diff --git a/easybuild/toolchains/linalg/libsci.py b/easybuild/toolchains/linalg/libsci.py
index 07ea64ed82..6055dcffa4 100644
--- a/easybuild/toolchains/linalg/libsci.py
+++ b/easybuild/toolchains/linalg/libsci.py
@@ -65,11 +65,20 @@ def _get_software_root(self, name, required=True):
         """Get install prefix for specified software name; special treatment for Cray modules."""
         if name == 'cray-libsci':
             # Cray-provided LibSci module
-            env_var = 'CRAY_LIBSCI_PREFIX_DIR'
-            root = os.getenv(env_var, None)
-            if root is None:
+            cray_libsci_root = None
+            # consider both $CRAY_LIBSCI_PREFIX_DIR and $CRAY_PE_LIBSCI_PREFIX_DIR,
+            # cfr. https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-framework/issues/4536
+            env_vars = ('CRAY_LIBSCI_PREFIX_DIR', 'CRAY_PE_LIBSCI_PREFIX_DIR')
+            for env_var in env_vars:
+                cray_libsci_root = os.getenv(env_var, None)
+                if cray_libsci_root is not None:
+                    self.log.debug("Obtained install prefix for %s via $%s: %s", name, env_var, cray_libsci_root)
+                    break
+
+            if cray_libsci_root is None:
                 if required:
-                    raise EasyBuildError("Failed to determine install prefix for %s via $%s", name, env_var)
+                    env_vars_str = ', '.join('$' + e for e in env_vars)
+                    raise EasyBuildError("Failed to determine install prefix for %s via $%s", name, env_vars_str)
             else:
                 self.log.debug("Obtained install prefix for %s via $%s: %s", name, env_var, root)
         else: