diff --git a/init/eessi_environment_variables b/init/eessi_environment_variables
index 56caff2da8..2b7a58815e 100644
--- a/init/eessi_environment_variables
+++ b/init/eessi_environment_variables
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ if [ -d $EESSI_PREFIX ]; then
   # add location of commands provided by compat layer to $PATH;
   # see https://github.com/EESSI/software-layer/issues/52
   export PATH=$EPREFIX/usr/bin:$EPREFIX/bin:$PATH
+  
+  # also add include files provided by compat layer to $CPATH
+  export CPATH=$EPREFIX/usr/include
 
   export EESSI_EPREFIX=$EPREFIX
   if [ -d $EESSI_EPREFIX ]; then