diff --git a/common/parameterized.py b/common/parameterized.py
index 7cd21bb9c..f36d649da 100644
--- a/common/parameterized.py
+++ b/common/parameterized.py
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
+import re
 import sys
 import pytest
 import inspect
 
 
+def _to_safe_name(s):
+  return re.sub(r"[^a-zA-Z0-9_]+", "_", str(s)).strip("_")
+
+
 class parameterized:
   @staticmethod
   def expand(cases):
@@ -34,7 +39,9 @@ def parameterized_class(attrs, input_list=None):
   def decorator(cls):
     globs = sys._getframe(1).f_globals
     for i, params in enumerate(params_list):
-      name = f"{cls.__name__}_{i}"
+      # append sanitized string param values so pytest -k can filter by them
+      suffix = "_".join(filter(None, (_to_safe_name(v) for v in params.values() if isinstance(v, str))))
+      name = f"{cls.__name__}_{i}" + (f"_{suffix}" if suffix else "")
       new_cls = type(name, (cls,), dict(params))
       new_cls.__module__ = cls.__module__
       new_cls.__test__ = True  # override inherited False so pytest collects this subclass