diff --git a/swh/core/config.py b/swh/core/config.py
index 768ecc1..09df18c 100644
--- a/swh/core/config.py
+++ b/swh/core/config.py
@@ -1,55 +1,57 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2015  The Software Heritage developers
 # See the AUTHORS file at the top-level directory of this distribution
 # License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
 # See top-level LICENSE file for more information
 
 import configparser
 import os
 
 
 # conversion per type
 _map_convert_fn = {
     'int': int,
     'bool': lambda x: x.lower() == 'true',
+    'list[str]': lambda x: [value.strip() for value in x.split(',')],
+    'list[int]': lambda x: [int(value.strip()) for value in x.split(',')],
 }
 
 
 def read(conf_file, default_conf=None):
     """Read the user's configuration file.
     Fill in the gap using `default_conf`.
 `default_conf` is similar to this:
 DEFAULT_CONF = {
     'a': ('string', '/tmp/swh-loader-git/log'),
     'b': ('string', 'dbname=swhloadergit')
     'c': ('bool', true)
     'e': ('bool', None)
     'd': ('int', 10)
 }
 
     """
     config = configparser.ConfigParser(defaults=default_conf)
     config.read(os.path.expanduser(conf_file))
     conf = config._sections['main']
 
     # remaining missing default configuration key are set
     # also type conversion is enforced for underneath layer
     for key in default_conf:
         nature_type, default_value = default_conf[key]
         val = conf.get(key, None)
         if not val:  # fallback to default value
             conf[key] = default_value
         else:  # value present but in string format, force type conversion
             conf[key] = _map_convert_fn.get(nature_type, lambda x: x)(val)
 
     return conf
 
 
 def prepare_folders(conf, *keys):
     """Prepare the folder mentioned in config under keys.
     """
     def makedir(folder):
         if not os.path.exists(folder):
             os.makedirs(folder)
 
     for key in keys:
         makedir(conf[key])
diff --git a/swh/core/tests/test_config.py b/swh/core/tests/test_config.py
index c8bf3bc..abd2028 100644
--- a/swh/core/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/swh/core/tests/test_config.py
@@ -1,88 +1,94 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2015  The Software Heritage developers
 # See the AUTHORS file at the top-level directory of this distribution
 # License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
 # See top-level LICENSE file for more information
 
 import tempfile
 import unittest
 import os
 import shutil
 
 from nose.tools import istest
 
 from swh.core import config
 
 
 class ConfReaderTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     @classmethod
     def setUp(cls):
         # create a temporary folder
         cls.tmpdir = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix='test-swh-core.')
         cls.conffile = os.path.join(cls.tmpdir, 'config.ini')
         with open(cls.conffile, 'w') as conf:
             conf.write("""[main]
 a = 1
 b = this is a string
 c = true
+ls = list, of, strings
+li = 1, 2, 3, 4
 """)
 
     @classmethod
     def tearDown(cls):
         shutil.rmtree(cls.tmpdir)
 
     @istest
     def read(self):
         # given
         default_conf = {
             'a': ('int', 2),
             'b': ('string', 'default-string'),
             'c': ('bool', True),
             'd': ('int', 10),
             'e': ('int', None),
             'f': ('bool', None),
             'g': ('string', None),
+            'ls': ('list[str]', ['a', 'b', 'c']),
+            'li': ('list[int]', [42, 43]),
         }
 
         # when
         res = config.read(self.conffile, default_conf)
 
         # then
         self.assertEquals(res, {
             'a': 1,
             'b': 'this is a string',
             'c': True,
             'd': 10,
             'e': None,
             'f': None,
             'g': None,
+            'ls': ['list', 'of', 'strings'],
+            'li': [1, 2, 3, 4],
         })
 
     @istest
     def prepare_folder(self):
         # given
         conf = {'path1': os.path.join(self.tmpdir, 'path1'),
                 'path2': os.path.join(self.tmpdir, 'path2', 'depth1')}
 
         # the folders does not exists
         self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(conf['path1']),
                          "path1 should not exist.")
         self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(conf['path2']),
                          "path2 should not exist.")
 
         # when
         config.prepare_folders(conf, 'path1')
 
         # path1 exists but not path2
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(conf['path1']),
                         "path1 should now exist!")
         self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(conf['path2']),
                          "path2 should not exist.")
 
         # path1 already exists, skips it but creates path2
         config.prepare_folders(conf, 'path1', 'path2')
 
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(conf['path1']),
                         "path1 should still exist!")
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(conf['path2']),
                         "path2 should now exist.")