diff --git a/easybuild/tools/module_naming_scheme/utilities.py b/easybuild/tools/module_naming_scheme/utilities.py
index 8e8f3e919e..e46609d22b 100644
--- a/easybuild/tools/module_naming_scheme/utilities.py
+++ b/easybuild/tools/module_naming_scheme/utilities.py
@@ -64,16 +64,16 @@ def det_full_ec_version(ec):
 
     # prepend/append version prefix/suffix
     versionprefix = ec.get('versionprefix', '')
-    if not isinstance(versionprefix, string_type):
+    if versionprefix and not isinstance(versionprefix, string_type):
         raise EasyBuildError("versionprefix value should be a string, found '%s': %s (full spec: %s)",
                              type(versionprefix).__name__, versionprefix, ec)
 
     versionsuffix = ec.get('versionsuffix', '')
-    if not isinstance(versionsuffix, string_type):
+    if versionsuffix and not isinstance(versionsuffix, string_type):
         raise EasyBuildError("versionsuffix value should be a string, found '%s': %s (full spec: %s)",
                              type(versionsuffix).__name__, versionsuffix, ec)
 
-    ecver = ''.join([x for x in [versionprefix, ecver, versionsuffix] if x])
+    ecver = ''.join([x for x in [versionprefix or '', ecver, versionsuffix or ''] if x])
 
     return ecver
 
diff --git a/test/framework/easyconfig.py b/test/framework/easyconfig.py
index f09a0896a6..e17f1c3ca7 100644
--- a/test/framework/easyconfig.py
+++ b/test/framework/easyconfig.py
@@ -761,6 +761,12 @@ def test_installversion(self):
         # only version key is strictly needed
         self.assertEqual(det_full_ec_version({'version': '1.2.3'}), '1.2.3')
 
+        # versionprefix/versionsuffix can also be set to None,
+        # see https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-framework/issues/4281
+        cfg['versionprefix'] = None
+        cfg['versionsuffix'] = None
+        self.assertEqual(det_full_ec_version(cfg), '3.14')
+
         # check how faulty dep spec is handled
         faulty_dep_spec = {
             'name': 'test',