diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/arg_parsing.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/arg_parsing.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..8db17685da23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/arg_parsing.c
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: (LGPL-2.1 OR BSD-2-Clause)
+
+#include "test_progs.h"
+#include "testing_helpers.h"
+
+static void init_test_filter_set(struct test_filter_set *set)
+{
+	set->cnt = 0;
+	set->tests = NULL;
+}
+
+static void free_test_filter_set(struct test_filter_set *set)
+{
+	int i, j;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < set->cnt; i++) {
+		for (j = 0; j < set->tests[i].subtest_cnt; j++)
+			free((void *)set->tests[i].subtests[j]);
+		free(set->tests[i].subtests);
+		free(set->tests[i].name);
+	}
+
+	free(set->tests);
+	init_test_filter_set(set);
+}
+
+static void test_parse_test_list(void)
+{
+	struct test_filter_set set;
+
+	init_test_filter_set(&set);
+
+	ASSERT_OK(parse_test_list("arg_parsing", &set, true), "parsing");
+	if (!ASSERT_EQ(set.cnt, 1, "test filters count"))
+		goto error;
+	if (!ASSERT_OK_PTR(set.tests, "test filters initialized"))
+		goto error;
+	ASSERT_EQ(set.tests[0].subtest_cnt, 0, "subtest filters count");
+	ASSERT_OK(strcmp("arg_parsing", set.tests[0].name), "subtest name");
+	free_test_filter_set(&set);
+
+	ASSERT_OK(parse_test_list("arg_parsing,bpf_cookie", &set, true),
+		  "parsing");
+	if (!ASSERT_EQ(set.cnt, 2, "count of test filters"))
+		goto error;
+	if (!ASSERT_OK_PTR(set.tests, "test filters initialized"))
+		goto error;
+	ASSERT_EQ(set.tests[0].subtest_cnt, 0, "subtest filters count");
+	ASSERT_EQ(set.tests[1].subtest_cnt, 0, "subtest filters count");
+	ASSERT_OK(strcmp("arg_parsing", set.tests[0].name), "test name");
+	ASSERT_OK(strcmp("bpf_cookie", set.tests[1].name), "test name");
+	free_test_filter_set(&set);
+
+	ASSERT_OK(parse_test_list("arg_parsing/arg_parsing,bpf_cookie",
+				  &set,
+				  true),
+		  "parsing");
+	if (!ASSERT_EQ(set.cnt, 2, "count of test filters"))
+		goto error;
+	if (!ASSERT_OK_PTR(set.tests, "test filters initialized"))
+		goto error;
+	if (!ASSERT_EQ(set.tests[0].subtest_cnt, 1, "subtest filters count"))
+		goto error;
+	if (!ASSERT_EQ(set.tests[1].subtest_cnt, 0, "subtest filters count"))
+		goto error;
+	ASSERT_OK(strcmp("arg_parsing", set.tests[0].name), "test name");
+	ASSERT_OK(strcmp("arg_parsing", set.tests[0].subtests[0]),
+		  "subtest name");
+	ASSERT_OK(strcmp("bpf_cookie", set.tests[1].name), "test name");
+	free_test_filter_set(&set);
+
+	ASSERT_OK(parse_test_list("arg_parsing/arg_parsing", &set, true),
+		  "parsing");
+	ASSERT_OK(parse_test_list("bpf_cookie", &set, true), "parsing");
+	ASSERT_OK(parse_test_list("send_signal", &set, true), "parsing");
+	if (!ASSERT_EQ(set.cnt, 3, "count of test filters"))
+		goto error;
+	if (!ASSERT_OK_PTR(set.tests, "test filters initialized"))
+		goto error;
+	if (!ASSERT_EQ(set.tests[0].subtest_cnt, 1, "subtest filters count"))
+		goto error;
+	if (!ASSERT_EQ(set.tests[1].subtest_cnt, 0, "subtest filters count"))
+		goto error;
+	if (!ASSERT_EQ(set.tests[2].subtest_cnt, 0, "subtest filters count"))
+		goto error;
+	ASSERT_OK(strcmp("arg_parsing", set.tests[0].name), "test name");
+	ASSERT_OK(strcmp("arg_parsing", set.tests[0].subtests[0]),
+		  "subtest name");
+	ASSERT_OK(strcmp("bpf_cookie", set.tests[1].name), "test name");
+	ASSERT_OK(strcmp("send_signal", set.tests[2].name), "test name");
+error:
+	free_test_filter_set(&set);
+}
+
+void test_arg_parsing(void)
+{
+	if (test__start_subtest("test_parse_test_list"))
+		test_parse_test_list();
+}
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_progs.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_progs.c
index 0a4b45d7b515..3599d4ee8d24 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_progs.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_progs.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
  */
 #define _GNU_SOURCE
 #include "test_progs.h"
+#include "testing_helpers.h"
 #include "cgroup_helpers.h"
 #include <argp.h>
 #include <pthread.h>
@@ -84,12 +85,13 @@ static bool should_run(struct test_selector *sel, int num, const char *name)
 	int i;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < sel->blacklist.cnt; i++) {
-		if (glob_match(name, sel->blacklist.strs[i]))
+		if (glob_match(name, sel->blacklist.tests[i].name) &&
+		    !sel->blacklist.tests[i].subtest_cnt)
 			return false;
 	}
 
 	for (i = 0; i < sel->whitelist.cnt; i++) {
-		if (glob_match(name, sel->whitelist.strs[i]))
+		if (glob_match(name, sel->whitelist.tests[i].name))
 			return true;
 	}
 
@@ -99,6 +101,46 @@ static bool should_run(struct test_selector *sel, int num, const char *name)
 	return num < sel->num_set_len && sel->num_set[num];
 }
 
+static bool should_run_subtest(struct test_selector *sel,
+			       struct test_selector *subtest_sel,
+			       int subtest_num,
+			       const char *test_name,
+			       const char *subtest_name)
+{
+	int i, j;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < sel->blacklist.cnt; i++) {
+		if (glob_match(test_name, sel->blacklist.tests[i].name)) {
+			if (!sel->blacklist.tests[i].subtest_cnt)
+				return false;
+
+			for (j = 0; j < sel->blacklist.tests[i].subtest_cnt; j++) {
+				if (glob_match(subtest_name,
+					       sel->blacklist.tests[i].subtests[j]))
+					return false;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	for (i = 0; i < sel->whitelist.cnt; i++) {
+		if (glob_match(test_name, sel->whitelist.tests[i].name)) {
+			if (!sel->whitelist.tests[i].subtest_cnt)
+				return true;
+
+			for (j = 0; j < sel->whitelist.tests[i].subtest_cnt; j++) {
+				if (glob_match(subtest_name,
+					       sel->whitelist.tests[i].subtests[j]))
+					return true;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (!sel->whitelist.cnt && !subtest_sel->num_set)
+		return true;
+
+	return subtest_num < subtest_sel->num_set_len && subtest_sel->num_set[subtest_num];
+}
+
 static void dump_test_log(const struct prog_test_def *test, bool failed)
 {
 	if (stdout == env.stdout)
@@ -196,7 +238,7 @@ void test__end_subtest(void)
 	test->subtest_name = NULL;
 }
 
-bool test__start_subtest(const char *name)
+bool test__start_subtest(const char *subtest_name)
 {
 	struct prog_test_def *test = env.test;
 
@@ -205,17 +247,21 @@ bool test__start_subtest(const char *name)
 
 	test->subtest_num++;
 
-	if (!name || !name[0]) {
+	if (!subtest_name || !subtest_name[0]) {
 		fprintf(env.stderr,
 			"Subtest #%d didn't provide sub-test name!\n",
 			test->subtest_num);
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	if (!should_run(&env.subtest_selector, test->subtest_num, name))
+	if (!should_run_subtest(&env.test_selector,
+				&env.subtest_selector,
+				test->subtest_num,
+				test->test_name,
+				subtest_name))
 		return false;
 
-	test->subtest_name = strdup(name);
+	test->subtest_name = strdup(subtest_name);
 	if (!test->subtest_name) {
 		fprintf(env.stderr,
 			"Subtest #%d: failed to copy subtest name!\n",
@@ -527,63 +573,29 @@ static int libbpf_print_fn(enum libbpf_print_level level,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static void free_str_set(const struct str_set *set)
+static void free_test_filter_set(const struct test_filter_set *set)
 {
-	int i;
+	int i, j;
 
 	if (!set)
 		return;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < set->cnt; i++)
-		free((void *)set->strs[i]);
-	free(set->strs);
-}
-
-static int parse_str_list(const char *s, struct str_set *set, bool is_glob_pattern)
-{
-	char *input, *state = NULL, *next, **tmp, **strs = NULL;
-	int i, cnt = 0;
-
-	input = strdup(s);
-	if (!input)
-		return -ENOMEM;
-
-	while ((next = strtok_r(state ? NULL : input, ",", &state))) {
-		tmp = realloc(strs, sizeof(*strs) * (cnt + 1));
-		if (!tmp)
-			goto err;
-		strs = tmp;
-
-		if (is_glob_pattern) {
-			strs[cnt] = strdup(next);
-			if (!strs[cnt])
-				goto err;
-		} else {
-			strs[cnt] = malloc(strlen(next) + 2 + 1);
-			if (!strs[cnt])
-				goto err;
-			sprintf(strs[cnt], "*%s*", next);
-		}
+	for (i = 0; i < set->cnt; i++) {
+		free((void *)set->tests[i].name);
+		for (j = 0; j < set->tests[i].subtest_cnt; j++)
+			free((void *)set->tests[i].subtests[j]);
 
-		cnt++;
+		free((void *)set->tests[i].subtests);
 	}
 
-	tmp = realloc(set->strs, sizeof(*strs) * (cnt + set->cnt));
-	if (!tmp)
-		goto err;
-	memcpy(tmp + set->cnt, strs, sizeof(*strs) * cnt);
-	set->strs = (const char **)tmp;
-	set->cnt += cnt;
+	free((void *)set->tests);
+}
 
-	free(input);
-	free(strs);
-	return 0;
-err:
-	for (i = 0; i < cnt; i++)
-		free(strs[i]);
-	free(strs);
-	free(input);
-	return -ENOMEM;
+static void free_test_selector(struct test_selector *test_selector)
+{
+	free_test_filter_set(&test_selector->blacklist);
+	free_test_filter_set(&test_selector->whitelist);
+	free(test_selector->num_set);
 }
 
 extern int extra_prog_load_log_flags;
@@ -615,33 +627,17 @@ static error_t parse_arg(int key, char *arg, struct argp_state *state)
 	}
 	case ARG_TEST_NAME_GLOB_ALLOWLIST:
 	case ARG_TEST_NAME: {
-		char *subtest_str = strchr(arg, '/');
-
-		if (subtest_str) {
-			*subtest_str = '\0';
-			if (parse_str_list(subtest_str + 1,
-					   &env->subtest_selector.whitelist,
-					   key == ARG_TEST_NAME_GLOB_ALLOWLIST))
-				return -ENOMEM;
-		}
-		if (parse_str_list(arg, &env->test_selector.whitelist,
-				   key == ARG_TEST_NAME_GLOB_ALLOWLIST))
+		if (parse_test_list(arg,
+				    &env->test_selector.whitelist,
+				    key == ARG_TEST_NAME_GLOB_ALLOWLIST))
 			return -ENOMEM;
 		break;
 	}
 	case ARG_TEST_NAME_GLOB_DENYLIST:
 	case ARG_TEST_NAME_BLACKLIST: {
-		char *subtest_str = strchr(arg, '/');
-
-		if (subtest_str) {
-			*subtest_str = '\0';
-			if (parse_str_list(subtest_str + 1,
-					   &env->subtest_selector.blacklist,
-					   key == ARG_TEST_NAME_GLOB_DENYLIST))
-				return -ENOMEM;
-		}
-		if (parse_str_list(arg, &env->test_selector.blacklist,
-				   key == ARG_TEST_NAME_GLOB_DENYLIST))
+		if (parse_test_list(arg,
+				    &env->test_selector.blacklist,
+				    key == ARG_TEST_NAME_GLOB_DENYLIST))
 			return -ENOMEM;
 		break;
 	}
@@ -1493,12 +1489,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 out:
 	if (!env.list_test_names && env.has_testmod)
 		unload_bpf_testmod();
-	free_str_set(&env.test_selector.blacklist);
-	free_str_set(&env.test_selector.whitelist);
-	free(env.test_selector.num_set);
-	free_str_set(&env.subtest_selector.blacklist);
-	free_str_set(&env.subtest_selector.whitelist);
-	free(env.subtest_selector.num_set);
+
+	free_test_selector(&env.test_selector);
 
 	if (env.succ_cnt + env.fail_cnt + env.skip_cnt == 0)
 		return EXIT_NO_TEST;
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_progs.h b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_progs.h
index eec4c7385b14..ecb5fef29ee6 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_progs.h
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_progs.h
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ typedef __u16 __sum16;
 #include <bpf/bpf_endian.h>
 #include "trace_helpers.h"
 #include "testing_helpers.h"
-#include "flow_dissector_load.h"
 
 enum verbosity {
 	VERBOSE_NONE,
@@ -46,14 +45,20 @@ enum verbosity {
 	VERBOSE_SUPER,
 };
 
-struct str_set {
-	const char **strs;
+struct test_filter {
+	char *name;
+	char **subtests;
+	int subtest_cnt;
+};
+
+struct test_filter_set {
+	struct test_filter *tests;
 	int cnt;
 };
 
 struct test_selector {
-	struct str_set whitelist;
-	struct str_set blacklist;
+	struct test_filter_set whitelist;
+	struct test_filter_set blacklist;
 	bool *num_set;
 	int num_set_len;
 };
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/testing_helpers.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/testing_helpers.c
index 795b6798ccee..4416a2532ece 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/testing_helpers.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/testing_helpers.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <bpf/bpf.h>
 #include <bpf/libbpf.h>
+#include "test_progs.h"
 #include "testing_helpers.h"
 
 int parse_num_list(const char *s, bool **num_set, int *num_set_len)
@@ -69,6 +70,89 @@ int parse_num_list(const char *s, bool **num_set, int *num_set_len)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+int parse_test_list(const char *s,
+		    struct test_filter_set *set,
+		    bool is_glob_pattern)
+{
+	char *input, *state = NULL, *next;
+	struct test_filter *tmp, *tests = NULL;
+	int i, j, cnt = 0;
+
+	input = strdup(s);
+	if (!input)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	while ((next = strtok_r(state ? NULL : input, ",", &state))) {
+		char *subtest_str = strchr(next, '/');
+		char *pattern = NULL;
+
+		tmp = realloc(tests, sizeof(*tests) * (cnt + 1));
+		if (!tmp)
+			goto err;
+		tests = tmp;
+
+		tests[cnt].subtest_cnt = 0;
+		tests[cnt].subtests = NULL;
+
+		if (subtest_str) {
+			char **tmp_subtests = NULL;
+			int subtest_cnt = tests[cnt].subtest_cnt;
+
+			*subtest_str = '\0';
+			tmp_subtests = realloc(tests[cnt].subtests,
+					       sizeof(*tmp_subtests) *
+					       (subtest_cnt + 1));
+			if (!tmp_subtests)
+				goto err;
+			tests[cnt].subtests = tmp_subtests;
+
+			tests[cnt].subtests[subtest_cnt] = strdup(subtest_str + 1);
+			if (!tests[cnt].subtests[subtest_cnt])
+				goto err;
+
+			tests[cnt].subtest_cnt++;
+		}
+
+		if (is_glob_pattern) {
+			pattern = "%s";
+			tests[cnt].name = malloc(strlen(next) + 1);
+		} else {
+			pattern = "*%s*";
+			tests[cnt].name = malloc(strlen(next) + 2 + 1);
+		}
+
+		if (!tests[cnt].name)
+			goto err;
+
+		sprintf(tests[cnt].name, pattern, next);
+
+		cnt++;
+	}
+
+	tmp = realloc(set->tests, sizeof(*tests) * (cnt + set->cnt));
+	if (!tmp)
+		goto err;
+
+	memcpy(tmp +  set->cnt, tests, sizeof(*tests) * cnt);
+	set->tests = tmp;
+	set->cnt += cnt;
+
+	free(tests);
+	free(input);
+	return 0;
+
+err:
+	for (i = 0; i < cnt; i++) {
+		for (j = 0; j < tests[i].subtest_cnt; j++)
+			free(tests[i].subtests[j]);
+
+		free(tests[i].name);
+	}
+	free(tests);
+	free(input);
+	return -ENOMEM;
+}
+
 __u32 link_info_prog_id(const struct bpf_link *link, struct bpf_link_info *info)
 {
 	__u32 info_len = sizeof(*info);
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/testing_helpers.h b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/testing_helpers.h
index f46ebc476ee8..6ec00bf79cb5 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/testing_helpers.h
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/testing_helpers.h
@@ -12,3 +12,11 @@ int bpf_test_load_program(enum bpf_prog_type type, const struct bpf_insn *insns,
 			  size_t insns_cnt, const char *license,
 			  __u32 kern_version, char *log_buf,
 			  size_t log_buf_sz);
+
+/*
+ * below function is exported for testing in prog_test test
+ */
+struct test_filter_set;
+int parse_test_list(const char *s,
+		    struct test_filter_set *test_set,
+		    bool is_glob_pattern);
