diff --git a/easybuild/framework/easyconfig/default.py b/easybuild/framework/easyconfig/default.py
index 7f68136361..53c353afe1 100644
--- a/easybuild/framework/easyconfig/default.py
+++ b/easybuild/framework/easyconfig/default.py
@@ -40,25 +40,25 @@
 
 _log = fancylogger.getLogger('easyconfig.default', fname=False)
 
+# constants for different categories of easyconfig parameters
+# use tuples so we can sort them based on the numbers
+HIDDEN = (-1, 'hidden')
+MANDATORY = (0, 'mandatory')
+CUSTOM = (1, 'easyblock-specific')
+TOOLCHAIN = (2, 'toolchain')
+BUILD = (3, 'build')
+FILEMANAGEMENT = (4, 'file-management')
+DEPENDENCIES = (5, 'dependencies')
+LICENSE = (6, 'license')
+EXTENSIONS = (7, 'extensions')
+MODULES = (8, 'modules')
+OTHER = (9, 'other')
+
 
 # we use a tuple here so we can sort them based on the numbers
-ALL_CATEGORIES = {
-    'HIDDEN': (-1, 'hidden'),
-    'MANDATORY': (0, 'mandatory'),
-    'CUSTOM': (1, 'easyblock-specific'),
-    'TOOLCHAIN': (2, 'toolchain'),
-    'BUILD': (3, 'build'),
-    'FILEMANAGEMENT': (4, 'file-management'),
-    'DEPENDENCIES': (5, 'dependencies'),
-    'LICENSE': (6, 'license'),
-    'EXTENSIONS': (7, 'extensions'),
-    'MODULES': (8, 'modules'),
-    'OTHER': (9, 'other'),
-}
-# define constants so they can be used below
-# avoid that pylint complains about unknown variables in this file
-# pylint: disable=E0602
-globals().update(ALL_CATEGORIES)
+CATEGORY_NAMES = ['BUILD', 'CUSTOM', 'DEPENDENCIES', 'EXTENSIONS', 'FILEMANAGEMENT', 'HIDDEN',
+                  'LICENSE', 'MANDATORY', 'MODULES', 'OTHER', 'TOOLCHAIN']
+ALL_CATEGORIES = dict((name, eval(name)) for name in CATEGORY_NAMES)
 
 # List of tuples. Each tuple has the following format (key, [default, help text, category])
 DEFAULT_CONFIG = {
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@
     'license_server_port': [None, 'Port for license server', LICENSE],
 
     # EXTENSIONS easyconfig parameters
+    'exts_download_dep_fail': [False, "Fail if downloaded dependencies are detected for extensions", EXTENSIONS],
     'exts_classmap': [{}, "Map of extension name to class for handling build and installation.", EXTENSIONS],
     'exts_defaultclass': [None, "List of module for and name of the default extension class", EXTENSIONS],
     'exts_default_options': [{}, "List of default options for extensions", EXTENSIONS],
@@ -171,8 +172,8 @@
     'moduleclass': ['base', 'Module class to be used for this software', MODULES],
     'moduleforceunload': [False, 'Force unload of all modules when loading the extension', MODULES],
     'moduleloadnoconflict': [False, "Don't check for conflicts, unload other versions instead ", MODULES],
-    'module_depends_on' : [False, 'Use depends_on (Lmod 7.6.1+) for dependencies in generated module '
-                           '(implies recursive unloading of modules).', MODULES],
+    'module_depends_on': [False, 'Use depends_on (Lmod 7.6.1+) for dependencies in generated module '
+                          '(implies recursive unloading of modules).', MODULES],
     'recursive_module_unload': [False, 'Recursive unload of all dependencies when unloading module', MODULES],
 
     # MODULES documentation easyconfig parameters
@@ -180,8 +181,8 @@
     'docpaths': [None, "List of paths for documentation relative to installation directory", MODULES],
     'examples': [None, "Free-form text with examples on using the software", MODULES],
     'site_contacts': [None, "String/list of strings with site contacts for the software", MODULES],
-    'upstream_contacts': [None, ("String/list of strings with upstream contact addresses "
-                                "(e.g., support e-mail, mailing list, bugtracker)"), MODULES],
+    'upstream_contacts': [None, "String/list of strings with upstream contact addresses "
+                          "(e.g., support e-mail, mailing list, bugtracker)", MODULES],
     'usage': [None, "Usage instructions for the software", MODULES],
     'whatis': [None, "List of brief (one line) description entries for the software", MODULES],