diff --git a/mesonbuild/cmake/traceparser.py b/mesonbuild/cmake/traceparser.py
index 8eb860540..d6970f2a0 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/cmake/traceparser.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/cmake/traceparser.py
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ class CMakeTraceParser:
 
     def _cmake_add_custom_command(self, tline: CMakeTraceLine, name=None):
         # DOC: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/command/add_custom_command.html
-        args = list(tline.args) # Make a working copy
+        args = self._flatten_args(list(tline.args))  # Commands can be passed as ';' seperated lists
 
         if not args:
             return self._gen_exception('add_custom_command', 'requires at least 1 argument', tline)
@@ -325,15 +325,15 @@ class CMakeTraceParser:
         target = CMakeGeneratorTarget(name)
 
         def handle_output(key: str, target: CMakeGeneratorTarget) -> None:
-            target.outputs += key.split(';')
+            target.outputs += [key]
 
         def handle_command(key: str, target: CMakeGeneratorTarget) -> None:
             if key == 'ARGS':
                 return
-            target.command[-1] += key.split(';')
+            target.command[-1] += [key]
 
         def handle_depends(key: str, target: CMakeGeneratorTarget) -> None:
-            target.depends += key.split(';')
+            target.depends += [key]
 
         def handle_working_dir(key: str, target: CMakeGeneratorTarget) -> None:
             if target.working_dir is None:
@@ -608,6 +608,13 @@ class CMakeTraceParser:
             args = [parse_generator_expressions(x) for x in args]
             yield CMakeTraceLine(data['file'], data['line'], data['cmd'], args)
 
+    def _flatten_args(self, args: T.List[str]) -> T.List[str]:
+        # Split lists in arguments
+        res = []  # type: T.List[str]
+        for i in args:
+            res += i.split(';')
+        return res
+
     def _guess_files(self, broken_list: T.List[str]) -> T.List[str]:
         # Nothing has to be done for newer formats
         if self.trace_format != 'human':
diff --git a/test cases/cmake/8 custom command/subprojects/cmMod/CMakeLists.txt b/test cases/cmake/8 custom command/subprojects/cmMod/CMakeLists.txt
index 39b19d78a..5c75e65b3 100644
--- a/test cases/cmake/8 custom command/subprojects/cmMod/CMakeLists.txt	
+++ b/test cases/cmake/8 custom command/subprojects/cmMod/CMakeLists.txt	
@@ -16,9 +16,15 @@ add_custom_command(
   COMMAND gen ARGS genTest
 )
 
+set(CMD_PART)
+list(APPEND CMD_PART COMMAND mycpy cpyBase.cpp.in     cpyBase.cpp.in.gen)
+list(APPEND CMD_PART COMMAND mycpy cpyBase.cpp.in.gen cpyBase.cpp.out)
+list(APPEND CMD_PART COMMAND mycpy cpyBase.cpp.out    cpyBase.cpp.something)
+
 add_custom_command(
   OUTPUT cpyBase.cpp
   COMMAND mycpy "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cpyBase.cpp.am" cpyBase.cpp.in
+  ${CMD_PART}
   COMMAND mycpy cpyBase.cpp.in                               cpyBase.cpp.something
   COMMAND mycpy cpyBase.cpp.something                        cpyBase.cpp.IAmRunningOutOfIdeas
   COMMAND mycpy cpyBase.cpp.IAmRunningOutOfIdeas             cpyBase.cpp