diff --git a/tools/project.py b/tools/project.py
index 68e77e48366..ccc8059f1c1 100644
--- a/tools/project.py
+++ b/tools/project.py
@@ -15,13 +15,12 @@
 from tools.tests import TESTS, TEST_MAP
 from tools.tests import test_known, test_name_known, Test
 from tools.targets import TARGET_NAMES
-from tools.utils import argparse_filestring_type, argparse_many, args_error
+from tools.utils import argparse_filestring_type, argparse_profile_filestring_type, argparse_many, args_error
 from tools.utils import argparse_force_lowercase_type
 from tools.utils import argparse_force_uppercase_type
 from tools.utils import print_large_string
 from tools.project_api import export_project, get_exporter_toolchain
-from tools.options import extract_profile
-
+from tools.options import extract_profile, list_profiles
 
 def setup_project(ide, target, program=None, source_dir=None, build=None, export_path=None):
     """Generate a name, if not provided, and find dependencies
@@ -172,10 +171,11 @@ def main():
                         dest="macros",
                         help="Add a macro definition")
 
-    parser.add_argument("--profile",
-                        type=argparse_filestring_type,
-                        default=[],
-                        help="Toolchain profile")
+    parser.add_argument("--profile", dest="profile", action="append",
+                        type=argparse_profile_filestring_type,
+                        help="Build profile to use. Can be either path to json" \
+                        "file or one of the default one ({})".format(", ".join(list_profiles())),
+                        default=[])
 
     parser.add_argument("--update-packs",
                         dest="update_packs",