diff --git a/easybuild/framework/easyblock.py b/easybuild/framework/easyblock.py
index 4d9b4fbdd7..73f418f7f0 100644
--- a/easybuild/framework/easyblock.py
+++ b/easybuild/framework/easyblock.py
@@ -2378,11 +2378,11 @@ def handle_iterate_opts(self):
             # handle configure/build/install options that are specified as lists (+ perhaps builddependencies)
             # set first element to be used, keep track of list in self.iter_opts
             # only needs to be done during first iteration, since after that the options won't be lists anymore
-            if self.iter_idx == 0:
+            if self.iter_idx == 0 and self.cfg.iterate_options:
                 # keep track of list, supply first element as first option to handle
-                for opt in self.cfg.iterate_options:
+                for opt in ITERATE_OPTIONS:
                     self.iter_opts[opt] = self.cfg[opt]  # copy
-                    self.log.debug("Found list for %s: %s", opt, self.iter_opts[opt])
+                    self.log.debug("Iterating opt %s: %s", opt, self.iter_opts[opt])
 
             if self.iter_opts:
                 print_msg("starting iteration #%s ..." % self.iter_idx, log=self.log, silent=self.silent)
@@ -2390,7 +2390,12 @@ def handle_iterate_opts(self):
 
             # pop first element from all iterative easyconfig parameters as next value to use
             for opt, value in self.iter_opts.items():
-                if len(value) > self.iter_idx:
+                if opt not in self.cfg.iterate_options:
+                    # Use original value even for options that were specified as strings so don't change
+                    # (ie. elements in ITERATE_OPTIONS but not in self.cfg.iterate_options), so they
+                    # are restored after an easyblock such as CMakeMake changes them
+                    self.cfg[opt] = value
+                elif len(value) > self.iter_idx:
                     self.cfg[opt] = value[self.iter_idx]
                 else:
                     self.cfg[opt] = ''  # empty list => empty option as next value
diff --git a/test/framework/easyblock.py b/test/framework/easyblock.py
index de3b3e5198..b184473d7b 100644
--- a/test/framework/easyblock.py
+++ b/test/framework/easyblock.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 from easybuild.base import fancylogger
 from easybuild.framework.easyblock import EasyBlock, get_easyblock_instance
 from easybuild.framework.easyconfig import CUSTOM
-from easybuild.framework.easyconfig.easyconfig import EasyConfig
+from easybuild.framework.easyconfig.easyconfig import EasyConfig, ITERATE_OPTIONS
 from easybuild.framework.easyconfig.tools import avail_easyblocks, process_easyconfig
 from easybuild.framework.extensioneasyblock import ExtensionEasyBlock
 from easybuild.tools import LooseVersion, config
@@ -1173,7 +1173,9 @@ def test_handle_iterate_opts(self):
         self.assertEqual(eb.cfg.iterate_options, [])
         self.assertEqual(eb.cfg['configopts'], ["--opt1 --anotheropt", "--opt2", "--opt3 --optbis"])
 
-        expected_iter_opts = {'configopts': ["--opt1 --anotheropt", "--opt2", "--opt3 --optbis"]}
+        expected_iter_opts = dict.fromkeys(ITERATE_OPTIONS, "")
+        expected_iter_opts['builddependencies'] = []
+        expected_iter_opts['configopts'] = ["--opt1 --anotheropt", "--opt2", "--opt3 --optbis"]
 
         # once iteration mode is set, we're still in iteration #0
         self.mock_stdout(True)
@@ -1185,6 +1187,8 @@ def test_handle_iterate_opts(self):
         self.assertEqual(eb.cfg.iterating, True)
         self.assertEqual(eb.cfg.iterate_options, ['configopts'])
         self.assertEqual(eb.cfg['configopts'], "--opt1 --anotheropt")
+        # mimic easyblock that changes this in-place
+        eb.cfg['preconfigopts'] = "FOO=bar "
         self.assertEqual(eb.iter_opts, expected_iter_opts)
 
         # when next iteration is start, iteration index gets bumped
@@ -1196,6 +1200,8 @@ def test_handle_iterate_opts(self):
         self.assertEqual(stdout, "== starting iteration #1 ...\n")
         self.assertEqual(eb.cfg.iterating, True)
         self.assertEqual(eb.cfg.iterate_options, ['configopts'])
+        # preconfigopts should have been restored (https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-framework/pull/4848)
+        self.assertEqual(eb.cfg['preconfigopts'], "")
         self.assertEqual(eb.cfg['configopts'], "--opt2")
         self.assertEqual(eb.iter_opts, expected_iter_opts)