diff --git a/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/cmakepythonpackage.py b/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/cmakepythonpackage.py
index 0e371b30279..9d2d3298f09 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/cmakepythonpackage.py
+++ b/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/cmakepythonpackage.py
@@ -30,13 +30,20 @@
 @author: Kenneth Hoste (Ghent University)
 @author: Pieter De Baets (Ghent University)
 @author: Jens Timmerman (Ghent University)
+@author: Alex Domingo (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
 """
+import os
+
 from easybuild.easyblocks.generic.cmakemake import CMakeMake
 from easybuild.easyblocks.generic.pythonpackage import PythonPackage
+from easybuild.framework.easyconfig import CUSTOM
+from easybuild.tools.environment import setvar
+from easybuild.tools.filetools import change_dir
+from easybuild.tools.py2vs3 import string_type
 
 
-class CMakePythonPackage(CMakeMake, PythonPackage):
-    """Build a Python package and module with cmake.
+class CMakePythonPackage(PythonPackage, CMakeMake):
+    """Build a Python package and module with CMake.
 
     Some packages use cmake to first build and install C Python packages
     and then put the Python package in lib/pythonX.Y/site-packages.
@@ -44,42 +51,96 @@ class CMakePythonPackage(CMakeMake, PythonPackage):
     We install this in a seperate location and generate a module file
     which sets the PYTHONPATH.
 
-    We use the default CMake implementation, and use make_module_extra from PythonPackage.
+    The steps of CMakePythonPackage are based on PythonPackage, except for
+    the configure and build steps which use CMakeMake. The tests can be
+    arbitrarily carried out with both. The installation is always done with
+    CMake, but the option 'start_dir_python' allows to execute an extra install
+    with PythonPackage.
     """
     @staticmethod
     def extra_options(extra_vars=None):
         """Easyconfig parameters specific to Python packages thar are configured/built/installed via CMake"""
         extra_vars = PythonPackage.extra_options(extra_vars=extra_vars)
         extra_vars = CMakeMake.extra_options(extra_vars=extra_vars)
+        extra_vars.update({
+            'start_dir_python': [None, ('Path to Python package source code. It will be installed as a regular '
+                                        'Python package after the installation process with make.'), CUSTOM],
+            # redefine default options to be exclusive of PythonPackage
+            'installopts': ['', 'Extra options for installation of Python package', CUSTOM],
+            'runtest': [True, 'Test to run for the Python package.', CUSTOM],
+            # add extra options as their counterparts for CMakeMake
+            'installopts_make': ['', 'Extra options for installation with make', CUSTOM],
+            'runtest_make': [None, ('Indicates if a test should be run after make; should specify argument '
+                                    'after make (for e.g.,"test" for make test)'), CUSTOM],
+        })
         # enable out-of-source build
         extra_vars['separate_build_dir'][0] = True
         return extra_vars
 
-    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        """Initialize with PythonPackage."""
-        PythonPackage.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
-
     def configure_step(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        """Main configuration using cmake"""
-
-        PythonPackage.configure_step(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        """Add extra configuration using CMakeMake"""
+        super(CMakePythonPackage, self).configure_step()
 
         return CMakeMake.configure_step(self, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def build_step(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        """Build Python package with cmake"""
+        """Build Python package with CMakeMake"""
         return CMakeMake.build_step(self, *args, **kwargs)
 
-    def install_step(self):
-        """Install with cmake install"""
-        return CMakeMake.install_step(self)
+    def test_step(self):
+        """Combined test with CMakeMake and PythonPackage tests"""
+        runtest_python = self.cfg['runtest']
 
-    def sanity_check_step(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        # execute 'runtest_make' in test step of CMakeMake
+        if self.cfg['runtest_make'] and isinstance(self.cfg['runtest_make'], string_type):
+            self.cfg['runtest'] = self.cfg['runtest_make']
+            CMakeMake.test_step(self)
+
+        # execute 'runtest' in test step of PythonPackage
+        self.cfg['runtest'] = runtest_python
+        if self.cfg['runtest']:
+            super(CMakePythonPackage, self).test_step()
+
+    def install_step(self):
         """
-        Custom sanity check for Python packages
+        Always install with CMakeMake install step
+        Python packages not part of CMakeMake installation can be installed separately with PythonPackage
         """
-        return PythonPackage.sanity_check_step(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        # set installopts for installation with CMakeMake
+        installopts_python = self.cfg['installopts']
+        self.cfg['installopts'] = self.cfg['installopts_make']
+
+        if self.cfg['start_dir_python'] is None:
+            # single install with CMakeMake
+            return CMakeMake.install_step(self)
+        else:
+            # install with CMakeMake plus PythonPackage
+            CMakeMake.install_step(self)
+
+            # update build environment with CMakeMake installation
+            new_buildenv = [
+                ('LD_LIBRARY_PATH', 'lib'),
+                ('CPATH', 'include'),
+            ]
+            for (envar, envpath) in new_buildenv:
+                oldvar = os.environ.get(envar, '')
+                newvar = os.path.join(self.installdir, envpath)
+                setvar(envar, os.pathsep.join([newvar, oldvar]))
+
+            # set installopts for installation with PythonPackage
+            self.cfg['installopts'] = installopts_python
+
+            # move to Python package source directory
+            if os.path.isabs(self.cfg['start_dir_python']):
+                pysrc_dir = self.cfg['start_dir_python']
+            else:
+                pysrc_dir = os.path.join(self.builddir, 'easybuild_obj', self.cfg['start_dir_python'])
+
+            change_dir(pysrc_dir)
+
+            super(CMakePythonPackage, self).install_step()
 
-    def make_module_extra(self):
-        """Add extra Python package module parameters"""
-        return PythonPackage.make_module_extra(self)
+    def post_install_step(self):
+        """Reset working directory before post-installation commands"""
+        change_dir(os.path.join(self.builddir, 'easybuild_obj'))
+        super(CMakePythonPackage, self).post_install_step()