diff --git a/easybuild/framework/easyblock.py b/easybuild/framework/easyblock.py
index 1d4e06247d..5cdfbae2f5 100644
--- a/easybuild/framework/easyblock.py
+++ b/easybuild/framework/easyblock.py
@@ -1014,6 +1014,25 @@ def make_devel_module(self, create_in_builddir=False):
         # cleanup: unload fake module, remove fake module dir
         self.clean_up_fake_module(fake_mod_data)
 
+    def make_module_deppaths(self):
+        """
+        Add specific 'module use' actions to module file, in order to find
+        dependencies outside the end user's MODULEPATH.
+        """
+        deppaths = self.cfg['moddependpaths']
+        if not deppaths:
+            return ''
+        elif not isinstance(deppaths, (str, list, tuple)):
+            raise EasyBuildError("moddependpaths value %s (type: %s) is not a string, list or tuple",
+                                 deppaths, type(deppaths))
+
+        if isinstance(deppaths, str):
+            txt = self.module_generator.use([deppaths], guarded=True)
+        else:
+            txt = self.module_generator.use(deppaths, guarded=True)
+
+        return txt
+
     def make_module_dep(self, unload_info=None):
         """
         Make the dependencies for the module file.
@@ -2771,6 +2790,7 @@ def make_module_step(self, fake=False):
 
         txt += self.make_module_description()
         txt += self.make_module_group_check()
+        txt += self.make_module_deppaths()
         txt += self.make_module_dep()
         txt += self.make_module_extend_modpath()
         txt += self.make_module_req()
diff --git a/easybuild/framework/easyconfig/default.py b/easybuild/framework/easyconfig/default.py
index 1fe7c705b6..904a7d7bd7 100644
--- a/easybuild/framework/easyconfig/default.py
+++ b/easybuild/framework/easyconfig/default.py
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@
     'multi_deps': [{}, "Dict of lists of dependency versions over which to iterate", DEPENDENCIES],
     'multi_deps_load_default': [True, "Load module for first version listed in multi_deps by default", DEPENDENCIES],
     'osdependencies': [[], "OS dependencies that should be present on the system", DEPENDENCIES],
+    'moddependpaths': [None, "Absolute path(s) to prepend to MODULEPATH before loading dependencies", DEPENDENCIES],
 
     # LICENSE easyconfig parameters
     'group': [None, "Name of the user group for which the software should be available; "
diff --git a/test/framework/easyblock.py b/test/framework/easyblock.py
index 8139e326ae..53eeb4c331 100644
--- a/test/framework/easyblock.py
+++ b/test/framework/easyblock.py
@@ -516,6 +516,48 @@ def test_make_module_extra(self):
         for pattern in patterns:
             self.assertTrue(re.search(pattern, txt, re.M), "Pattern '%s' found in: %s" % (pattern, txt))
 
+    def test_make_module_deppaths(self):
+        """Test for make_module_deppaths"""
+        init_config(build_options={'silent': True})
+
+        self.contents = '\n'.join([
+            'easyblock = "ConfigureMake"',
+            'name = "pi"',
+            'version = "3.14"',
+            'homepage = "http://example.com"',
+            'description = "test easyconfig"',
+            "toolchain = {'name': 'gompi', 'version': '2018a'}",
+            'moddependpaths = "/path/to/mods"',
+            'dependencies = [',
+            "   ('FFTW', '3.3.7'),",
+            ']',
+        ])
+        self.writeEC()
+        eb = EasyBlock(EasyConfig(self.eb_file))
+
+        eb.installdir = os.path.join(config.install_path(), 'pi', '3.14')
+        eb.check_readiness_step()
+        eb.make_builddir()
+        eb.prepare_step()
+
+        if get_module_syntax() == 'Tcl':
+            use_load = '\n'.join([
+                'if { [ file isdirectory "/path/to/mods" ] } {',
+                '    module use "/path/to/mods"',
+                '}',
+            ])
+        elif get_module_syntax() == 'Lua':
+            use_load = '\n'.join([
+                'if isDir("/path/to/mods") then',
+                '    prepend_path("MODULEPATH", "/path/to/mods")',
+                'end',
+            ])
+        else:
+            self.assertTrue(False, "Unknown module syntax: %s" % get_module_syntax())
+
+        expected = use_load
+        self.assertEqual(eb.make_module_deppaths().strip(), expected)
+
     def test_make_module_dep(self):
         """Test for make_module_dep"""
         init_config(build_options={'silent': True})