diff --git a/conan/tools/__init__.py b/conan/tools/__init__.py
index ec9305f7462..225863006b8 100644
--- a/conan/tools/__init__.py
+++ b/conan/tools/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
-CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE = "conanbuild.json"
+CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE = "conanbuild.conf"
+CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_SECTION = "toolchain"
diff --git a/conan/tools/cmake/cmake.py b/conan/tools/cmake/cmake.py
index 6536b67eb67..e124984cf73 100644
--- a/conan/tools/cmake/cmake.py
+++ b/conan/tools/cmake/cmake.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-import json
+import os
 import os
 import platform
 
-from conan.tools import CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE
 from conan.tools.cmake.utils import is_multi_configuration
+from conan.tools.files import load_toolchain_args
 from conan.tools.gnu.make import make_jobs_cmd_line_arg
 from conan.tools.meson.meson import ninja_jobs_cmd_line_arg
 from conan.tools.microsoft.msbuild import msbuild_verbosity_cmd_line_arg, \
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 from conans.client.tools.files import chdir
 from conans.client.tools.oss import cpu_count, args_to_string
 from conans.errors import ConanException
-from conans.util.files import mkdir, load
+from conans.util.files import mkdir
 
 
 def _validate_recipe(conanfile):
@@ -66,13 +66,10 @@ def __init__(self, conanfile, parallel=True):
         # Store a reference to useful data
         self._conanfile = conanfile
         self._parallel = parallel
-        self._generator = None
 
-        args_file = os.path.join(self._conanfile.generators_folder, CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE)
-        if os.path.exists(args_file):
-            json_args = json.loads(load(args_file))
-            self._generator = json_args.get("cmake_generator")
-            self._toolchain_file = json_args.get("cmake_toolchain_file")
+        toolchain_file_content = load_toolchain_args(self._conanfile.generators_folder)
+        self._generator = toolchain_file_content.get("cmake_generator")
+        self._toolchain_file = toolchain_file_content.get("cmake_toolchain_file")
 
         self._cmake_program = "cmake"  # Path to CMake should be handled by environment
 
diff --git a/conan/tools/cmake/toolchain.py b/conan/tools/cmake/toolchain.py
index 2ff9ba810b6..9fb1e87be05 100644
--- a/conan/tools/cmake/toolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/cmake/toolchain.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import json
 import os
 import re
 import textwrap
@@ -7,10 +6,10 @@
 import six
 from jinja2 import Template
 
-from conan.tools import CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE
 from conan.tools._check_build_profile import check_using_build_profile
 from conan.tools._compilers import architecture_flag, use_win_mingw
 from conan.tools.cmake.utils import is_multi_configuration, get_file_name
+from conan.tools.files import save_toolchain_args
 from conan.tools.microsoft import VCVars
 from conan.tools.microsoft.visual import vs_ide_version
 from conans.errors import ConanException
@@ -741,7 +740,7 @@ def _writebuild(self, toolchain_file):
         result["cmake_toolchain_file"] = toolchain_file or self.filename
 
         if result:
-            save(CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE, json.dumps(result))
+            save_toolchain_args(result)
 
     def _get_generator(self, recipe_generator):
         # Returns the name of the generator to be used by CMake
diff --git a/conan/tools/files/__init__.py b/conan/tools/files/__init__.py
index bb235068c7b..048030fa6c8 100644
--- a/conan/tools/files/__init__.py
+++ b/conan/tools/files/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 from conan.tools.files.files import load, save, mkdir, ftp_download, download, get, rename, \
-    load_build_json, save_build_json
+    load_toolchain_args, save_toolchain_args
 from conan.tools.files.patches import patch, apply_conandata_patches
 from conan.tools.files.cpp_package import CppPackage
diff --git a/conan/tools/files/files.py b/conan/tools/files/files.py
index 30ea7565100..3be63b57bd8 100644
--- a/conan/tools/files/files.py
+++ b/conan/tools/files/files.py
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
+import configparser
 import errno
-import json
 import os
 import platform
 import subprocess
 
-from conan.tools import CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE
+from conan.tools import CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE, CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_SECTION
 from conans.client.downloaders.download import run_downloader
 from conans.client.tools.files import unzip, which
 from conans.errors import ConanException
@@ -185,13 +185,40 @@ def rename(conanfile, src, dst):
             raise ConanException("rename {} to {} failed: {}".format(src, dst, err))
 
 
-def load_build_json(conanfile):
-    path = os.path.join(conanfile.generators_folder, CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE)
-    contents = load(conanfile, path)
-    data = json.loads(contents)
-    return data
+def load_toolchain_args(generators_folder=None):
+    """
+    Helper function to load the content of any CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE
+
+    :param generators_folder: `str` folder where is located the CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE.
+    :return: <class 'configparser.SectionProxy'>
+    """
+    args_file = os.path.join(generators_folder, CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE) if generators_folder \
+        else CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE
+    toolchain_config = configparser.ConfigParser()
+    toolchain_file = toolchain_config.read(args_file)
+    if not toolchain_file:
+        raise ConanException("The file %s does not exist. Please, make sure that it was not"
+                             " generated in another folder." % args_file)
+    try:
+        return toolchain_config[CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_SECTION]
+    except KeyError:
+        raise ConanException("The primary section [%s] does not exist in the file %s. Please, add it"
+                             " as the default one of all your configuration variables." %
+                             (CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_SECTION, args_file))
 
 
-def save_build_json(conanfile, contents):
-    path = os.path.join(conanfile.generators_folder, CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE)
-    save(conanfile, path, json.dumps(contents))
+def save_toolchain_args(content, generators_folder=None):
+    """
+    Helper function to save the content into the CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE
+
+    :param content: `dict` all the information to be saved into the toolchain file.
+    :param generators_folder: `str` folder where is located the CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE
+    """
+    # Let's prune None values
+    content_ = {k: v for k, v in content.items() if v is not None}
+    args_file = os.path.join(generators_folder, CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE) if generators_folder \
+        else CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE
+    toolchain_config = configparser.ConfigParser()
+    toolchain_config[CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_SECTION] = content_
+    with open(args_file, "w") as f:
+        toolchain_config.write(f)
diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotools.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotools.py
index 4780cb804f6..03c2f10eee6 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotools.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotools.py
@@ -1,13 +1,7 @@
-import json
-import os
-import platform
-
-from conan.tools import CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE
-from conan.tools._compilers import use_win_mingw
+from conan.tools.files import load_toolchain_args
 from conan.tools.gnu.make import make_jobs_cmd_line_arg
 from conan.tools.microsoft import unix_path
 from conans.client.build import join_arguments
-from conans.util.files import load
 
 
 class Autotools(object):
@@ -15,11 +9,9 @@ class Autotools(object):
     def __init__(self, conanfile):
         self._conanfile = conanfile
 
-        args_path = os.path.join(conanfile.generators_folder, CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE)
-        if os.path.isfile(args_path):
-            args = json.loads(load(args_path))
-            self._configure_args = args.get("configure_args")
-            self._make_args = args.get("make_args")
+        toolchain_file_content = load_toolchain_args(self._conanfile.generators_folder)
+        self._configure_args = toolchain_file_content.get("configure_args")
+        self._make_args = toolchain_file_content.get("make_args")
 
     def configure(self):
         """
diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index ac3f7815804..fac0399c95a 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -1,13 +1,10 @@
-import json
-
-from conan.tools import CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE
 from conan.tools._check_build_profile import check_using_build_profile
 from conan.tools._compilers import architecture_flag, build_type_flags, cppstd_flag
 from conan.tools.apple.apple import apple_min_version_flag, to_apple_arch, \
     apple_sdk_path
 from conan.tools.cross_building import cross_building, get_cross_building_settings
 from conan.tools.env import Environment
-from conan.tools.files import save
+from conan.tools.files import save_toolchain_args
 from conan.tools.gnu.get_gnu_triplet import _get_gnu_triplet
 from conans.tools import args_to_string
 
@@ -168,4 +165,4 @@ def generate_args(self):
         args = {"configure_args": args_to_string(configure_args),
                 "make_args":  args_to_string(self.make_args)}
 
-        save(self._conanfile, CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE, json.dumps(args))
+        save_toolchain_args(args)
diff --git a/conan/tools/google/bazel.py b/conan/tools/google/bazel.py
index a0282ca4bf3..804eec1b02b 100644
--- a/conan/tools/google/bazel.py
+++ b/conan/tools/google/bazel.py
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
-import os
-import json
+from conan.tools.files import load_toolchain_args
 
-from conan.tools import CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE
-from conans.util.files import load
 
 class Bazel(object):
     def __init__(self, conanfile):
@@ -40,10 +37,6 @@ def build(self, args=None, label=None):
         self._conanfile.run(command)
 
     def _get_bazel_project_configuration(self):
-        self._bazel_config = None
-        self._bazelrc_path = None
-
-        if os.path.exists(CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE):
-            conan_toolchain_args = json.loads(load(CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE))
-            self._bazel_config = conan_toolchain_args.get("bazel_config", None)
-            self._bazelrc_path = conan_toolchain_args.get("bazelrc_path", None)
+        toolchain_file_content = load_toolchain_args(self._conanfile.generators_folder)
+        self._bazel_config = toolchain_file_content.get("bazel_config")
+        self._bazelrc_path = toolchain_file_content.get("bazelrc_path")
diff --git a/conan/tools/google/toolchain.py b/conan/tools/google/toolchain.py
index 5a88a2381be..2adc991883f 100644
--- a/conan/tools/google/toolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/google/toolchain.py
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
-import json
-
-from conan.tools import CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE
 from conan.tools._check_build_profile import check_using_build_profile
-from conans.util.files import save
+from conan.tools.files import save_toolchain_args
 
 
 class BazelToolchain(object):
@@ -12,10 +9,7 @@ def __init__(self, conanfile):
         check_using_build_profile(self._conanfile)
 
     def generate(self):
-        bazel_config = self._conanfile.conf["tools.google.bazel:config"]
-        bazelrc_path = self._conanfile.conf["tools.google.bazel:bazelrc_path"]
-
-        save(CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE, json.dumps({
-            "bazel_config": bazel_config,
-            "bazelrc_path": bazelrc_path
-        }))
+        save_toolchain_args({
+            "bazel_config": self._conanfile.conf["tools.google.bazel:config"],
+            "bazelrc_path": self._conanfile.conf["tools.google.bazel:bazelrc_path"]
+        })
diff --git a/conans/test/functional/toolchains/cmake/test_ninja.py b/conans/test/functional/toolchains/cmake/test_ninja.py
index d757175830a..f983bffd0d5 100644
--- a/conans/test/functional/toolchains/cmake/test_ninja.py
+++ b/conans/test/functional/toolchains/cmake/test_ninja.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import pytest
 
 from conan.tools.cmake import CMakeToolchain
+from conan.tools.files import load_toolchain_args
 from conans.test.assets.cmake import gen_cmakelists
 from conans.test.assets.genconanfile import GenConanfile
 from conans.test.assets.sources import gen_function_h, gen_function_cpp
@@ -219,8 +220,8 @@ def test_ninja_conf():
     client.save({"conanfile.py": conanfile,
                  "profile": profile})
     client.run("install . -pr=profile")
-    conanbuild = client.load("conanbuild.json")
-    assert '"cmake_generator": "Ninja"' in conanbuild
+    conanbuild = load_toolchain_args(client.current_folder)
+    assert conanbuild["cmake_generator"] == "Ninja"
     vcvars = client.load("conanvcvars.bat")
     assert "2017" in vcvars
 
diff --git a/conans/test/functional/toolchains/gnu/autotools/test_ios.py b/conans/test/functional/toolchains/gnu/autotools/test_ios.py
index ff3e8685769..e6b04021339 100644
--- a/conans/test/functional/toolchains/gnu/autotools/test_ios.py
+++ b/conans/test/functional/toolchains/gnu/autotools/test_ios.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+from conan.tools.files import load_toolchain_args
 from conans.client.tools.apple import XCRun, to_apple_arch
 from conans.test.assets.autotools import gen_makefile_am, gen_configure_ac
 from conans.test.assets.sources import gen_function_cpp
@@ -72,6 +73,6 @@ def build(self):
     client.run_command("lipo -info main")
     assert "Non-fat file: main is architecture: arm64" in client.out
 
-    js = client.load("conanbuild.json")
-    assert '--host=aarch64-apple-ios' in js
-    assert '--build=x86_64-apple-darwin' in js
+    conanbuild = load_toolchain_args(client.current_folder)
+    configure_args = conanbuild["configure_args"]
+    assert configure_args == "'--host=aarch64-apple-ios' '--build=x86_64-apple-darwin'"
diff --git a/conans/test/functional/toolchains/test_bazel_toolchain.py b/conans/test/functional/toolchains/test_bazel_toolchain.py
index 39f9ad44a7e..7e56755bebc 100644
--- a/conans/test/functional/toolchains/test_bazel_toolchain.py
+++ b/conans/test/functional/toolchains/test_bazel_toolchain.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-import json
 import textwrap
 
+from conan.tools.files import load_toolchain_args
 from conans.test.assets.genconanfile import GenConanfile
 from conans.test.utils.tools import TestClient
 
@@ -14,10 +14,8 @@ def test_toolchain_empty_config():
     client.save({"conanfile.py": conanfile})
     client.run("install .")
 
-    config = json.loads(client.load("conanbuild.json"))
-
-    assert config['bazel_config'] is None
-    assert config['bazelrc_path'] is None
+    config = load_toolchain_args(client.current_folder)
+    assert not config
 
 
 def test_toolchain_loads_config_from_profile():
@@ -39,7 +37,6 @@ def test_toolchain_loads_config_from_profile():
     })
     client.run("install . -pr=test_profile")
 
-    config = json.loads(client.load("conanbuild.json"))
-
+    config = load_toolchain_args(client.current_folder)
     assert config['bazel_config'] == "test_config"
     assert config['bazelrc_path'] == "/path/to/bazelrc"
diff --git a/conans/test/functional/toolchains/test_cmake_toolchain.py b/conans/test/functional/toolchains/test_cmake_toolchain.py
index 0635febeead..f5b29b16e21 100644
--- a/conans/test/functional/toolchains/test_cmake_toolchain.py
+++ b/conans/test/functional/toolchains/test_cmake_toolchain.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-import json
 import os
 import platform
 
 import pytest
 
+from conan.tools.files import load_toolchain_args
 from conans.test.assets.genconanfile import GenConanfile
 from conans.test.utils.tools import TestClient
 from conans.util.files import save
@@ -61,5 +61,5 @@ def test_cmake_toolchain_custom_toolchain():
     client.save({"conanfile.py": conanfile})
     client.run("install .")
     assert not os.path.exists(os.path.join(client.current_folder, "conan_toolchain.cmake"))
-    buildjson = json.loads(client.load("conanbuild.json"))
-    assert "mytoolchain.cmake" == buildjson["cmake_toolchain_file"]
+    build_content = load_toolchain_args(client.current_folder)
+    assert "mytoolchain.cmake" == build_content["cmake_toolchain_file"]
diff --git a/conans/test/unittests/client/toolchain/autotools/autotools_test.py b/conans/test/unittests/client/toolchain/autotools/autotools_test.py
index f2959f49f1d..2e8dd0741b6 100644
--- a/conans/test/unittests/client/toolchain/autotools/autotools_test.py
+++ b/conans/test/unittests/client/toolchain/autotools/autotools_test.py
@@ -2,10 +2,9 @@
 
 from mock import Mock
 
-from conan.tools import CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE
+from conan.tools.files import save_toolchain_args
 from conan.tools.gnu import Autotools
 from conans import ConanFile
-from conans.client.tools.files import save
 from conans.model.conf import Conf
 from conans.test.unittests.util.tools_test import RunnerMock
 from conans.test.utils.mocks import MockSettings
@@ -15,10 +14,10 @@
 def test_configure_arguments():
     tmp = temp_folder()
     os.chdir(tmp)
-    save(CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE, """
-    {"configure_args": "my_configure_args",
-     "make_args": "my_make_args"}
-    """)
+    save_toolchain_args({
+        "configure_args": "my_configure_args",
+        "make_args": "my_make_args"}
+    )
     runner = RunnerMock()
     conanfile = ConanFile(Mock(), runner=runner)
     conanfile.settings = MockSettings({})
diff --git a/conans/test/unittests/client/toolchain/autotools/autotools_toolchain_test.py b/conans/test/unittests/client/toolchain/autotools/autotools_toolchain_test.py
index c1697716ec2..871d57a0dbf 100644
--- a/conans/test/unittests/client/toolchain/autotools/autotools_toolchain_test.py
+++ b/conans/test/unittests/client/toolchain/autotools/autotools_toolchain_test.py
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
-import json
 import platform
 from os import chdir
 
 import pytest
 
-from conan.tools import CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE
+from conan.tools.files import load_toolchain_args
 from conan.tools.gnu import AutotoolsToolchain
 from conans.errors import ConanException
 from conans.model.conf import Conf
@@ -45,9 +44,7 @@ def test_target_triple():
     be = AutotoolsToolchain(conanfile)
     be.make_args = ["foo", "var"]
     be.generate_args()
-    with open(CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE) as f:
-        obj = json.load(f)
-
+    obj = load_toolchain_args()
     assert "--host=x86_64-linux-gnu" in obj["configure_args"]
     assert "--build=i686-solaris" in obj["configure_args"]
     assert obj["make_args"].replace("'", "") == "foo var"
@@ -75,7 +72,7 @@ def test_cppstd():
          "cppstd": "17"})
     be = AutotoolsToolchain(conanfile)
     env = be.environment()
-    assert not "-std=c++17" in env["CXXFLAGS"]
+    assert "-std=c++17" not in env["CXXFLAGS"]
 
     # Using "compiler.cppstd" works
     conanfile.settings = MockSettings(
diff --git a/conans/test/unittests/tools/files/test_toolchain.py b/conans/test/unittests/tools/files/test_toolchain.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0a4238e1d20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/conans/test/unittests/tools/files/test_toolchain.py
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import os
+import tempfile
+import textwrap
+
+import pytest
+from conans import load
+
+from conan.tools import CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE, CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_SECTION
+from conan.tools.files import load_toolchain_args, save_toolchain_args
+from conans.errors import ConanException
+from conans.util.files import save, remove
+
+
+def test_load_empty_toolchain_args_in_default_dir():
+    save(CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE, "[%s]" % CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_SECTION)
+    try:
+        config = load_toolchain_args()
+        assert not config
+    finally:
+        remove(CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE)
+
+
+def test_load_toolchain_args_if_it_does_not_exist():
+    with pytest.raises(ConanException):
+        load_toolchain_args()
+
+
+def test_toolchain_args_with_content_full():
+    temp_folder = tempfile.mkdtemp()
+    content = textwrap.dedent(r"""
+    [%s]
+    win_path=my\win\path
+    command=conan --option "My Option"
+    my_regex=([A-Z])\w+
+    """ % CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_SECTION)
+    save(os.path.join(temp_folder,  CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE), content)
+    args = load_toolchain_args(generators_folder=temp_folder)
+    assert args["win_path"] == r'my\win\path'
+    assert args["command"] == r'conan --option "My Option"'
+    assert args["my_regex"] == r'([A-Z])\w+'
+
+
+def test_save_toolchain_args_empty():
+    temp_folder = tempfile.mkdtemp()
+    content = {}
+    save_toolchain_args(content, generators_folder=temp_folder)
+    args = load(os.path.join(temp_folder, CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE))
+    assert "[%s]" % CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_SECTION in args
+
+
+def test_save_toolchain_args_full():
+    temp_folder = tempfile.mkdtemp()
+    content = {
+        'win_path': r'my\win\path',
+        'command': r'conan --option "My Option"',
+        'my_regex': r'([A-Z])\w+'
+    }
+    save_toolchain_args(content, generators_folder=temp_folder)
+    args = load(os.path.join(temp_folder, CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE))
+    assert "[%s]" % CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_SECTION in args
+    assert r'win_path = my\win\path' in args
diff --git a/conans/test/unittests/tools/google/test_bazel.py b/conans/test/unittests/tools/google/test_bazel.py
index d18e8a41b77..ff269504b83 100644
--- a/conans/test/unittests/tools/google/test_bazel.py
+++ b/conans/test/unittests/tools/google/test_bazel.py
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 import textwrap
+import os
+from conan.tools import CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_SECTION, CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE
+from conans.util.files import save, remove
 
 from conan.tools.google import Bazel
 from conans.model.conf import ConfDefinition
@@ -6,32 +9,33 @@
 
 
 def test_bazel_command_with_empty_config():
-    c = ConfDefinition()
-    c.loads(textwrap.dedent("""\
-        tools.google.bazel:config=
-        tools.google.bazel:bazelrc_path=
-    """))
-
     conanfile = ConanFileMock()
-    conanfile.conf = c.get_conanfile_conf(None)
+    args_file = os.path.join(conanfile.generators_folder, CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE)
+    save(args_file,
+         textwrap.dedent("""\
+            [%s]
+            bazel_config=
+            bazelrc_path=
+            """ % CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_SECTION))
 
     bazel = Bazel(conanfile)
     bazel.build(label='//test:label')
-
+    # TODO: Create a context manager to remove the file
+    remove(args_file)
     assert 'bazel  build  //test:label' == str(conanfile.command)
 
 
 def test_bazel_command_with_config_values():
-    c = ConfDefinition()
-    c.loads(textwrap.dedent("""\
-        tools.google.bazel:config=config
-        tools.google.bazel:bazelrc_path=/path/to/bazelrc
-    """))
-
     conanfile = ConanFileMock()
-    conanfile.conf = c.get_conanfile_conf(None)
-
+    args_file = os.path.join(conanfile.generators_folder, CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_FILE)
+    save(args_file,
+         textwrap.dedent("""\
+            [%s]
+            bazel_config=config
+            bazelrc_path=/path/to/bazelrc
+            """ % CONAN_TOOLCHAIN_ARGS_SECTION))
     bazel = Bazel(conanfile)
     bazel.build(label='//test:label')
-
-    assert 'bazel  build  //test:label' == str(conanfile.command)
+    # TODO: Create a context manager to remove the file
+    remove(args_file)
+    assert 'bazel --bazelrc=/path/to/bazelrc build --config=config //test:label' == str(conanfile.command)