diff --git a/easybuild/framework/easyblock.py b/easybuild/framework/easyblock.py
index 99471eb48a..d6599e166e 100644
--- a/easybuild/framework/easyblock.py
+++ b/easybuild/framework/easyblock.py
@@ -540,6 +540,10 @@ def fetch_extension_sources(self, skip_checksums=False):
                         'options': ext_options,
                     }
 
+                    # if a particular easyblock is specified, make sure it's used
+                    # (this is picked up by init_ext_instances)
+                    ext_src['easyblock'] = ext_options.get('easyblock', None)
+
                     # construct dictionary with template values;
                     # inherited from parent, except for name/version templates which are specific to this extension
                     template_values = copy.deepcopy(self.cfg.template_values)
@@ -2295,15 +2299,23 @@ def init_ext_instances(self):
             ext_name = ext['name']
             self.log.debug("Creating class instance for extension %s...", ext_name)
 
+            # if a specific easyblock is specified for this extension, honor it;
+            # just passing this to get_easyblock_class is sufficient
+            easyblock = ext.get('easyblock', None)
+            if easyblock:
+                class_name = easyblock
+                mod_path = get_module_path(class_name)
+            else:
+                class_name = encode_class_name(ext_name)
+                mod_path = get_module_path(class_name, generic=False)
+
             cls, inst = None, None
-            class_name = encode_class_name(ext_name)
-            mod_path = get_module_path(class_name, generic=False)
 
-            # try instantiating extension-specific class
+            # try instantiating extension-specific class, or honor specified easyblock
             try:
                 # no error when importing class fails, in case we run into an existing easyblock
                 # with a similar name (e.g., Perl Extension 'GO' vs 'Go' for which 'EB_Go' is available)
-                cls = get_easyblock_class(None, name=ext_name, error_on_failed_import=False,
+                cls = get_easyblock_class(easyblock, name=ext_name, error_on_failed_import=False,
                                           error_on_missing_easyblock=False)
                 self.log.debug("Obtained class %s for extension %s", cls, ext_name)
                 if cls is not None:
diff --git a/test/framework/easyblock.py b/test/framework/easyblock.py
index d6b2a1d57a..ed44889feb 100644
--- a/test/framework/easyblock.py
+++ b/test/framework/easyblock.py
@@ -993,6 +993,30 @@ def test_extensions_step(self):
         eb.close_log()
         os.remove(eb.logfile)
 
+    def test_init_extensions(self):
+        """Test creating extension instances."""
+
+        testdir = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
+        toy_ec_file = os.path.join(testdir, 'easyconfigs', 'test_ecs', 't', 'toy', 'toy-0.0-gompi-2018a-test.eb')
+        toy_ec_txt = read_file(toy_ec_file)
+
+        test_ec = os.path.join(self.test_prefix, 'test.eb')
+        test_ec_txt = toy_ec_txt.replace("('barbar', '0.0', {", "('barbar', '0.0', {'easyblock': 'DummyExtension',")
+        write_file(test_ec, test_ec_txt)
+        ec = process_easyconfig(test_ec)[0]
+        eb = get_easyblock_instance(ec)
+
+        eb.prepare_for_extensions()
+        eb.init_ext_instances()
+        ext_inst_class_names = [x.__class__.__name__ for x in eb.ext_instances]
+        expected = [
+            'Toy_Extension',  # 'ls' extension
+            'Toy_Extension',  # 'bar' extension
+            'DummyExtension',  # 'barbar' extension
+            'EB_toy',  # 'toy' extension
+        ]
+        self.assertEqual(ext_inst_class_names, expected)
+
     def test_skip_extensions_step(self):
         """Test the skip_extensions_step"""