diff --git a/easybuild/tools/options.py b/easybuild/tools/options.py
index 128ff8561b..cda2794a28 100644
--- a/easybuild/tools/options.py
+++ b/easybuild/tools/options.py
@@ -120,6 +120,12 @@ def terminal_supports_colors(stream):
             return False
 
 
+# alternative names for EasyBuild configuration options;
+# format: '<new-and-better-name>': '<old-and-soon-to-be-deprecated-name>'
+ALTERNATIVE_EASYBUILD_CONFIGURATION_OPTIONS = {
+    'build-path': 'buildpath',
+}
+
 CONFIG_ENV_VAR_PREFIX = 'EASYBUILD'
 
 XDG_CONFIG_HOME = os.environ.get('XDG_CONFIG_HOME', os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'), ".config"))
@@ -207,6 +213,18 @@ def use_color(colorize, stream=sys.stdout):
         return False
 
 
+def add_alternate_options(opts):
+    """
+    Add alternative names to provided dictionary of configuration options
+    """
+    rev_map_alt_cfg_opts = {v: k for k, v in ALTERNATIVE_EASYBUILD_CONFIGURATION_OPTIONS.items()}
+    for key in rev_map_alt_cfg_opts:
+        if key in opts:
+            alt_key = rev_map_alt_cfg_opts[key]
+            alt_descr = opts[key][0] + f" (alternative for --{key})"
+            opts[alt_key] = (alt_descr,) + opts[key][1:]
+
+
 class EasyBuildOptions(GeneralOption):
     """Easybuild generaloption class"""
     VERSION = this_is_easybuild()
@@ -550,7 +568,7 @@ def config_options(self):
                                     None, "store_true", False,),
             'avail-repositories': ("Show all repository types (incl. non-usable)",
                                    None, "store_true", False,),
-            'buildpath': ("Temporary build path", None, 'store', mk_full_default_path('buildpath')),
+            'buildpath': ("Path for temporary build directories", None, 'store', mk_full_default_path('buildpath')),
             'containerpath': ("Location where container recipe & image will be stored", None, 'store',
                               mk_full_default_path('containerpath')),
             'envvars-user-modules': ("List of environment variables that hold the base paths for which user-specific "
@@ -625,6 +643,8 @@ def config_options(self):
             'tmpdir': ('Directory to use for temporary storage', None, 'store', None),
         })
 
+        add_alternate_options(opts)
+
         self.log.debug("config_options: descr %s opts %s" % (descr, opts))
         self.add_group_parser(opts, descr)