diff --git a/easybuild/framework/easyblock.py b/easybuild/framework/easyblock.py
index df88ad9ffd..0f4b02b9b1 100644
--- a/easybuild/framework/easyblock.py
+++ b/easybuild/framework/easyblock.py
@@ -311,6 +311,9 @@ def __init__(self, ec, logfile=None):
         # initialize logger
         self._init_log()
 
+        # number of iterations
+        self.iter_cnt = self.det_iter_cnt()
+
         # try and use the specified group (if any)
         group_name = build_option('group')
         group_spec = self.cfg['group']
@@ -2387,7 +2390,8 @@ def handle_iterate_opts(self):
                     self.log.debug("Iterating opt %s: %s", opt, self.iter_opts[opt])
 
             if self.iter_opts:
-                print_msg("starting iteration #%s ..." % self.iter_idx, log=self.log, silent=self.silent)
+                print_msg(f"starting iteration {self.iter_idx + 1}/{self.iter_cnt} ...", log=self.log,
+                          silent=self.silent)
                 self.log.info("Current iteration index: %s", self.iter_idx)
 
             # pop first element from all iterative easyconfig parameters as next value to use
@@ -2429,7 +2433,7 @@ def det_iter_cnt(self):
 
         # we need to take into account that builddependencies is always a list
         # we're only iterating over it if it's a list of lists
-        builddeps = self.cfg['builddependencies']
+        builddeps = self.cfg.get_ref('builddependencies')
         if all(isinstance(x, list) for x in builddeps):
             iter_opt_counts.append(len(builddeps))
 
@@ -4794,7 +4798,7 @@ def run_all_steps(self, run_test_cases):
         if self.cfg['stop'] == 'cfg':
             return True
 
-        steps = self.get_steps(run_test_cases=run_test_cases, iteration_count=self.det_iter_cnt())
+        steps = self.get_steps(run_test_cases=run_test_cases, iteration_count=self.iter_cnt)
 
         # figure out how many steps will actually be run (not be skipped)
         step_cnt = 0
diff --git a/test/framework/easyblock.py b/test/framework/easyblock.py
index 737be6ecbc..65a57cc6e7 100644
--- a/test/framework/easyblock.py
+++ b/test/framework/easyblock.py
@@ -1191,7 +1191,7 @@ def test_handle_iterate_opts(self):
         stdout = self.get_stdout()
         self.mock_stdout(False)
         self.assertEqual(eb.iter_idx, 0)
-        self.assertEqual(stdout, "== starting iteration #0 ...\n")
+        self.assertEqual(stdout, "== starting iteration 1/3 ...\n")
         self.assertEqual(eb.cfg.iterating, True)
         self.assertEqual(eb.cfg.iterate_options, ['configopts'])
         self.assertEqual(eb.cfg['configopts'], "--opt1 --anotheropt")
@@ -1205,7 +1205,7 @@ def test_handle_iterate_opts(self):
         stdout = self.get_stdout()
         self.mock_stdout(False)
         self.assertEqual(eb.iter_idx, 1)
-        self.assertEqual(stdout, "== starting iteration #1 ...\n")
+        self.assertEqual(stdout, "== starting iteration 2/3 ...\n")
         self.assertEqual(eb.cfg.iterating, True)
         self.assertEqual(eb.cfg.iterate_options, ['configopts'])
         # preconfigopts should have been restored (https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-framework/pull/4848)
@@ -1218,7 +1218,7 @@ def test_handle_iterate_opts(self):
         stdout = self.get_stdout()
         self.mock_stdout(False)
         self.assertEqual(eb.iter_idx, 2)
-        self.assertEqual(stdout, "== starting iteration #2 ...\n")
+        self.assertEqual(stdout, "== starting iteration 3/3 ...\n")
         self.assertEqual(eb.cfg.iterating, True)
         self.assertEqual(eb.cfg.iterate_options, ['configopts'])
         self.assertEqual(eb.cfg['configopts'], "--opt3 --optbis")