diff --git a/easybuild/framework/easyconfig/types.py b/easybuild/framework/easyconfig/types.py
index 622479f480..9e0b705964 100644
--- a/easybuild/framework/easyconfig/types.py
+++ b/easybuild/framework/easyconfig/types.py
@@ -608,19 +608,33 @@ def ensure_iterable_license_specs(specs):
 }))
 # checksums is a list of checksums, one entry per file (source/patch)
 # each entry can be:
+# None
 # a single checksum value (string)
 # a single checksum value of a specified type (2-tuple, 1st element is checksum type, 2nd element is checksum)
 # a list of checksums (of different types, perhaps different formats), which should *all* be valid
-# a dictionary with a mapping from filename to checksum value
-CHECKSUM_LIST = (list, as_hashable({'elem_types': [str, tuple, STRING_DICT]}))
-CHECKSUMS = (list, as_hashable({'elem_types': [str, tuple, STRING_DICT, CHECKSUM_LIST]}))
+# a tuple of checksums (of different types, perhaps different formats), where one should be valid
+# a dictionary with a mapping from filename to checksum (None, value, type&value, alternatives)
 
-CHECKABLE_TYPES = [CHECKSUM_LIST, CHECKSUMS, DEPENDENCIES, DEPENDENCY_DICT, LIST_OF_STRINGS,
+# Type & value, value may be an int for type "size"
+# This is a bit too permissive as it allows the first element to be an int and doesn't restrict the number of elements
+CHECKSUM_TUPLE = (tuple, as_hashable({'elem_types': [str, int]}))
+CHECKSUM_DICT = (dict, as_hashable(
+    {
+        'elem_types': [type(None), str, CHECKSUM_TUPLE],
+        'key_types': [str],
+    }
+))
+CHECKSUM_LIST = (list, as_hashable({'elem_types': [str, CHECKSUM_TUPLE, CHECKSUM_DICT]}))
+
+CHECKSUMS = (list, as_hashable({'elem_types': [type(None), str, CHECKSUM_LIST, CHECKSUM_TUPLE, CHECKSUM_DICT]}))
+
+CHECKABLE_TYPES = [CHECKSUM_DICT, CHECKSUM_LIST, CHECKSUM_TUPLE, CHECKSUMS,
+                   DEPENDENCIES, DEPENDENCY_DICT, LIST_OF_STRINGS,
                    SANITY_CHECK_PATHS_DICT, SANITY_CHECK_PATHS_ENTRY, STRING_DICT, STRING_OR_TUPLE_LIST,
                    STRING_OR_TUPLE_DICT, STRING_OR_TUPLE_OR_DICT_LIST, TOOLCHAIN_DICT, TUPLE_OF_STRINGS]
 
 # easy types, that can be verified with isinstance
-EASY_TYPES = [string_type, bool, dict, int, list, str, tuple]
+EASY_TYPES = [string_type, bool, dict, int, list, str, tuple, type(None)]
 
 # type checking is skipped for easyconfig parameters names not listed in PARAMETER_TYPES
 PARAMETER_TYPES = {
diff --git a/test/framework/type_checking.py b/test/framework/type_checking.py
index 83f1ef41ac..9acb727f0e 100644
--- a/test/framework/type_checking.py
+++ b/test/framework/type_checking.py
@@ -221,10 +221,24 @@ def test_check_type_of_param_value_checksums(self):
                 {'foo.txt': sha256_checksum1, 'bar.txt': sha256_checksum2},
                 # 3 alternative checksums for a single file, one match is sufficient
                 (sha256_checksum1, sha256_checksum2, sha256_checksum3),
-            ]
+                # two alternative checksums for a single file (not to be confused by checksum-type & -value tuple)
+                (sha256_checksum1, md5_checksum),
+                # three alternative checksums for a single file of different types
+                (sha256_checksum1, ('md5', md5_checksum), {'foo.txt': sha256_checksum1}),
+                # alternative checksums in dicts are also allowed
+                {'foo.txt': (sha256_checksum2, sha256_checksum3), 'bar.txt': (sha256_checksum1, md5_checksum)},
+                # Same but with lists -> all must match for each file
+                {'foo.txt': [sha256_checksum2, sha256_checksum3], 'bar.txt': [sha256_checksum1, md5_checksum]},
+            ],
+            # None is allowed, meaning skip the checksum
+            [
+                None,
+                # Also in mappings
+                {'foo.txt': sha256_checksum1, 'bar.txt': None},
+            ],
         ]
         for inp in inputs:
-            self.assertEqual(check_type_of_param_value('checksums', inp), (True, inp))
+            self.assertTrue(check_type_of_param_value('checksums', inp), 'Failed for ' + str(inp))
 
     def test_check_type_of_param_value_patches(self):
         """Test check_type_of_param_value function for patches."""