diff --git a/test/easyconfigs/easyconfigs.py b/test/easyconfigs/easyconfigs.py
index 43c419e626af..cf5ea29a01f3 100644
--- a/test/easyconfigs/easyconfigs.py
+++ b/test/easyconfigs/easyconfigs.py
@@ -328,8 +328,9 @@ def test_conflicts(self):
             print("(skipped conflicts test)")
             return
 
-        self.assertFalse(check_conflicts(self.ordered_specs, modules_tool(), check_inter_ec_conflicts=False),
-                         "No conflicts detected")
+        self.assertEqual(check_conflicts(self.ordered_specs, modules_tool(), check_inter_ec_conflicts=False,
+                                         return_conflicts=True),
+                         [])
 
     def test_deps(self):
         """Perform checks on dependencies in easyconfig files"""
@@ -985,7 +986,6 @@ def get_deps_for(ec):
             '12.2': '2022b',
             '12.3': '2023a',
             '13.1': None,
-            '13.1': None,
             '13.2': '2023b',
             '13.3': '2024a',
             '14.1': None,
@@ -1781,7 +1781,7 @@ def template_easyconfig_test(self, spec):
         'hpcugent.github.com/easybuild',
         'hpcugent.github.io/easybuild',
     ]
-    failing_checks.extend("Old URL '%s' found" % old_url for old_url in old_urls if old_url in ec.rawtxt)
+    failing_checks.extend("Old URL '%s' should not be used" % old_url for old_url in old_urls if old_url in ec.rawtxt)
 
     # Note the use of app.cfg which might contain sources populated by e.g. the Cargo easyblock
     sources, patches, checksums = app.cfg.get_ref('sources'), app.cfg['patches'], app.cfg['checksums']
@@ -1800,7 +1800,7 @@ def template_easyconfig_test(self, spec):
         # exception to the dependencies of binutils (since we should eventually build a new binutils with GCCcore)
         if ec['toolchain']['version'] == 'system':
             binutils_complete_dependencies = ['M4', 'Bison', 'flex', 'help2man', 'zlib', 'binutils']
-            requires_binutils &= bool(ec['name'] not in binutils_complete_dependencies)
+            requires_binutils &= ec['name'] not in binutils_complete_dependencies
 
         # if no sources/extensions/components are specified, it's just a bundle (nothing is being compiled)
         requires_binutils &= bool(sources or ec.get_ref('exts_list') or ec.get_ref('components'))
@@ -1809,9 +1809,9 @@ def template_easyconfig_test(self, spec):
             # dependencies() returns both build and runtime dependencies
             # in some cases, binutils can also be a runtime dep (e.g. for Clang)
             # Also using GCC directly as a build dep is also allowed (it includes the correct binutils)
-            dep_names = [d['name'] for d in ec.dependencies()]
+            dep_names = ec.dependency_names()
             if 'binutils' not in dep_names and 'GCC' not in dep_names:
-                failing_checks.append("binutils or GCC is a build dep: " + str(dep_names))
+                failing_checks.append("binutils or GCC should be in build deps: " + str(dep_names))
 
     # make sure that OpenSSL wrapper is used rather than OS dependency,
     # for easyconfigs using a 2021a (sub)toolchain or more recent common toolchain version
@@ -1862,7 +1862,7 @@ def template_easyconfig_test(self, spec):
 
     # Need to check now as collect_exts_file_info relies on correct exts_list
     if failing_checks:
-        self.fail('Verification for %s failed:\n' % os.path.basename(spec) + '\n'.join(set(failing_checks)))
+        self.fail('Verification of %s failed:\n' % os.path.basename(spec) + '\n'.join(set(failing_checks)))
 
     # After the sanity check above, use collect_exts_file_info to resolve templates etc. correctly
     for ext in app.collect_exts_file_info(fetch_files=False, verify_checksums=False):
@@ -1950,7 +1950,7 @@ def template_easyconfig_test(self, spec):
                         # use of `True` is deprecated in favour of the more intuitive `SYSTEM` template
                         if orig_dep[3] is True:
                             failing_checks.append(
-                                "use of `True` to indicate the system toolchain for "
+                                "Use of `True` to indicate the system toolchain for "
                                 "%s is deprecated, use the `SYSTEM` template constant instead" % desc
                             )
                         elif orig_dep[3] != dumped_dep[3]:
@@ -2000,7 +2000,7 @@ def template_easyconfig_test(self, spec):
             failing_checks.append(fail_msg)
 
     if failing_checks:
-        self.fail('Verification for %s failed:\n' % os.path.basename(spec) + '\n'.join(failing_checks))
+        self.fail('Verification of %s failed:\n' % os.path.basename(spec) + '\n'.join(failing_checks))
 
     # test passed, so set back
     single_tests_ok = prev_single_tests_ok