diff --git a/.github/workflows/scripts/test_utils.sh b/.github/workflows/scripts/test_utils.sh
index 66d47460..4b335534 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/scripts/test_utils.sh
+++ b/.github/workflows/scripts/test_utils.sh
@@ -45,3 +45,58 @@ check_disallowed_env_prefix() {
     echo "✅ No disallowed environment variables with prefix '$prefix' found."
   fi
 }
+
+init_eessi_environment() {
+  # Helper function to initialize the EESSI environment, and optionally add
+  # a path to the modulepath in which EESSI-extend has made local installs
+  # Expected usage:
+  #  init_eessi_environment --eessi-version <version> [--installation-path <path>] \
+  #                         [--accelerator-target <target>] [--cuda-cc <n>]
+  local eessi_version=""
+  local eessi_extend_installation_path=""
+  local accelerator_target_override=""
+  local cuda_cc=""
+
+  while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+    case "$1" in
+      --eessi-version)
+        eessi_version="$2"
+        shift 2
+        ;;
+      --installation-path)
+        eessi_extend_installation_path="$2"
+        shift 2
+        ;;
+      --accelerator-target)
+        accelerator_target_override="$2"
+        shift 2
+        ;;
+      --cuda-cc)
+        cuda_cc="$2"
+        shift 2
+        ;;
+      *)
+        echo "ERROR: Unknown option '$1' passed to init_eessi_environment" >&2
+        return 1
+        ;;
+    esac
+  done
+
+  if [ -z "$eessi_version" ]; then
+    echo "ERROR: --eessi-version is required" >&2
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  # Let's start from a clean slate
+  module --force purge
+  if [ -n "$accelerator_target_override" ]; then
+    export EESSI_ACCELERATOR_TARGET_OVERRIDE="$accelerator_target_override"
+  fi
+  # Load the EESSI module
+  module load EESSI/$eessi_version
+  # Access the installed EESSI-extend (if an installation path was provided)
+  if [ -n "$eessi_extend_installation_path" ]; then
+    module use "$eessi_extend_installation_path"/modules/all
+  fi
+  check_disallowed_env_prefix EASYBUILD_
+}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests_eessi_extend_module.yml b/.github/workflows/tests_eessi_extend_module.yml
index f7773852..32fb46f3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests_eessi_extend_module.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests_eessi_extend_module.yml
@@ -28,7 +28,13 @@ jobs:
           eessi_stack_version: ${{matrix.eessi_version}}
           use_eessi_module: true
 
-      - name: Install the EESSI-extend shipped with the repository and verify it is consistent with the CVMFS repo
+      - name: Set the installation path for EESSI-extend
+        run: |
+          # Configuration item used throughout this workflow:
+          # adjust this to change where EESSI-extend is (re)built and picked up from
+          echo "MY_INSTALLATION_PATH=/tmp/easybuild" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+
+      - name: Install the EESSI-extend shipped with the repository
         run: |
           # Define a function to check the values of environment variables
           # and another that checks an environment does not contain environment 
@@ -46,56 +52,19 @@ jobs:
 
           # Load EasyBuild to install EESSI-extend
           module load EasyBuild
-          # Set an installation path
-          export MY_INSTALLATION_PATH=/tmp/easybuild
           export EASYBUILD_PREFIX=$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH
           eb EESSI-extend-easybuild.eb --rebuild
           module unload EasyBuild
 
-          # Verify that we can pick the installed version up
-          module use $MY_INSTALLATION_PATH/modules/all
-          # Verify we can run "module show" on the module
-          module show EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild
-          # Now load it and run additional checks
-          module load EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild
-          echo $EBROOTEESSIMINEXTEND | grep $MY_INSTALLATION_PATH || { echo "ERROR: Installed version of EESSI-extend not picked up (loaded $EBROOTEESSIMINEXTEND)" >&2; exit 1; }
-          # Do a test rebuild (with default and local hooks)
-          echo "Testing a rebuild using the hooks shipped with EESSI"
-          eb --rebuild ${{matrix.rebuild_software}}
-          echo "Testing a rebuild using the hooks in the current branch"
-          eb --rebuild --hooks=./eb_hooks.py ${{matrix.rebuild_software}}
-          
-          # First, check if it differs against what is currently shipped by CVMFS
-          diff   <(grep -v '^local root = \|^-- Built with EasyBuild version' /cvmfs/software.eessi.io/versions/${{matrix.eessi_version}}/software/linux/$(uname -m)/generic/modules/all/EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild.lua)   <(grep -v '^local root = \|^-- Built with EasyBuild version' $MY_INSTALLATION_PATH/modules/all/EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild.lua)
-          # Then do a consistency check in CVMFS for all architectures
-          .github/workflows/scripts/diff_eessi_extend.sh
-
-          # Proceed with unload and checking the environment variables
-          module unload EESSI-extend
-          # That should have unset all EasyBuild envvars (including EASYBUILD_PREFIX)
-          check_disallowed_env_prefix EASYBUILD_
-          module unuse $MY_INSTALLATION_PATH/modules/all
-
-      - name: Run tests for EESSI-extend in the various CPU-only scenarios
+      - name: Run tests for EESSI-extend in the CVMFS install scenario
         run: |
-          export MY_INSTALLATION_PATH=/tmp/easybuild
-
-          # Define a function to check the values of environment variables
-          # and another that checks an environment does not contain environment 
-          # variables matching a certain pattern
           source .github/workflows/scripts/test_utils.sh
-
-          # Let's start from a clean slate
-          module --force purge
-          module load EESSI/${{matrix.eessi_version}}
-          # Access the installed EESSI-extend
-          module use "$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH"/modules/all
-          check_disallowed_env_prefix EASYBUILD_
+          init_eessi_environment --eessi-version ${{matrix.eessi_version}} --installation-path "$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH"
 
           # Configure for CVMFS install
-          echo "Checking EESSI-extend CVMFS install"
           export EESSI_CVMFS_INSTALL=1
           module load EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild
+          echo $EBROOTEESSIMINEXTEND | grep $MY_INSTALLATION_PATH || { echo "ERROR: Installed version of EESSI-extend not picked up (loaded $EBROOTEESSIMINEXTEND)" >&2; exit 1; }
           # check some common EasyBuild settings
           check_env_var "EASYBUILD_READ_ONLY_INSTALLDIR" "1"
           check_env_var "EASYBUILD_ALLOW_LOADED_MODULES" "EasyBuild,EESSI-extend"
@@ -124,8 +93,12 @@ jobs:
           check_disallowed_env_prefix EASYBUILD_
           unset EESSI_CVMFS_INSTALL
 
-          # Now configure for a site
-          echo "Checking EESSI-extend site install"
+      - name: Run tests for EESSI-extend in the site install scenario
+        run: |
+          source .github/workflows/scripts/test_utils.sh
+          init_eessi_environment --eessi-version ${{matrix.eessi_version}} --installation-path "$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH"
+
+          # Configure for a site install
           export EESSI_SITE_INSTALL=1
           module load EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild
           # check some specific envvars
@@ -138,8 +111,12 @@ jobs:
           check_disallowed_env_prefix EASYBUILD_
           unset EESSI_SITE_INSTALL
 
-          # Now for a project
-          echo "Checking EESSI-extend project install"
+      - name: Run tests for EESSI-extend in the project install scenario
+        run: |
+          source .github/workflows/scripts/test_utils.sh
+          init_eessi_environment --eessi-version ${{matrix.eessi_version}} --installation-path "$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH"
+
+          # Configure for a project install
           export EESSI_PROJECT_INSTALL="$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH"
           module load EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild
           # check some specific envvars
@@ -154,8 +131,12 @@ jobs:
           check_disallowed_env_prefix EASYBUILD_
           unset EESSI_PROJECT_INSTALL
 
-          # Now for a user
-          echo "Checking EESSI-extend user install"
+      - name: Run tests for EESSI-extend in the user install scenario
+        run: |
+          source .github/workflows/scripts/test_utils.sh
+          init_eessi_environment --eessi-version ${{matrix.eessi_version}} --installation-path "$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH"
+
+          # Configure for a user install
           export EESSI_USER_INSTALL="$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH/$USER"
           mkdir -p $EESSI_USER_INSTALL  # must exist
           module load EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild
@@ -170,29 +151,33 @@ jobs:
           check_disallowed_env_prefix EASYBUILD_
           unset EESSI_USER_INSTALL
 
-      - name: Run tests for EESSI-extend in the various GPU scenarios
+      - name: Run tests for EESSI-extend in the EasyBuild hooks override scenario
         run: |
-          export MY_INSTALLATION_PATH=/tmp/easybuild
-
-          # Define a function to check the values of environment variables
-          # and another that checks an environment does not contain environment 
-          # variables matching a certain pattern
           source .github/workflows/scripts/test_utils.sh
-          
-          # Set an environment variable to use when we want to target accelerators
-          export STORED_EESSI_ACCELERATOR_TARGET_OVERRIDE="accel/nvidia/cc80"
-          export STORED_CUDA_CC="8.0"
+          init_eessi_environment --eessi-version ${{matrix.eessi_version}} --installation-path "$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH"
 
-          # Let's start from a clean slate
-          module --force purge
-          export EESSI_ACCELERATOR_TARGET_OVERRIDE=$STORED_EESSI_ACCELERATOR_TARGET_OVERRIDE
-          module load EESSI/${{matrix.eessi_version}}
-          # Access the installed EESSI-extend
-          module use "$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH"/modules/all
+          # Test overriding the EasyBuild hooks
+          export EESSI_EASYBUILD_HOOKS_OVERRIDE="$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/eb_hooks.py"
+          module load EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild
+          check_env_var "EASYBUILD_HOOKS" "$EESSI_EASYBUILD_HOOKS_OVERRIDE"
+          module unload EESSI-extend
           check_disallowed_env_prefix EASYBUILD_
+          unset EESSI_EASYBUILD_HOOKS_OVERRIDE
+
+      - name: Set accelerator target override environment variables for GPU tests
+        run: |
+          echo "STORED_EESSI_ACCELERATOR_TARGET_OVERRIDE=accel/nvidia/cc80" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+          echo "STORED_CUDA_CC=8.0" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+
+      - name: Run tests for EESSI-extend with accelerators in the CVMFS install scenario
+        run: |
+          source .github/workflows/scripts/test_utils.sh
+          init_eessi_environment --eessi-version ${{matrix.eessi_version}} \
+                                 --installation-path "$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH" \
+                                 --accelerator-target "$STORED_EESSI_ACCELERATOR_TARGET_OVERRIDE" \
+                                 --cuda-cc "$STORED_CUDA_CC"
 
           # Configure for CVMFS install
-          echo "Checking EESSI-extend CVMFS install"
           export EESSI_CVMFS_INSTALL=1
           module load EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild
           check_env_var "EASYBUILD_INSTALLPATH" "$EESSI_SOFTWARE_PATH"  # installation path should be the same unless we ask for an explicit GPU installation
@@ -210,8 +195,15 @@ jobs:
           unset EESSI_ACCELERATOR_INSTALL
           unset EESSI_CVMFS_INSTALL
 
-          # Now configure for a site
-          echo "Checking EESSI-extend site install"
+      - name: Run tests for EESSI-extend with accelerators in the site install scenario
+        run: |
+          source .github/workflows/scripts/test_utils.sh
+          init_eessi_environment --eessi-version ${{matrix.eessi_version}} \
+                                 --installation-path "$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH" \
+                                 --accelerator-target "$STORED_EESSI_ACCELERATOR_TARGET_OVERRIDE" \
+                                 --cuda-cc "$STORED_CUDA_CC"
+
+          # Configure for a site install
           export EESSI_SITE_INSTALL=1
           module load EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild
           check_env_var "EASYBUILD_INSTALLPATH" "$EESSI_SITE_SOFTWARE_PATH"  # installation path should be the same unless we ask for an explicit GPU installation
@@ -229,8 +221,15 @@ jobs:
           unset EESSI_ACCELERATOR_INSTALL
           unset EESSI_SITE_INSTALL
 
-          # Now for a project
-          echo "Checking EESSI-extend project install"
+      - name: Run tests for EESSI-extend with accelerators in the project install scenario
+        run: |
+          source .github/workflows/scripts/test_utils.sh
+          init_eessi_environment --eessi-version ${{matrix.eessi_version}} \
+                                 --installation-path "$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH" \
+                                 --accelerator-target "$STORED_EESSI_ACCELERATOR_TARGET_OVERRIDE" \
+                                 --cuda-cc "$STORED_CUDA_CC"
+
+          # Configure for a project install
           export EESSI_PROJECT_INSTALL="$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH"
           export EXPECTED_INSTALLATION_PATH="$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH/versions/$EESSI_VERSION/software/linux/$EESSI_SOFTWARE_SUBDIR"
           module load EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild
@@ -239,7 +238,7 @@ jobs:
           check_env_var "EASYBUILD_CUDA_COMPUTE_CAPABILITIES" "$STORED_CUDA_CC"
           module unload EESSI-extend
           export EESSI_ACCELERATOR_INSTALL=1
-          module load EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild # reload for an GPU actual installation
+          module load EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild # reload for an actual GPU installation
           check_env_var "EASYBUILD_INSTALLPATH" "$EXPECTED_INSTALLATION_PATH"  # installation path should be the same for project case
           check_env_var "EESSI_ACCELERATOR_TARGET" "$STORED_EESSI_ACCELERATOR_TARGET_OVERRIDE"
           check_env_var "EASYBUILD_CUDA_COMPUTE_CAPABILITIES" "$STORED_CUDA_CC"
@@ -249,14 +248,20 @@ jobs:
           unset EESSI_ACCELERATOR_INSTALL
           unset EESSI_PROJECT_INSTALL
 
-          # Now for a user
-          echo "Checking EESSI-extend user install"
+      - name: Run tests for EESSI-extend with accelerators in the user install scenario
+        run: |
+          source .github/workflows/scripts/test_utils.sh
+          init_eessi_environment --eessi-version ${{matrix.eessi_version}} \
+                                 --installation-path "$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH" \
+                                 --accelerator-target "$STORED_EESSI_ACCELERATOR_TARGET_OVERRIDE" \
+                                 --cuda-cc "$STORED_CUDA_CC"
+
+          # Configure for a user install
           export EESSI_USER_INSTALL="$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH/$USER"
           mkdir -p $EESSI_USER_INSTALL  # must exist
           module load EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild
           # check some specific envvars
           export EXPECTED_INSTALLATION_PATH="$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH/$USER/versions/$EESSI_VERSION/software/linux/$EESSI_SOFTWARE_SUBDIR"
-          module load EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild
           check_env_var "EASYBUILD_INSTALLPATH" "$EXPECTED_INSTALLATION_PATH"  # installation path should be the same unless we ask for an explicit GPU installation
           check_env_var "EESSI_ACCELERATOR_TARGET" "$STORED_EESSI_ACCELERATOR_TARGET_OVERRIDE"
           check_env_var "EASYBUILD_CUDA_COMPUTE_CAPABILITIES" "$STORED_CUDA_CC"
@@ -270,4 +275,39 @@ jobs:
           module unload EESSI-extend
           check_disallowed_env_prefix EASYBUILD_
           unset EESSI_ACCELERATOR_INSTALL
-          unset EESSI_USER_INSTALL     
+          unset EESSI_USER_INSTALL
+
+      - name: Dryrun tests with hooks from github and hooks from the CVMFS repo
+        run: |
+          source .github/workflows/scripts/test_utils.sh
+          init_eessi_environment --eessi-version ${{matrix.eessi_version}} --installation-path "$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH"
+
+          module load EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild
+          # Do a test rebuild (with default and local hooks)
+          echo "Testing a rebuild using the hooks shipped with EESSI"
+          eb --rebuild ${{matrix.rebuild_software}}
+          echo "Testing a rebuild using the hooks in the current branch"
+          eb --rebuild --hooks=./eb_hooks.py ${{matrix.rebuild_software}}
+          # unload and check the environment is clean again
+          module unload EESSI-extend
+          check_disallowed_env_prefix EASYBUILD_
+
+      - name: Verify the EESSI-extend module is consistent with the CVMFS repo
+        run: |
+          source .github/workflows/scripts/test_utils.sh
+          init_eessi_environment --eessi-version ${{matrix.eessi_version}} --installation-path "$MY_INSTALLATION_PATH"
+
+          # Verify we can run "module show" on the module
+          module show EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild
+          # Now load it and run additional checks
+          module load EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild
+
+          # First, check if it differs against what is currently shipped by CVMFS
+          diff   <(grep -v '^local root = \|^-- Built with EasyBuild version' /cvmfs/software.eessi.io/versions/${{matrix.eessi_version}}/software/linux/$(uname -m)/generic/modules/all/EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild.lua)   <(grep -v '^local root = \|^-- Built with EasyBuild version' $MY_INSTALLATION_PATH/modules/all/EESSI-extend/${{matrix.eessi_version}}-easybuild.lua)
+          # Then do a consistency check in CVMFS for all architectures
+          .github/workflows/scripts/diff_eessi_extend.sh
+
+          # Proceed with unload and checking the environment variables
+          module unload EESSI-extend
+          # That should have unset all EasyBuild envvars (including EASYBUILD_PREFIX)
+          check_disallowed_env_prefix EASYBUILD_
diff --git a/EESSI-extend-easybuild.eb b/EESSI-extend-easybuild.eb
index c8be0660..7c4b2c1a 100644
--- a/EESSI-extend-easybuild.eb
+++ b/EESSI-extend-easybuild.eb
@@ -205,7 +205,12 @@ setenv ("EASYBUILD_SYSROOT", sysroot)
 setenv ("EASYBUILD_PREFIX", pathJoin(working_dir, "easybuild"))
 setenv ("EASYBUILD_INSTALLPATH", easybuild_installpath)
 eessi_init_prefix = os.getenv("EESSI_INIT_PREFIX") or pathJoin(os.getenv("EESSI_PREFIX"), "init")
-setenv ("EASYBUILD_HOOKS", pathJoin(eessi_init_prefix, "easybuild", "eb_hooks.py"))
+eessi_easybuild_hooks_override = os.getenv("EESSI_EASYBUILD_HOOKS_OVERRIDE")
+if (eessi_easybuild_hooks_override ~= nil) then
+  setenv ("EASYBUILD_HOOKS", eessi_easybuild_hooks_override)
+else
+  setenv ("EASYBUILD_HOOKS", pathJoin(eessi_init_prefix, "easybuild", "eb_hooks.py"))
+end
 
 -- Make sure to use the general umask that allows a global read
 setenv ("EASYBUILD_UMASK", "022")
diff --git a/EESSI-install-software.sh b/EESSI-install-software.sh
index 4a4a33ff..8dc0663e 100755
--- a/EESSI-install-software.sh
+++ b/EESSI-install-software.sh
@@ -314,6 +314,10 @@ elif [[ -n "$EESSI_ACCELERATOR_TARGET_OVERRIDE" ]]; then
   export EESSI_ACCELERATOR_INSTALL=1
 fi
 
+# Make sure we use the hooks from the local software-layer-scripts clone:
+export EESSI_EASYBUILD_HOOKS_OVERRIDE=$TOPDIR/eb_hooks.py
+echo "Set EESSI_EASYBUILD_HOOKS_OVERRIDE to ${EESSI_EASYBUILD_HOOKS_OVERRIDE}"
+
 echo "DEBUG: before loading EESSI-extend // EASYBUILD_INSTALLPATH='${EASYBUILD_INSTALLPATH}'"
 source $TOPDIR/load_eessi_extend_module.sh ${EESSI_VERSION}
 echo "DEBUG: after loading EESSI-extend //  EASYBUILD_INSTALLPATH='${EASYBUILD_INSTALLPATH}'"