diff --git a/cumulusci/core/utils.py b/cumulusci/core/utils.py
index 88cd570657..87ec2e0c5e 100644
--- a/cumulusci/core/utils.py
+++ b/cumulusci/core/utils.py
@@ -50,6 +50,22 @@ def parse_datetime(dt_str, format):
     return datetime(t[0], t[1], t[2], t[3], t[4], t[5], t[6], pytz.UTC)
 
 
+def process_list_of_dicts_arg(arg):
+    """Parse an option that must be a list of dicts.
+
+    Accepts an actual list of dicts or a JSON string encoding one, which is
+    how complex options arrive when passed through the CLI with ``-o``.
+    """
+    if isinstance(arg, str):
+        try:
+            arg = json.loads(arg)
+        except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+            raise TaskOptionsError(f"Option value is not valid JSON: {e}")
+    if not isinstance(arg, list) or not all(isinstance(item, dict) for item in arg):
+        raise TaskOptionsError("Option value must be a list of objects.")
+    return arg
+
+
 def process_bool_arg(arg: T.Union[int, str, None]):
     """Determine True/False from argument.
 
diff --git a/cumulusci/tasks/metadata_etl/picklists.py b/cumulusci/tasks/metadata_etl/picklists.py
index 8a319e7655..1c0f8150f7 100644
--- a/cumulusci/tasks/metadata_etl/picklists.py
+++ b/cumulusci/tasks/metadata_etl/picklists.py
@@ -3,7 +3,11 @@
 from urllib.parse import unquote
 
 from cumulusci.core.exceptions import TaskOptionsError
-from cumulusci.core.utils import process_bool_arg, process_list_arg
+from cumulusci.core.utils import (
+    process_bool_arg,
+    process_list_arg,
+    process_list_of_dicts_arg,
+)
 from cumulusci.tasks.metadata_etl import MetadataSingleEntityTransformTask
 from cumulusci.utils.xml.metadata_tree import MetadataElement
 
@@ -65,6 +69,8 @@ def _init_options(self, kwargs):
                 self._inject_namespace(field)
             )
 
+        self.options["entries"] = process_list_of_dicts_arg(self.options["entries"])
+
         if not all(["fullName" in entry for entry in self.options["entries"]]):
             raise TaskOptionsError(
                 "The 'fullName' key is required on all picklist values."
diff --git a/cumulusci/tasks/metadata_etl/tests/test_picklists.py b/cumulusci/tasks/metadata_etl/tests/test_picklists.py
index f0afa460f4..3e62210e17 100644
--- a/cumulusci/tasks/metadata_etl/tests/test_picklists.py
+++ b/cumulusci/tasks/metadata_etl/tests/test_picklists.py
@@ -495,6 +495,29 @@ def test_init_options__missing_fullname(self):
                 },
             )
 
+    def test_init_options__entries_as_json_string(self):
+        # Simulates CLI usage: -o entries '[{"fullName": "Test", "label": "Test"}]'
+        task = create_task(
+            AddPicklistEntries,
+            {
+                "api_version": "47.0",
+                "picklists": ["Opportunity.Type__c"],
+                "entries": '[{"fullName": "Test", "label": "Test"}]',
+            },
+        )
+        assert task.options["entries"] == [{"fullName": "Test", "label": "Test"}]
+
+    def test_init_options__entries_as_invalid_json_string(self):
+        with pytest.raises(TaskOptionsError):
+            create_task(
+                AddPicklistEntries,
+                {
+                    "api_version": "47.0",
+                    "picklists": ["Opportunity.Type__c"],
+                    "entries": '[{"fullName": "Test"',
+                },
+            )
+
     def test_init_options__multiple_defaults(self):
         with pytest.raises(TaskOptionsError):
             create_task(
diff --git a/cumulusci/tasks/metadata_etl/tests/test_value_sets.py b/cumulusci/tasks/metadata_etl/tests/test_value_sets.py
index af7d537eff..cc1e4f75a2 100644
--- a/cumulusci/tasks/metadata_etl/tests/test_value_sets.py
+++ b/cumulusci/tasks/metadata_etl/tests/test_value_sets.py
@@ -30,6 +30,31 @@
 
 
 class TestAddValueSetEntries:
+    def test_init_options__entries_as_json_string(self):
+        # Simulates CLI usage: -o entries '[{"fullName": "Test", "label": "Test"}]'
+        task = create_task(
+            AddValueSetEntries,
+            {
+                "managed": True,
+                "api_version": "47.0",
+                "api_names": "bar,foo",
+                "entries": '[{"fullName": "Test", "label": "Test"}]',
+            },
+        )
+        assert task.options["entries"] == [{"fullName": "Test", "label": "Test"}]
+
+    def test_init_options__entries_as_invalid_json_string(self):
+        with pytest.raises(TaskOptionsError):
+            create_task(
+                AddValueSetEntries,
+                {
+                    "managed": True,
+                    "api_version": "47.0",
+                    "api_names": "bar,foo",
+                    "entries": '[{"fullName": "Test"',
+                },
+            )
+
     def test_adds_entry(self):
         task = create_task(
             AddValueSetEntries,
diff --git a/cumulusci/tasks/metadata_etl/value_sets.py b/cumulusci/tasks/metadata_etl/value_sets.py
index 91d9612004..56fbb7036f 100644
--- a/cumulusci/tasks/metadata_etl/value_sets.py
+++ b/cumulusci/tasks/metadata_etl/value_sets.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from cumulusci.core.exceptions import TaskOptionsError
+from cumulusci.core.utils import process_list_of_dicts_arg
 from cumulusci.tasks.metadata_etl import MetadataSingleEntityTransformTask
 from cumulusci.utils.xml.metadata_tree import MetadataElement
 
@@ -52,6 +53,11 @@ class AddValueSetEntries(MetadataSingleEntityTransformTask):
         },
     }
 
+    def _init_options(self, kwargs):
+        super()._init_options(kwargs)
+
+        self.options["entries"] = process_list_of_dicts_arg(self.options["entries"])
+
     def _transform_entity(self, metadata: MetadataElement, api_name: str):
         for entry in self.options.get("entries", []):
             if "fullName" not in entry or "label" not in entry: