diff --git a/tools/idf.py b/tools/idf.py
index 1083d1d02..a8fe6089d 100755
--- a/tools/idf.py
+++ b/tools/idf.py
@@ -524,9 +524,20 @@ def get_default_serial_port():
 
 
 class PropertyDict(dict):
-    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        super(PropertyDict, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-        self.__dict__ = self
+    def __getattr__(self, name):
+        if name in self:
+            return self[name]
+        else:
+            raise AttributeError("'PropertyDict' object has no attribute '%s'" % name)
+
+    def __setattr__(self, name, value):
+        self[name] = value
+
+    def __delattr__(self, name):
+        if name in self:
+            del self[name]
+        else:
+            raise AttributeError("'PropertyDict' object has no attribute '%s'" % name)
 
 
 def init_cli():