diff --git a/emsdk.py b/emsdk.py
index d2142b0b86..52d1e51402 100644
--- a/emsdk.py
+++ b/emsdk.py
@@ -3047,13 +3047,12 @@ def print_tools(t):
       print('')
 
     tools_to_activate = currently_active_tools()
-    args = [x for x in args if not x.startswith('--')]
     for arg in args:
       tool = find_tool(arg)
       if tool is None:
         tool = find_sdk(arg)
-      if tool is None:
-        error_on_missing_tool(arg)
+        if tool is None:
+          error_on_missing_tool(arg)
       tools_to_activate += [tool]
     if not tools_to_activate:
       errlog('No tools/SDKs specified to activate! Usage:\n   emsdk activate tool/sdk1 [tool/sdk2] [...]')
diff --git a/test/test_activation.ps1 b/test/test_activation.ps1
index 6aeb5e53a9..fdab08fb45 100644
--- a/test/test_activation.ps1
+++ b/test/test_activation.ps1
@@ -15,8 +15,7 @@ try {
 
     & "$repo_root/emsdk.ps1" install latest
 
-    $esc = '--%'
-    & "$repo_root/emsdk.ps1" activate latest $esc $env:PERMANENT_FLAG $env:SYSTEM_FLAG
+    & "$repo_root/emsdk.ps1" activate latest $env:PERMANENT_FLAG $env:SYSTEM_FLAG
 
     if ($env:SYSTEM_FLAG) {
         $env_type = "Machine"