diff --git a/redbot/_update/cmd/cog_compatibility.py b/redbot/_update/cmd/cog_compatibility.py
index 7b17d43a5..4ab4732c1 100644
--- a/redbot/_update/cmd/cog_compatibility.py
+++ b/redbot/_update/cmd/cog_compatibility.py
@@ -169,11 +169,12 @@ async def call(
         "redbot._update",
         *debug_args,
         CMD_NAME,
-        instance_name,
         arg_names.RED_VERSION,
         str(red_version),
         arg_names.PYTHON_VERSION,
         str(python_version),
+        "--",
+        instance_name,
     ]
     if ignore_prefix:
         args.append(arg_names.CHECK_OTHER_PYTHON_INSTALLS)
diff --git a/redbot/_update/internal.py b/redbot/_update/internal.py
index 17b3b989d..6affb9001 100644
--- a/redbot/_update/internal.py
+++ b/redbot/_update/internal.py
@@ -393,6 +393,7 @@ async def _call_cog_update(instance_name: str, *, update_repos: bool) -> Tuple[i
         "redbot._update.internal",
         *debug_args,
         _UPDATE_COGS_CMD_NAME,
+        "--",
         instance_name,
     ]
     if update_repos:
diff --git a/redbot/_update/updater.py b/redbot/_update/updater.py
index f9095f8bd..e809c84cb 100644
--- a/redbot/_update/updater.py
+++ b/redbot/_update/updater.py
@@ -653,6 +653,7 @@ class Updater:
                 "redbot.setup",
                 "backup",
                 *debug_args,
+                "--",
                 instance_name,
                 str(instance_backups_dir),
             )