d \
 		/bin/true 2>bad.err &&
 	grep "could not load crontab" bad.err
 '
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cron.directory with good crontab files works' '
 	mkdir cron.d &&
 	echo "10 * * * * /bin/true" >cron.d/goodtab &&
 	echo "20 * * * * hostname" >cron.d/goodtab2 &&
-	flux start -o,-Scron.directory=cron.d flux cron list >list.out &&
+	flux start -Scron.directory=cron.d flux cron list >list.out &&
 	grep /bin/true list.out &&
 	grep hostname list.out
 '
diff --git a/t/t3202-instance-restart-testexec.t b/t/t3202-instance-restart-testexec.t
index 8ddd9c5e2ff0..396dc64cf8a1 100755
--- a/t/t3202-instance-restart-testexec.t
+++ b/t/t3202-instance-restart-testexec.t
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ test -n "$FLUX_TESTS_LOGFILE" && set -- "$@" --logfile
 export FLUX_DISABLE_JOB_CLEANUP=t
 
 test_expect_success 'run a testexec job in persistent instance (long run)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 	     flux submit \
 	       --flags=debug \
 	       --setattr=system.exec.test.run_duration=100s \
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ test_expect_success 'run a testexec job in persistent instance (long run)' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'restart instance, reattach to running job, cancel it (long run)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 	     sh -c "flux job eventlog $(cat id1.out) > eventlog_long1.out; \
 		    flux jobs -n > jobs_long1.out; \
 		    flux cancel $(cat id1.out)" &&
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ test_expect_success 'restart instance, reattach to running job, cancel it (long
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'restart instance, job completed (long run)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 	     sh -c "flux job eventlog $(cat id1.out) > eventlog_long2.out; \
 		    flux jobs -n > jobs_long2.out" &&
 	grep "finish" eventlog_long2.out | grep status &&
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ test_expect_success 'restart instance, job completed (long run)' '
 # right after reattach, emulating a job that finished before the
 # instance restarted
 test_expect_success 'run a testexec job in persistent instance (exit run)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 	     flux submit \
 	       --flags=debug \
 	       --setattr=system.exec.test.reattach_finish=1 \
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ test_expect_success 'run a testexec job in persistent instance (exit run)' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'restart instance, reattach to running job, its finished (exit run)' '
-	flux start -o,--setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
+	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 	     sh -c "flux job eventlog $(cat id2.out) > eventlog_exit1.out" &&
 	grep "reattach-start" eventlog_exit1.out &&
 	grep "reattach-finish" eventlog_exit1.out &&
diff --git a/t/t3203-instance-recovery.t b/t/t3203-instance-recovery.t
index 094aac0e53e0..dcd94d886998 100755
--- a/t/t3203-instance-recovery.t
+++ b/t/t3203-instance-recovery.t
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ runpty="flux ${SHARNESS_TEST_SRCDIR}/scripts/runpty.py"
 test_expect_success 'start a persistent instance of size 4' '
 	mkdir -p test1 &&
 	flux start --test-size=4 --test-exit-timeout=300s \
-		-o,-Sstatedir=$(pwd)/test1 /bin/true
+		-Sstatedir=$(pwd)/test1 /bin/true
 '
 test_expect_success 'expected broker attributes are set in recovery mode' '
 	cat >recov_attrs.exp <<-EOT &&
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ test_expect_success 'expected broker attributes are set in recovery mode' '
 	5
 	EOT
 	flux start --recovery=$(pwd)/test1 \
-	    -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path= \
-	    -o,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+	    -Sbroker.rc1_path= \
+	    -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 	    bash -c " \
 		flux getattr broker.recovery-mode && \
 	        flux getattr broker.quorum && \
@@ -34,24 +34,24 @@ test_expect_success 'expected broker attributes are set in recovery mode' '
 test_expect_success 'banner message is printed in interactive recovery mode' '
 	run_timeout --env=SHELL=/bin/sh 120 \
 	    $runpty -i none flux start \
-	        -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path= \
-	        -o,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+	        -Sbroker.rc1_path= \
+	        -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 	        --recovery=$(pwd)/test1 >banner.out &&
 	grep "Entering Flux recovery mode" banner.out
 '
 test_expect_success '--recovery is not ignored if --test-size is specified' '
 	run_timeout --env=SHELL=/bin/sh 120 \
 	    $runpty -i none flux start \
-	        -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path= \
-	        -o,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+	        -Sbroker.rc1_path= \
+	        -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 	    	--test-size=1 \
 	        --recovery=$(pwd)/test1 >banner.out &&
 	grep "Entering Flux recovery mode" banner.out
 '
 test_expect_success 'rc1 failure is ignored in recovery mode' '
 	flux start --recovery=$(pwd)/test1 \
-	    -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path=/bin/false \
-	    -o,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+	    -Sbroker.rc1_path=/bin/false \
+	    -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 	    echo "hello world" >hello.out &&
 	grep hello hello.out
 '
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ test_expect_success 'recovery mode also works with dump file' '
 test_expect_success 'banner message warns changes are not persistent' '
 	run_timeout --env=SHELL=/bin/sh 120 \
 	    $runpty -i none flux start \
-	        -o,-Sbroker.rc1_path= \
-	        -o,-Sbroker.rc3_path= \
+	        -Sbroker.rc1_path= \
+	        -Sbroker.rc3_path= \
 	        --recovery=$(pwd)/test1.tar >banner2.out &&
 	grep "changes will not be preserved" banner2.out
 '
diff --git a/t/t5000-valgrind.t b/t/t5000-valgrind.t
index 8ea71b6d2978..e720d2a41037 100755
--- a/t/t5000-valgrind.t
+++ b/t/t5000-valgrind.t
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ test_expect_success \
 	run_timeout 300 \
 	flux start -s ${VALGRIND_NBROKERS} \
 		--test-exit-timeout=120 \
-		-o,--config-path=valgrind.toml \
+		--config-path=valgrind.toml \
 		--wrap=libtool,e,${VALGRIND} \
 		--wrap=--tool=memcheck \
 		--wrap=--leak-check=full \