diff --git a/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/cmakemake.py b/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/cmakemake.py
index ab5198f5469..967863b5379 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/cmakemake.py
+++ b/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/cmakemake.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ def extra_options(extra_vars=None):
                                  "Defaults to 'Release' or 'Debug' depending on toolchainopts[debug]", CUSTOM],
             'configure_cmd': [DEFAULT_CONFIGURE_CMD, "Configure command to use", CUSTOM],
             'srcdir': [None, "Source directory location to provide to cmake command", CUSTOM],
-            'separate_build_dir': [False, "Perform build in a separate directory", CUSTOM],
+            'separate_build_dir': [True, "Perform build in a separate directory", CUSTOM],
         })
         return extra_vars
 
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
     def lib_ext(self):
         """Return the extension for libraries build based on `build_shared_libs` or None if that is unset"""
         if self._lib_ext is None:
-            build_shared_libs = self.cfg['build_shared_libs']
+            build_shared_libs = self.cfg.get('build_shared_libs')
             if build_shared_libs:
                 self._lib_ext = get_shared_lib_ext()
             elif build_shared_libs is not None:
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ def lib_ext(self, value):
     @property
     def build_type(self):
         """Build type set in the EasyConfig with default determined by toolchainopts"""
-        build_type = self.cfg['build_type']
+        build_type = self.cfg.get('build_type')
         if build_type is None:
             build_type = 'Debug' if self.toolchain.options.get('debug', None) else 'Release'
         return build_type
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ def configure_step(self, srcdir=None, builddir=None):
 
         setup_cmake_env(self.toolchain)
 
-        if builddir is None and self.cfg.get('separate_build_dir', False):
+        if builddir is None and self.cfg.get('separate_build_dir', True):
             builddir = os.path.join(self.builddir, 'easybuild_obj')
 
         if builddir:
@@ -130,14 +130,15 @@ def configure_step(self, srcdir=None, builddir=None):
 
         if srcdir is None:
             if self.cfg.get('srcdir', None) is not None:
-                srcdir = self.cfg['srcdir']
+                # Note that the join returns srcdir if it is absolute
+                srcdir = os.path.join(default_srcdir, self.cfg['srcdir'])
             else:
                 srcdir = default_srcdir
 
         options = ['-DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=%s' % self.installdir]
 
         if '-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=' in self.cfg['configopts']:
-            if self.cfg['build_type'] is not None:
+            if self.cfg.get('build_type') is not None:
                 self.log.warning('CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE is set in configopts. Ignoring build_type')
         else:
             options.append('-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=%s' % self.build_type)
@@ -148,7 +149,7 @@ def configure_step(self, srcdir=None, builddir=None):
 
         # Set flag for shared libs if requested
         # Not adding one allows the project to choose a default
-        build_shared_libs = self.cfg['build_shared_libs']
+        build_shared_libs = self.cfg.get('build_shared_libs')
         if build_shared_libs is not None:
             # Contrary to other options build_shared_libs takes precedence over configopts which may be unexpected.
             # This is to allow self.lib_ext to be determined correctly.