diff --git a/scripts/image_builder.py b/scripts/image_builder.py
index 2ba9893a..7b26c7a4 100755
--- a/scripts/image_builder.py
+++ b/scripts/image_builder.py
@@ -133,6 +133,10 @@ def build(cls, cmd: str = "", **kwargs):
 
         # TODO: add compile-time checks for scripts validity (eg. memory regions cross-check)?
 
+        # allow passing commands directly without parsing them by using `%` prefix
+        if cmd.startswith("%"):
+            return PloCmdGeneric(cmd[1:].strip())
+
         # generic PLO command - treated for now as string
         return PloCmdGeneric(cmd)