diff --git a/Jamfile.jam b/Jamfile.jam
index 28c7f04..70cb0d6 100644
--- a/Jamfile.jam
+++ b/Jamfile.jam
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ DEPCACHE.standard = $(BUILD)/.depcache ;
 include "Jamrules.jam" ;
 
 # split define sets into list
-local DEFINESETS = [ Split $(defines) : ';' ] ;
+local DEFINESETS = [ Split $(defines) : ':' ] ;
 
 # split configurations into list
 local CONFIGURATIONS = [ Split $(configuration) : ',' ] ;
diff --git a/tests/autotest-local.pl b/tests/autotest-local.pl
index 8f155c5..3769d64 100644
--- a/tests/autotest-local.pl
+++ b/tests/autotest-local.pl
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ foreach $toolset (@toolsets)
 		if ($defineset !~ /NO_XPATH/ && $defineset =~ /NO_EXCEPTIONS/) { next; }
 		if ($defineset !~ /NO_XPATH/ && $defineset =~ /NO_STL/) { next; }
 
-		$cmdline .= ";$defineset" if ($defineset ne '');
+		$cmdline .= ":$defineset" if ($defineset ne '');
 
 		# any configuration with prepare but without result is treated as failed
 		foreach $configuration (@configurations)