diff --git a/testsuite/example/siteconfig.tcl-1 b/testsuite/example/siteconfig.tcl-1
index 4876ae1a..781fe488 100644
--- a/testsuite/example/siteconfig.tcl-1
+++ b/testsuite/example/siteconfig.tcl-1
@@ -341,6 +341,11 @@ if {[info exists env(TESTSUITE_ENABLE_SITECONFIG_BADTAGABBREVDFLVALUE)]} {
     set g_config_defs(tag_abbrev) {MODULES_TAG_ABBREV {loaded} 0 {} {} initConfTagAbbrev}
 }
 
+# set a bad value for variant_shortcut default value
+if {[info exists env(TESTSUITE_ENABLE_SITECONFIG_BADVARIANTSHORTCUTDFLVALUE)]} {
+    set g_config_defs(variant_shortcut) {MODULES_VARIANT_SHORTCUT {foo} 0 {} {} initConfVariantShortcut}
+}
+
 # specific tests to improve getModuleDesignation procs coverage
 if {[info exists env(TESTSUITE_ENABLE_SITECONFIG_GETMODULEDESIGNATION)]} {
     # test disabled sgr mode
diff --git a/testsuite/modules.70-maint/377-variant-shortcut.exp b/testsuite/modules.70-maint/377-variant-shortcut.exp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0f017eff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testsuite/modules.70-maint/377-variant-shortcut.exp
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+##############################################################################
+#   Modules Revision 3.0
+#   Providing a flexible user environment
+#
+#   File:		modules.70-maint/%M%
+#   Revision:		%I%
+#   First Edition:	2021/06/23
+#   Last Mod.:		%U%, %G%
+#
+#   Authors:		Xavier Delaruelle, xavier.delaruelle@cea.fr
+#
+#   Description:	Testuite testsequence
+#   Command:
+#   Modulefiles:    variant
+#   Sub-Command:    config, list, load, unload
+#
+#   Comment:	%C{
+#           Test variant_shortcut mechanism
+#		}C%
+#
+##############################################################################
+
+set mp $modpath.3
+set mpre $modpathre.3
+setenv_path_var MODULEPATH $mp
+
+setenv_var MODULES_ADVANCED_VERSION_SPEC 1
+unsetenv_var MODULES_VARIANT_SHORTCUT
+
+
+#
+# config checks
+#
+
+# check expected siteconfig file is installed
+set is_stderr_tty [siteconfig_isStderrTty]
+if {$is_stderr_tty} {
+setenv_var TESTSUITE_ENABLE_SITECONFIG_BADVARIANTSHORTCUTDFLVALUE 1
+
+set tserr "$warn_msgs: Ignore invalid default value for 'variant_shortcut' config \\(foo\\)
+$vers_reportre
+
+- Config. name $modlin.- Value \\(set by if default overridden\\) $modlin
+variant_shortcut          "
+testouterr_cmd_re sh {config variant_shortcut} OK $tserr
+
+setenv_var MODULES_VARIANT_SHORTCUT foo
+set tserr "$warn_msgs: Ignore invalid value set in MODULES_VARIANT_SHORTCUT \\(foo\\)
+$warn_msgs: Ignore invalid default value for 'variant_shortcut' config \\(foo\\)
+$vers_reportre
+
+- Config. name $modlin.- Value \\(set by if default overridden\\) $modlin
+variant_shortcut           \\(env-var\\)"
+testouterr_cmd_re sh {config variant_shortcut} OK $tserr
+
+unsetenv_var TESTSUITE_ENABLE_SITECONFIG_BADVARIANTSHORTCUTDFLVALUE
+}
+
+# bad env var syntax
+setenv_var MODULES_VARIANT_SHORTCUT foo
+set tserr "$warn_msgs: Ignore invalid value set in MODULES_VARIANT_SHORTCUT \\(foo\\)
+$vers_reportre
+
+- Config. name $modlin.- Value \\(set by if default overridden\\) $modlin
+variant_shortcut          $install_variantshortcut \\(env-var\\)"
+testouterr_cmd_re sh {config variant_shortcut} OK $tserr
+
+# forbidden shortcut length
+setenv_var MODULES_VARIANT_SHORTCUT {foo=%:bar=##}
+set tserr "$vers_reportre
+
+- Config. name $modlin.- Value \\(set by if default overridden\\) $modlin
+variant_shortcut          foo=% \\(env-var\\)"
+testouterr_cmd_re sh {config variant_shortcut} OK $tserr
+
+# forbidden shortcut character
+setenv_var MODULES_VARIANT_SHORTCUT {bar=a:foo=2:baz=@}
+set tserr "$vers_reportre
+
+- Config. name $modlin.- Value \\(set by if default overridden\\) $modlin
+variant_shortcut           \\(env-var\\)"
+testouterr_cmd_re sh {config variant_shortcut} OK $tserr
+
+# shortcut superseding
+setenv_var MODULES_VARIANT_SHORTCUT {bar=%:foo=%}
+set tserr "$vers_reportre
+
+- Config. name $modlin.- Value \\(set by if default overridden\\) $modlin
+variant_shortcut          foo=% \\(env-var\\)"
+testouterr_cmd_re sh {config variant_shortcut} OK $tserr
+
+setenv_var MODULES_VARIANT_SHORTCUT {foo=%:bar=%}
+set tserr "$vers_reportre
+
+- Config. name $modlin.- Value \\(set by if default overridden\\) $modlin
+variant_shortcut          bar=% \\(env-var\\)"
+testouterr_cmd_re sh {config variant_shortcut} OK $tserr
+
+setenv_var MODULES_VARIANT_SHORTCUT {foo=%:foo=#}
+set tserr "$vers_reportre
+
+- Config. name $modlin.- Value \\(set by if default overridden\\) $modlin
+variant_shortcut          foo=# \\(env-var\\)"
+testouterr_cmd_re sh {config variant_shortcut} OK $tserr
+
+setenv_var MODULES_VARIANT_SHORTCUT {foo=%:foo=#:bar=%}
+set tserr "$vers_reportre
+
+- Config. name $modlin.- Value \\(set by if default overridden\\) $modlin
+variant_shortcut          foo=#:bar=% \\(env-var\\)"
+testouterr_cmd_re sh {config variant_shortcut} OK $tserr
+
+setenv_var MODULES_VARIANT_SHORTCUT {foo=%:foo=#:bar=#}
+set tserr "$vers_reportre
+
+- Config. name $modlin.- Value \\(set by if default overridden\\) $modlin
+variant_shortcut          bar=# \\(env-var\\)"
+testouterr_cmd_re sh {config variant_shortcut} OK $tserr
+
+
+#
+#  Cleanup
+#
+
+reset_test_env