diff --git a/dracut b/dracut
index 0ae07f2e..cd524991 100755
--- a/dracut
+++ b/dracut
@@ -138,12 +138,14 @@ fi
 # source our config file
 [[ -f $conffile ]] && . "$conffile"
 
+# these optins add to the stuff in the config file
+[[ $add_dracutmodules_l ]] && add_dracutmodules+=" $add_dracutmodules_l"
+[[ $add_drivers_l ]] && add_drivers+=" $add_drivers_l"
+
 # these options override the stuff in the config file
 [[ $dracutmodules_l ]] && dracutmodules=$dracutmodules_l
 [[ $omit_dracutmodules_l ]] && omit_dracutmodules=$omit_dracutmodules_l
-[[ $add_dracutmodules_l ]] && add_dracutmodules="$add_dracutmodules $add_dracutmodules_l"
 [[ $drivers_l ]] && drivers=$drivers_l
-[[ $add_drivers_l ]] && add_drivers="$add_drivers $add_drivers_l"
 [[ $filesystems_l ]] && filesystems=$filesystems_l
 [[ $drivers_dir_l ]] && drivers_dir=$drivers_dir_l
 [[ $fw_dir_l ]] && fw_dir=$fw_dir_l
diff --git a/dracut.conf b/dracut.conf
index a39925a3..c921a001 100644
--- a/dracut.conf
+++ b/dracut.conf
@@ -1,19 +1,19 @@
 # Sample dracut config file
 
 # Specific list of dracut modules to use
-#dracutmodules=""
+#dracutmodules+=""
 
 # Dracut modules to omit
-#omit_dracutmodules=""
+#omit_dracutmodules+=""
 
 # Dracut modules to add to the default
-#add_dracutmodules=""
+#add_dracutmodules+=""
 
 # additional kernel modules to the default
-#add_drivers=""
+#add_drivers+=""
 
 # list of kernel filesystem modules to be included in the generic initramfs
-#filesystems=""
+#filesystems+=""
 
 # build initrd only to boot current hardware
 #hostonly="yes"
diff --git a/dracut.conf.5 b/dracut.conf.5
index a781dfbe..a62c912f 100644
--- a/dracut.conf.5
+++ b/dracut.conf.5
@@ -12,28 +12,28 @@ Command line parameter will overwrite any values set here.
 
 .SH OPTIONS
 .TP
-.BR dracutmodules= \%"[LIST]"
+.BR dracutmodules+= \%"[LIST]"
 Specify a space-separated list of dracut modules to
 call when building the initramfs. Modules are located
 in /usr/share/dracut/modules.d.
 .TP
-.BR omit_dracutmodules= \%"[LIST]"
+.BR omit_dracutmodules+= \%"[LIST]"
 Omit a space-separated list of dracut modules.
 .TP
-.BR add_dracutmodules= \%"[LIST]"
+.BR add_dracutmodules+= \%"[LIST]"
 Add a space-separated list of dracut modules.
 .TP
-.BR drivers= \%"[LIST]"
+.BR drivers+= \%"[LIST]"
 Specify a space-separated list of kernel modules to
 exclusively include in the initramfs.
 The kernel modules have to be specified without the ".ko" suffix.
 .TP
-.BR add_drivers= \%"[LIST]"
+.BR add_drivers+= \%"[LIST]"
 Specify a space-separated list of kernel 
 modules to add to the initramfs.
 The kernel modules have to be specified without the ".ko" suffix.
 .TP
-.BR filesystems= \%"[LIST]"
+.BR filesystems+= \%"[LIST]"
 Specify a space-separated list of kernel filesystem
 modules to exclusively include in the generic
 initramfs.
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ initramfs.
 .BR drivers_dir= \%"<dir>"
 Specify the directory, where to look for kernel modules
 .TP
-.BR fw_dir= \%"<dir>[:<dir>\ ...]"
+.BR fw_dir+= \%":<dir>[:<dir>\ ...]"
 Specify additional directories, where to look for firmwares, separated by :
 .TP
 .BR do_strip= \%"yes|no"