diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests_eessi_module.yml b/.github/workflows/tests_eessi_module.yml
index c13b182b..6f11c7f8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests_eessi_module.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests_eessi_module.yml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Check out software-layer repository
         uses: actions/checkout@b4ffde65f46336ab88eb53be808477a3936bae11 # v4.1.1
           
-      - name: Mount EESSI CernVM-FS pilot repository
+      - name: Mount EESSI CernVM-FS repository
         uses: cvmfs-contrib/github-action-cvmfs@55899ca74cf78ab874bdf47f5a804e47c198743c # v4.0
         with:
           cvmfs_config_package: https://github.com/EESSI/filesystem-layer/releases/download/latest/cvmfs-config-eessi_latest_all.deb
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Check out software-layer repository
         uses: actions/checkout@b4ffde65f46336ab88eb53be808477a3936bae11 # v4.1.1
           
-      - name: Mount EESSI CernVM-FS pilot repository
+      - name: Mount EESSI CernVM-FS repository
         uses: cvmfs-contrib/github-action-cvmfs@55899ca74cf78ab874bdf47f5a804e47c198743c # v4.0
         with:
           cvmfs_config_package: https://github.com/EESSI/filesystem-layer/releases/download/latest/cvmfs-config-eessi_latest_all.deb
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Check out software-layer repository
         uses: actions/checkout@b4ffde65f46336ab88eb53be808477a3936bae11 # v4.1.1
           
-      - name: Mount EESSI CernVM-FS pilot repository
+      - name: Mount EESSI CernVM-FS repository
         uses: cvmfs-contrib/github-action-cvmfs@55899ca74cf78ab874bdf47f5a804e47c198743c # v4.0
         with:
           cvmfs_config_package: https://github.com/EESSI/filesystem-layer/releases/download/latest/cvmfs-config-eessi_latest_all.deb
@@ -232,3 +232,40 @@ jobs:
           # (script uses EESSI_SOFTWARE_SUBDIR_OVERRIDE and EESSI_ACCELERATOR_TARGET_OVERRIDE
           # as the starting point for the comparison)
           python .github/workflows/scripts/verify_eessi_environment.py
+
+  check_sticky_eessi_module:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        EESSI_VERSION:
+          - '2023.06'
+          - '2025.06'
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Check out software-layer repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@b4ffde65f46336ab88eb53be808477a3936bae11 # v4.1.1
+          
+      - name: Mount EESSI CernVM-FS repository
+        uses: cvmfs-contrib/github-action-cvmfs@55899ca74cf78ab874bdf47f5a804e47c198743c # v4.0
+        with:
+          cvmfs_config_package: https://github.com/EESSI/filesystem-layer/releases/download/latest/cvmfs-config-eessi_latest_all.deb
+          cvmfs_http_proxy: DIRECT
+          cvmfs_repositories: software.eessi.io
+              
+      - name: Make sure we have a sticky EESSI module
+        run: |
+          # Initialise Lmod
+          . /cvmfs/software.eessi.io/versions/${{matrix.EESSI_VERSION}}/compat/linux/$(uname -m)/usr/share/Lmod/init/bash
+          
+          # Make sure we using the module file from the repository
+          export MODULEPATH=init/modules
+          
+          # Set the relevant environment variable and load the EESSI module
+          export EESSI_MODULE_STICKY=1
+          module load "EESSI/${{matrix.EESSI_VERSION}}"
+          module list |& grep "EESSI/${{matrix.EESSI_VERSION}}"
+          
+          # Purge and check the module is still loaded
+          module purge
+          module list |& grep "EESSI/${{matrix.EESSI_VERSION}}"
diff --git a/init/modules/EESSI/2023.06.lua b/init/modules/EESSI/2023.06.lua
index 0d82090b..9497b729 100644
--- a/init/modules/EESSI/2023.06.lua
+++ b/init/modules/EESSI/2023.06.lua
@@ -172,6 +172,14 @@ if isDir(eessi_module_path_accel) then
     prepend_path("MODULEPATH", eessi_module_path_site_accel)
     eessiDebug("Using site accelerator modules at: " .. eessi_module_path_site_accel)
 end
+
+-- allow sites to make the EESSI module sticky by defining EESSI_MODULE_STICKY (to any value)
+load_message = "Module for EESSI/" .. eessi_version .. " loaded successfully"
+if os.getenv("EESSI_MODULE_STICKY") then
+    add_property("lmod","sticky")
+    load_message = load_message .. " (requires '--force' option to unload or purge)"
+end
+
 if mode() == "load" then
-    LmodMessage("EESSI/" .. eessi_version .. " loaded successfully")
+    LmodMessage(load_message)
 end