diff --git a/easybuild/tools/github.py b/easybuild/tools/github.py
index 340ce2c8fd..1b7a443183 100644
--- a/easybuild/tools/github.py
+++ b/easybuild/tools/github.py
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@
     'archived': 'uses an archived toolchain',
     'inactive': 'no activity for > 6 months',
     'obsolete': 'obsoleted by more recent PRs',
+    'retest': 'closing and reopening to trigger tests',
 }
 
 
@@ -668,7 +669,7 @@ def _easyconfigs_pr_common(paths, ecs, start_branch=None, pr_branch=None, start_
     if paths['easyconfigs']:
         for path in paths['easyconfigs']:
             if not os.path.exists(path):
-                    non_existing_paths.append(path)
+                non_existing_paths.append(path)
             else:
                 ec_paths.append(path)
 
@@ -1109,6 +1110,8 @@ def close_pr(pr, motivation_msg=None):
 
     dry_run = build_option('dry_run') or build_option('extended_dry_run')
 
+    reopen = motivation_msg == VALID_CLOSE_PR_REASONS['retest']
+
     if not motivation_msg:
         print_msg("No reason or message specified, looking for possible reasons\n")
         possible_reasons = reasons_for_closing(pr_data)
@@ -1120,15 +1123,18 @@ def close_pr(pr, motivation_msg=None):
             motivation_msg = ", ".join([VALID_CLOSE_PR_REASONS[reason] for reason in possible_reasons])
             print_msg("\nNo reason specified but found possible reasons: %s.\n" % motivation_msg, prefix=False)
 
-    msg = "@%s, this PR is being closed for the following reason(s): %s.\n" % (pr_data['user']['login'], motivation_msg)
-    msg += "Please don't hesitate to reopen this PR or add a comment if you feel this contribution is still relevant.\n"
-    msg += "For more information on our policy w.r.t. closing PRs, see "
-    msg += "https://easybuild.readthedocs.io/en/latest/Contributing.html"
-    msg += "#why-a-pull-request-may-be-closed-by-a-maintainer"
+    msg = "@%s, this PR is being closed for the following reason(s): %s." % (pr_data['user']['login'], motivation_msg)
+    if not reopen:
+        msg += "\nPlease don't hesitate to reopen this PR or add a comment if you feel this contribution is still "
+        msg += "relevant.\nFor more information on our policy w.r.t. closing PRs, see "
+        msg += "https://easybuild.readthedocs.io/en/latest/Contributing.html"
+        msg += "#why-a-pull-request-may-be-closed-by-a-maintainer"
     post_comment_in_issue(pr, msg, account=pr_target_account, repo=pr_target_repo, github_user=github_user)
 
     if dry_run:
-        print_msg("[DRY RUN] Closed %s/%s pull request #%s" % (pr_target_account, pr_target_repo, pr), prefix=False)
+        print_msg("[DRY RUN] Closed %s/%s PR #%s" % (pr_target_account, pr_target_repo, pr), prefix=False)
+        if reopen:
+            print_msg("[DRY RUN] Reopened %s/%s PR #%s" % (pr_target_account, pr_target_repo, pr), prefix=False)
     else:
         github_token = fetch_github_token(github_user)
         if github_token is None:
@@ -1139,6 +1145,11 @@ def close_pr(pr, motivation_msg=None):
         status, data = pull_url.post(body=body)
         if not status == HTTP_STATUS_OK:
             raise EasyBuildError("Failed to close PR #%s; status %s, data: %s", pr, status, data)
+        if reopen:
+            body = {'state': 'open'}
+            status, data = pull_url.post(body=body)
+            if not status == HTTP_STATUS_OK:
+                raise EasyBuildError("Failed to reopen PR #%s; status %s, data: %s", pr, status, data)
 
 
 def list_prs(params, per_page=GITHUB_MAX_PER_PAGE, github_user=None):
diff --git a/test/framework/github.py b/test/framework/github.py
index b403f6c947..13ed6efd6b 100644
--- a/test/framework/github.py
+++ b/test/framework/github.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 from easybuild.tools.config import module_classes
 from easybuild.tools.configobj import ConfigObj
 from easybuild.tools.filetools import read_file, write_file
+from easybuild.tools.github import VALID_CLOSE_PR_REASONS
 from easybuild.tools.py2vs3 import HTTPError, URLError, ascii_letters
 import easybuild.tools.github as gh
 
@@ -222,7 +223,24 @@ def test_close_pr(self):
             "hpcugent/testrepository PR #2 was submitted by migueldiascosta",
             "[DRY RUN] Adding comment to testrepository issue #2: '" +
             "@migueldiascosta, this PR is being closed for the following reason(s): just a test",
-            "[DRY RUN] Closed hpcugent/testrepository pull request #2",
+            "[DRY RUN] Closed hpcugent/testrepository PR #2",
+        ]
+        for pattern in patterns:
+            self.assertTrue(pattern in stdout, "Pattern '%s' found in: %s" % (pattern, stdout))
+
+        retest_msg = VALID_CLOSE_PR_REASONS['retest']
+
+        self.mock_stdout(True)
+        gh.close_pr(2, motivation_msg=retest_msg)
+        stdout = self.get_stdout()
+        self.mock_stdout(False)
+
+        patterns = [
+            "hpcugent/testrepository PR #2 was submitted by migueldiascosta",
+            "[DRY RUN] Adding comment to testrepository issue #2: '" +
+            "@migueldiascosta, this PR is being closed for the following reason(s): %s" % retest_msg,
+            "[DRY RUN] Closed hpcugent/testrepository PR #2",
+            "[DRY RUN] Reopened hpcugent/testrepository PR #2",
         ]
         for pattern in patterns:
             self.assertTrue(pattern in stdout, "Pattern '%s' found in: %s" % (pattern, stdout))