diff --git a/test/easyblocks/init_easyblocks.py b/test/easyblocks/init_easyblocks.py
index 62f968edd4..56f5a2830c 100644
--- a/test/easyblocks/init_easyblocks.py
+++ b/test/easyblocks/init_easyblocks.py
@@ -151,11 +151,16 @@ def check_extra_options_format(extra_options):
         extra_options = app_class.extra_options()
         check_extra_options_format(extra_options)
 
-        # extend easyconfig to make sure mandatory custom easyconfig paramters are defined
+        # extend easyconfig to make sure mandatory custom easyconfig parameters are defined
         extra_txt = ''
         for (key, val) in extra_options.items():
             if val[2] == MANDATORY:
-                extra_txt += '%s = "foo"\n' % key
+                # use default value if any is set, otherwise use "foo"
+                if val[0]:
+                    test_param = val[0]
+                else:
+                    test_param = 'foo'
+                extra_txt += '%s = "%s"\n' % (key, test_param)
 
         # write easyconfig file
         self.writeEC(ebname, name=name, version=version, extratxt=extra_txt)