diff --git a/easybuild/framework/easyconfig/templates.py b/easybuild/framework/easyconfig/templates.py
index c6a60acc1d..be9bb28bd3 100644
--- a/easybuild/framework/easyconfig/templates.py
+++ b/easybuild/framework/easyconfig/templates.py
@@ -90,9 +90,6 @@
 # template values which are only generated dynamically
 TEMPLATE_NAMES_DYNAMIC = [
     ('arch', "System architecture (e.g. x86_64, aarch64, ppc64le, ...)"),
-    ('sysroot', "Location root directory of system, prefix for standard paths like /usr/lib and /usr/include"
-     "as specify by the --sysroot configuration option"),
-    ('mpi_cmd_prefix', "Prefix command for running MPI programs (with default number of ranks)"),
     ('cuda_compute_capabilities', "Comma-separated list of CUDA compute capabilities, as specified via "
      "--cuda-compute-capabilities configuration option or via cuda_compute_capabilities easyconfig parameter"),
     ('cuda_cc_cmake', "List of CUDA compute capabilities suitable for use with $CUDAARCHS in CMake 3.18+"),
@@ -102,6 +99,10 @@
     ('cuda_cc_semicolon_sep', "Semicolon-separated list of CUDA compute capabilities"),
     ('cuda_sm_comma_sep', "Comma-separated list of sm_* values that correspond with CUDA compute capabilities"),
     ('cuda_sm_space_sep', "Space-separated list of sm_* values that correspond with CUDA compute capabilities"),
+    ('mpi_cmd_prefix', "Prefix command for running MPI programs (with default number of ranks)"),
+    ('software_commit', "Git commit id to use for the software as specified by --software-commit command line option"),
+    ('sysroot', "Location root directory of system, prefix for standard paths like /usr/lib and /usr/include"
+     "as specified by the --sysroot configuration option"),
 ]
 
 # constant templates that can be used in easyconfigs
@@ -210,6 +211,9 @@ def template_constant_dict(config, ignore=None, skip_lower=None, toolchain=None)
     # set 'sysroot' template based on 'sysroot' configuration option, using empty string as fallback
     template_values['sysroot'] = build_option('sysroot') or ''
 
+    # set 'software_commit' template based on 'software_commit' configuration option, default to None
+    template_values['software_commit'] = build_option('software_commit') or ''
+
     # step 1: add TEMPLATE_NAMES_EASYCONFIG
     for name in TEMPLATE_NAMES_EASYCONFIG:
         if name in ignore:
diff --git a/easybuild/tools/config.py b/easybuild/tools/config.py
index 44362e6858..84d76dc5f4 100644
--- a/easybuild/tools/config.py
+++ b/easybuild/tools/config.py
@@ -259,6 +259,7 @@ def mk_full_default_path(name, prefix=DEFAULT_PREFIX):
         'rpath_override_dirs',
         'required_linked_shared_libs',
         'skip',
+        'software_commit',
         'stop',
         'subdir_user_modules',
         'sysroot',
diff --git a/easybuild/tools/options.py b/easybuild/tools/options.py
index 5a1cf689a4..49c11cfe83 100644
--- a/easybuild/tools/options.py
+++ b/easybuild/tools/options.py
@@ -515,6 +515,9 @@ def override_options(self):
                                   None, 'store_true', False),
             'skip-test-cases': ("Skip running test cases", None, 'store_true', False, 't'),
             'skip-test-step': ("Skip running the test step (e.g. unit tests)", None, 'store_true', False),
+            'software-commit': (
+                "Git commit to use for the target software build (robot capabilities are automatically disabled)",
+                None, 'store', None),
             'sticky-bit': ("Set sticky bit on newly created directories", None, 'store_true', False),
             'sysroot': ("Location root directory of system, prefix for standard paths like /usr/lib and /usr/include",
                         None, 'store', None),
@@ -1103,6 +1106,12 @@ def _postprocess_checks(self):
             else:
                 raise EasyBuildError("Specified sysroot '%s' does not exist!", self.options.sysroot)
 
+        # 'software_commit' is specific to a particular software package and cannot be used with 'robot'
+        if self.options.software_commit:
+            if self.options.robot is not None:
+                print_warning("To allow use of --software-commit robot resolution is being disabled")
+                self.options.robot = None
+
         self.log.info("Checks on configuration options passed")
 
     def get_cfg_opt_abs_path(self, opt_name, path):
diff --git a/test/framework/easyconfig.py b/test/framework/easyconfig.py
index 92bd58e97d..c43c84be0e 100644
--- a/test/framework/easyconfig.py
+++ b/test/framework/easyconfig.py
@@ -1451,6 +1451,35 @@ def test_sysroot_template(self):
         self.assertEqual(ec['buildopts'], "--some-opt=%s/" % self.test_prefix)
         self.assertEqual(ec['installopts'], "--some-opt=%s/" % self.test_prefix)
 
+    def test_software_commit_template(self):
+        """Test the %(software_commit)s template"""
+
+        test_easyconfigs = os.path.join(os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__)), 'easyconfigs', 'test_ecs')
+        toy_ec = os.path.join(test_easyconfigs, 't', 'toy', 'toy-0.0.eb')
+
+        test_ec = os.path.join(self.test_prefix, 'test.eb')
+        test_ec_txt = read_file(toy_ec)
+        test_ec_txt += '\nconfigopts = "--some-opt=%(software_commit)s"'
+        test_ec_txt += '\nbuildopts = "--some-opt=%(software_commit)s"'
+        test_ec_txt += '\ninstallopts = "--some-opt=%(software_commit)s"'
+        write_file(test_ec, test_ec_txt)
+
+        # Validate the value of the sysroot template if sysroot is unset (i.e. the build option is None)
+        ec = EasyConfig(test_ec)
+        self.assertEqual(ec['configopts'], "--some-opt=")
+        self.assertEqual(ec['buildopts'], "--some-opt=")
+        self.assertEqual(ec['installopts'], "--some-opt=")
+
+        # Validate the value of the sysroot template if sysroot is unset (i.e. the build option is None)
+        # As a test, we'll set the sysroot to self.test_prefix, as it has to be a directory that is guaranteed to exist
+        software_commit = '1234bc'
+        update_build_option('software_commit', software_commit)
+
+        ec = EasyConfig(test_ec)
+        self.assertEqual(ec['configopts'], "--some-opt=%s" % software_commit)
+        self.assertEqual(ec['buildopts'], "--some-opt=%s" % software_commit)
+        self.assertEqual(ec['installopts'], "--some-opt=%s" % software_commit)
+
     def test_constant_doc(self):
         """test constant documentation"""
         doc = avail_easyconfig_constants()
@@ -3345,6 +3374,7 @@ def test_template_constant_dict(self):
             'nameletter': 'g',
             'nameletterlower': 'g',
             'parallel': None,
+            'software_commit': '',
             'sysroot': '',
             'toolchain_name': 'foss',
             'toolchain_version': '2018a',
@@ -3427,6 +3457,7 @@ def test_template_constant_dict(self):
             'pyminver': '7',
             'pyshortver': '3.7',
             'pyver': '3.7.2',
+            'software_commit': '',
             'sysroot': '',
             'version': '0.01',
             'version_major': '0',
@@ -3492,6 +3523,7 @@ def test_template_constant_dict(self):
             'namelower': 'foo',
             'nameletter': 'f',
             'nameletterlower': 'f',
+            'software_commit': '',
             'sysroot': '',
             'version': '1.2.3',
             'version_major': '1',
diff --git a/test/framework/options.py b/test/framework/options.py
index 056d77ed6b..04b622d3dc 100644
--- a/test/framework/options.py
+++ b/test/framework/options.py
@@ -612,6 +612,8 @@ def run_test(fmt=None):
                     r'^``%\(arch\)s``\s+System architecture \(e.g. x86_64, aarch64, ppc64le, ...\)\s*$',
                     r'^``%\(cuda_cc_space_sep\)s``\s+Space-separated list of CUDA compute capabilities\s*$',
                     r'^``SOURCE_TAR_GZ``\s+Source \.tar\.gz bundle\s+``%\(name\)s-%\(version\)s.tar.gz``\s*$',
+                    r'^``%\(software_commit\)s``\s+Git commit id to use for the software as specified '
+                    'by --software-commit command line option',
                 ]
             else:
                 pattern_lines = [
@@ -624,6 +626,8 @@ def run_test(fmt=None):
                     r'^\s+%\(arch\)s: System architecture \(e.g. x86_64, aarch64, ppc64le, ...\)$',
                     r'^\s+%\(cuda_cc_space_sep\)s: Space-separated list of CUDA compute capabilities$',
                     r'^\s+SOURCE_TAR_GZ: Source \.tar\.gz bundle \(%\(name\)s-%\(version\)s.tar.gz\)$',
+                    r'^\s+%\(software_commit\)s: Git commit id to use for the software as specified '
+                    'by --software-commit command line option',
                 ]
 
             for pattern_line in pattern_lines:
@@ -6834,6 +6838,23 @@ def test_sysroot(self):
         os.environ['EASYBUILD_SYSROOT'] = doesnotexist
         self.assertErrorRegex(EasyBuildError, error_pattern, self._run_mock_eb, ['--show-config'], raise_error=True)
 
+    def test_software_commit(self):
+        """Test use of --software-commit option."""
+
+        software_commit = "23be34"
+        software_commit_arg = '--software-commit=' + software_commit
+        # Add robot to also test that it gets disabled
+        stdout, stderr = self._run_mock_eb([software_commit_arg, '--show-config', '--robot'], raise_error=True)
+
+        warning_regex = re.compile(r'.*WARNING:.*--software-commit robot resolution is being disabled.*', re.M)
+        software_commit_regex = re.compile(r'^software-commit\s*\(C\) = %s$' % software_commit, re.M)
+        robot_regex = re.compile(r'^robot\s*\(C\) = .*', re.M)
+
+        self.assertTrue(warning_regex.search(stderr), "Pattern '%s' not found in: %s" % (warning_regex, stderr))
+        self.assertTrue(software_commit_regex.search(stdout),
+                        "Pattern '%s' not found in: %s" % (software_commit_regex, stdout))
+        self.assertFalse(robot_regex.search(stdout), "Pattern '%s' found in: %s" % (robot_regex, stdout))
+
     def test_accept_eula_for(self):
         """Test --accept-eula-for configuration option."""