diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-software.eessi.io.yml b/.github/workflows/test-software.eessi.io.yml
index 8c97601611..3ac341a177 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-software.eessi.io.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-software.eessi.io.yml
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ jobs:
           run: |
               export EESSI_SOFTWARE_SUBDIR_OVERRIDE=${{matrix.EESSI_SOFTWARE_SUBDIR_OVERRIDE}}
               source /cvmfs/software.eessi.io/versions/${{matrix.EESSI_VERSION}}/init/bash
+              # set $EESSI_CPU_FAMILY to the CPU architecture that corresponds to $EESSI_SOFTWARE_SUBDIR_OVERRIDE (part before the first slash),
+              # to prevent issues with checks in the Easybuild configuration that use this variable
+              export EESSI_CPU_FAMILY=${EESSI_SOFTWARE_SUBDIR_OVERRIDE%%/*}
               module load EasyBuild
               which eb
               eb --version
@@ -53,6 +56,9 @@ jobs:
           run: |
               export EESSI_SOFTWARE_SUBDIR_OVERRIDE=${{matrix.EESSI_SOFTWARE_SUBDIR_OVERRIDE}}
               source /cvmfs/software.eessi.io/versions/${{matrix.EESSI_VERSION}}/init/bash
+              # set $EESSI_CPU_FAMILY to the CPU architecture that corresponds to $EESSI_SOFTWARE_SUBDIR_OVERRIDE (part before the first slash),
+              # to prevent issues with checks in the Easybuild configuration that use this variable
+              export EESSI_CPU_FAMILY=${EESSI_SOFTWARE_SUBDIR_OVERRIDE%%/*}
               module load EasyBuild
               which eb
               eb --version