diff --git a/ipalib/public.py b/ipalib/public.py
index 4c0255ef0..84d321bee 100644
--- a/ipalib/public.py
+++ b/ipalib/public.py
@@ -350,34 +350,38 @@ class Command(plugable.Plugin):
         for option in sorted(self.options(), key=get_key):
             yield option
 
-    def args_to_kw(self, *args):
-        Args = tuple(self.args())
-        if len(Args) == 0 and len(args) > 0:
-            raise errors.ArgumentError(self, 'takes no arguments')
-        if len(args) > len(Args) and not Args[-1].multivalue:
-                if len(Args) == 1:
-                    error = 'takes at most 1 argument'
-                else:
-                    error = 'takes at most %d arguments' % len(Args)
-                raise errors.ArgumentError(self, error)
-        MinArgs = sum(int(A.required) for A in Args)
-        if len(args) < MinArgs:
-            if MinArgs == 1:
+    def group_args(self, *values):
+        args = tuple(self.args())
+        if len(args) == 0:
+            if len(values) > 0:
+                raise errors.ArgumentError(self, 'takes no arguments')
+            else:
+                return tuple()
+        if len(values) > len(args) and not args[-1].multivalue:
+            if len(args) == 1:
+                error = 'takes at most 1 argument'
+            else:
+                error = 'takes at most %d arguments' % len(args)
+            raise errors.ArgumentError(self, error)
+        min_args = sum(int(a.required) for a in args)
+        if len(values) < min_args:
+            if min_args == 1:
                 error = 'takes at least 1 argument'
             else:
-                error = 'takes at least %d arguments' % MinArgs
+                error = 'takes at least %d arguments' % min_args
             raise errors.ArgumentError(self, error)
-        return dict(self.__args_to_kw_iter(args))
+        return tuple(self.__group_args_iter(values, args))
 
-    def __args_to_kw_iter(self, args):
-		for (i, Arg) in enumerate(self.args()):
-			if len(args) > i:
-				if Arg.multivalue:
-					yield (Arg.name, args[i:])
+    def __group_args_iter(self, values, args):
+		for (i, arg) in enumerate(args):
+			if len(values) > i:
+				if arg.multivalue:
+					yield values[i:]
 				else:
-					yield (Arg.name, args[i])
+					yield values[i]
 			else:
-				assert not Arg.required
+				assert not arg.required
+				yield None
 
 
 class Object(plugable.Plugin):
diff --git a/ipalib/tests/test_public.py b/ipalib/tests/test_public.py
index 8bff5a19f..aac962b53 100644
--- a/ipalib/tests/test_public.py
+++ b/ipalib/tests/test_public.py
@@ -550,38 +550,38 @@ class test_Command(ClassChecker):
         """
         assert 'execute' in self.cls.__public__ # Public
 
-    def test_args_to_kw(self):
+    def test_group_args(self):
         o = self.__get_instance(args=('one', 'two?'))
-        assert o.args_to_kw(1) == dict(one=1)
-        assert o.args_to_kw(1, 2) == dict(one=1, two=2)
+        assert o.group_args(1) == (1, None)
+        assert o.group_args(1, 2) == (1, 2)
 
         o = self.__get_instance(args=('one', 'two*'))
-        assert o.args_to_kw(1) == dict(one=1)
-        assert o.args_to_kw(1, 2) == dict(one=1, two=(2,))
-        assert o.args_to_kw(1, 2, 3) == dict(one=1, two=(2, 3))
+        assert o.group_args(1) == (1, None)
+        assert o.group_args(1, 2) == (1, (2,))
+        assert o.group_args(1, 2, 3) == (1, (2, 3))
 
         o = self.__get_instance(args=('one', 'two+'))
-        assert o.args_to_kw(1, 2) == dict(one=1, two=(2,))
-        assert o.args_to_kw(1, 2, 3) == dict(one=1, two=(2, 3))
+        assert o.group_args(1, 2) == (1, (2,))
+        assert o.group_args(1, 2, 3) == (1, (2, 3))
 
         o = self.__get_instance()
-        e = raises(errors.ArgumentError, o.args_to_kw, 1)
+        e = raises(errors.ArgumentError, o.group_args, 1)
         assert str(e) == 'example takes no arguments'
 
         o = self.__get_instance(args=('one?',))
-        e = raises(errors.ArgumentError, o.args_to_kw, 1, 2)
+        e = raises(errors.ArgumentError, o.group_args, 1, 2)
         assert str(e) == 'example takes at most 1 argument'
 
         o = self.__get_instance(args=('one', 'two?'))
-        e = raises(errors.ArgumentError, o.args_to_kw, 1, 2, 3)
+        e = raises(errors.ArgumentError, o.group_args, 1, 2, 3)
         assert str(e) == 'example takes at most 2 arguments'
 
         o = self.__get_instance(args=('one', 'two?'))
-        e = raises(errors.ArgumentError, o.args_to_kw)
+        e = raises(errors.ArgumentError, o.group_args)
         assert str(e) == 'example takes at least 1 argument'
 
         o = self.__get_instance(args=('one', 'two', 'three?'))
-        e = raises(errors.ArgumentError, o.args_to_kw, 1)
+        e = raises(errors.ArgumentError, o.group_args, 1)
         assert str(e) == 'example takes at least 2 arguments'