diff --git a/easybuild/easyblocks/s/scotch.py b/easybuild/easyblocks/s/scotch.py
index af90de8144b..f6bbd23c327 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyblocks/s/scotch.py
+++ b/easybuild/easyblocks/s/scotch.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 
 import easybuild.tools.toolchain as toolchain
 from easybuild.framework.easyblock import EasyBlock
+from easybuild.framework.easyconfig import CUSTOM
 from easybuild.tools.build_log import EasyBuildError
 from easybuild.tools.filetools import copytree
 from easybuild.tools.run import run_cmd
@@ -48,6 +49,14 @@
 class EB_SCOTCH(EasyBlock):
     """Support for building/installing SCOTCH."""
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def extra_options(extra_vars=None):
+        """Define custom easyconfig parameters specific to Scotch."""
+        extra_vars = {
+            'threadedmpi': [None, "Use threaded MPI calls.", CUSTOM],
+        }
+        return EasyBlock.extra_options(extra_vars)
+
     def configure_step(self):
         """Configure SCOTCH build: locate the template makefile, copy it to a general Makefile.inc and patch it."""
 
@@ -108,9 +117,12 @@ def build_step(self):
         if self.toolchain.options['i8']:
             cflags += " -DINTSIZE64"
 
-        if not self.toolchain.mpi_family() in [toolchain.INTELMPI, toolchain.QLOGICMPI]:  #@UndefinedVariable
+        if self.cfg['threadedmpi']: 
             cflags += " -DSCOTCH_PTHREAD"
-
+        #TODO For backwards compatability of v2.8.0 the following is necessary but could be removed on a major version upgrade
+        if self.cfg['threadedmpi'] is None and self.toolchain.mpi_family() not in [toolchain.INTELMPI, toolchain.QLOGICMPI]:
+            cflags += " -DSCOTCH_PTHREAD"
+        
         # actually build
         apps = ['scotch', 'ptscotch']
         if LooseVersion(self.version) >= LooseVersion('6.0'):