diff --git a/EESSI-extend-easybuild.eb b/EESSI-extend-easybuild.eb
index 4658d2a8..1463144f 100644
--- a/EESSI-extend-easybuild.eb
+++ b/EESSI-extend-easybuild.eb
@@ -143,9 +143,17 @@ elseif eessi_site_install then
     LmodError("You cannot use EESSI_SITE_INSTALL in combination with any other EESSI_*_INSTALL environment variables")
   end
   easybuild_installpath = os.getenv("EESSI_SITE_SOFTWARE_PATH")
-  -- enforce accelerator subdirectory usage for site installs (only if an accelerator install is requested)
+  -- Check that the plain EESSI_SITE_SOFTWARE_PATH exists
+  if not isDir(easybuild_installpath) then
+      LmodError("The location of EESSI_SITE_SOFTWARE_PATH (" .. easybuild_installdir .. ") does not exist or is not a folder")
+  end
+ -- enforce accelerator subdirectory usage for site installs (only if an accelerator install is requested)
   if (eessi_accelerator_target ~= nil) and (cuda_compute_capability ~= nil) and (os.getenv("EESSI_ACCELERATOR_INSTALL") ~= nil) then
       easybuild_installpath = pathJoin(easybuild_installpath, eessi_accelerator_target)
+      -- Check that the EESSI_SITE_SOFTWARE_PATH with eessi_accelerator_target prefix exists
+      if not isDir(easybuild_installpath) then
+          LmodError("The easybuild install directory (" .. easybuild_installdir ..") does not exist or is not a folder")
+      end
   end
 else
   -- Deal with user and project installs