diff --git a/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/commands.py b/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/commands.py
index 1ccc107aed..f4876ca6c9 100644
--- a/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/commands.py
+++ b/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/commands.py
@@ -254,10 +254,11 @@ def get_bb_env(target=None, postconfig=None):
         return bitbake("-e", postconfig=postconfig).output
 
 def get_bb_vars(variables=None, target=None, postconfig=None):
-    """Get values of multiple bitbake variables
+    """Get values of multiple bitbake variables or variable flags
 
-    All values are read with a single tinfoil session. If variables is None,
-    all variables are returned. Unset or empty values are returned as None.
+    All values are read with a single tinfoil session. Variable flags can be
+    requested with the VAR[flag] syntax. If variables is None, all variables
+    are returned. Unset or empty values are returned as None.
     """
     import bb.tinfoil
 
@@ -282,8 +283,13 @@ def get_bb_vars(variables=None, target=None, postconfig=None):
                     values[var] = str(val)
             return values
 
+        flag_re = re.compile(r'^(?P<var>[^\[]+)\[(?P<flag>[^\]]+)\]$')
         for var in variables:
-            val = d.getVar(var)
+            match = flag_re.match(var)
+            if match:
+                val = d.getVarFlag(match.group('var'), match.group('flag'))
+            else:
+                val = d.getVar(var)
             values[var] = str(val) if val is not None and val != '' else None
     return values