diff --git a/docs/regression_test_api.rst b/docs/regression_test_api.rst
index 9b839362c7..4635da5c43 100644
--- a/docs/regression_test_api.rst
+++ b/docs/regression_test_api.rst
@@ -111,10 +111,10 @@ So although a "post-init" and a "pre-setup" hook will both run *after* a test ha
 the post-init hook will execute *right after* the test is initialized.
 The framework will then continue with other activities and it will execute the pre-setup hook *just before* it schedules the test for executing its setup stage.
 
-Pipeline hooks are executed in reverse MRO order, i.e., the hooks of the least specialized class will be executed first.
+Pipeline hooks are normally executed in reverse MRO order, i.e., the hooks of the least specialized class will be executed first.
 In the following example, :func:`BaseTest.x` will execute before :func:`DerivedTest.y`:
 
-.. code:: python
+.. code-block:: python
 
    class BaseTest(rfm.RegressionTest):
        @run_after('setup')
@@ -127,6 +127,34 @@ In the following example, :func:`BaseTest.x` will execute before :func:`DerivedT
            '''Hook y'''
 
 
+This order can be altered using the ``always_last`` argument of the :func:`@run_before <reframe.core.builtins.run_before>` and :func:`@run_after <reframe.core.builtins.run_after>` decorators.
+In this case, all hooks of the same stage defined with ``always_last=True`` will be executed in MRO order at the end of the stage's hook chain.
+For example, given the following hierarchy:
+
+ .. code-block:: python
+
+    class X(rfm.RunOnlyRegressionTest):
+        @run_before('run', always_last=True)
+        def hook_a(self): pass
+
+        @run_before('run')
+        def hook_b(self): pass
+
+    class Y(X):
+        @run_before('run', always_last=True)
+        def hook_c(self): pass
+
+        @run_before('run')
+        def hook_d(self): pass
+
+
+the run hooks of :class:`Y` will be executed as follows:
+
+.. code-block:: console
+
+   X.hook_b, Y.hook_d, Y.hook_c, X.hook_a
+
+
 .. seealso::
    - :func:`@run_before <reframe.core.builtins.run_before>`, :func:`@run_after <reframe.core.builtins.run_after>` decorators
 
@@ -146,6 +174,12 @@ In the following example, :func:`BaseTest.x` will execute before :func:`DerivedT
              with osext.change_dir(self.stagedir):
                  ...
 
+.. note::
+   In versions prior to 4.3.4, overriding a pipeline hook in a subclass would re-attach it from scratch in the stage, therefore changing its execution order relative to other hooks of the superclass.
+   This is fixed in versions >= 4.3.4 where the execution order of the hook is not changed.
+   However, the fix may break existing workaround code that used to call explicitly the base class' hook from the derived one.
+   Check issue `#3012 <https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/issues/3012>`__ for details on how to properly address this.
+
 .. warning::
    .. versionchanged:: 3.7.0
       Declaring pipeline hooks using the same name functions from the :py:mod:`reframe` or :py:mod:`reframe.core.decorators` modules is now deprecated.
diff --git a/reframe/core/builtins.py b/reframe/core/builtins.py
index 6f32c3a7f4..4b5d4c8e4b 100644
--- a/reframe/core/builtins.py
+++ b/reframe/core/builtins.py
@@ -48,15 +48,18 @@ def run_before(stage, *, always_last=False):
     :param stage: The pipeline stage where this function will be attached to.
         See :ref:`pipeline-hooks` for the list of valid stage values.
 
-    :param always_last: Run this hook always as the last one of the stage. In
-        a whole test hierarchy, only a single hook can be explicitly pinned at
-        the end of the same-stage sequence of hooks. If another hook is
-        declared as ``always_last`` in the same stage, an error will be
-        issued.
+    :param always_last: Run this hook at the end of the stage's hook chain
+        instead of the beginning. If multiple tests set this flag for a hook
+        in the same stage, then all ``always_last`` hooks will be executed in
+        MRO order at the end of stage's hook chain. See :ref:`pipeline-hooks`
+        for an example execution.
 
     .. versionchanged:: 4.4
        The ``always_last`` argument was added.
 
+    .. versionchanged:: 4.5
+       Multiple tests can set ``always_last`` in the same stage.
+
     '''
 
     return hooks.attach_to('pre_' + stage, always_last)
diff --git a/reframe/core/parameters.py b/reframe/core/parameters.py
index c8659589b3..195cc21f9e 100644
--- a/reframe/core/parameters.py
+++ b/reframe/core/parameters.py
@@ -121,7 +121,8 @@ class AbstractB(Bar):
 
     :param loggable: Mark this parameter as loggable. If :obj:`True`, this
         parameter will become a log record attribute under the name
-        ``check_NAME``, where ``NAME`` is the name of the parameter.
+        ``check_NAME``, where ``NAME`` is the name of the parameter (default:
+        :obj:`True`)
 
     :returns: A new test parameter.
 
@@ -130,10 +131,14 @@ class AbstractB(Bar):
 
     .. versionadded:: 3.11.0
        The ``loggable`` argument is added.
+
+    .. versionchanged:: 4.5
+       Parameters are now loggable by default.
+
     '''
 
     def __init__(self, values=None, inherit_params=False,
-                 filter_params=None, fmt=None, loggable=False):
+                 filter_params=None, fmt=None, loggable=True):
         if values is None:
             values = []
 
diff --git a/reframe/core/pipeline.py b/reframe/core/pipeline.py
index 95a241be2c..28a73887d2 100644
--- a/reframe/core/pipeline.py
+++ b/reframe/core/pipeline.py
@@ -183,16 +183,10 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
         for hook in cls._rfm_hook_registry:
             for stage, always_last in hook.stages:
                 if always_last:
-                    if stage in last:
-                        hook_name = hook.__qualname__
-                        pinned_name = last[stage].__qualname__
-                        raise ReframeSyntaxError(
-                            f'cannot pin hook {hook_name!r} as last '
-                            f'of stage {stage!r} as {pinned_name!r} '
-                            f'is already pinned last'
-                        )
-
-                    last[stage] = hook
+                    try:
+                        last[stage].append(hook.fn)
+                    except KeyError:
+                        last[stage] = [hook.fn]
                 else:
                     try:
                         ret[stage].append(hook.fn)
@@ -200,11 +194,12 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
                         ret[stage] = [hook.fn]
 
         # Append the last hooks
-        for stage, hook in last.items():
-            try:
-                ret[stage].append(hook.fn)
-            except KeyError:
-                ret[stage] = [hook.fn]
+        for stage, hooks in last.items():
+            for fn in reversed(hooks):
+                try:
+                    ret[stage].append(fn)
+                except KeyError:
+                    ret[stage] = [fn]
 
         return ret
 
@@ -236,8 +231,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: .. versionchanged:: 3.11.0
     #:    Extend syntax to support features and key/value pairs.
-    valid_prog_environs = variable(typ.List[typ.Str[_VALID_ENV_SYNTAX]],
-                                   loggable=True)
+    valid_prog_environs = variable(typ.List[typ.Str[_VALID_ENV_SYNTAX]])
 
     #: List of systems or system features or system properties required by this
     #: test.
@@ -300,8 +294,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #:  .. versionchanged:: 3.11.0
     #:     Extend syntax to support features and key/value pairs.
-    valid_systems = variable(typ.List[typ.Str[_VALID_SYS_SYNTAX]],
-                             loggable=True)
+    valid_systems = variable(typ.List[typ.Str[_VALID_SYS_SYNTAX]])
 
     #: A detailed description of the test.
     #:
@@ -328,7 +321,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: :type: :class:`str`
     #: :default: ``''``
-    sourcepath = variable(str, value='', loggable=True)
+    sourcepath = variable(str, value='')
 
     #: The directory containing the test's resources.
     #:
@@ -358,7 +351,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:     .. versionchanged:: 3.0
     #:        Default value is now conditionally set to either ``'src'`` or
     #:        :class:`None`.
-    sourcesdir = variable(str, type(None), value='src', loggable=True)
+    sourcesdir = variable(str, type(None), value='src')
 
     #: .. versionadded:: 2.14
     #:
@@ -375,7 +368,8 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: :type: :class:`str` or :class:`reframe.core.buildsystems.BuildSystem`.
     #: :default: :class:`None`.
-    build_system = variable(type(None), field=BuildSystemField, value=None)
+    build_system = variable(type(None), field=BuildSystemField, value=None,
+                            loggable=False)
 
     #: .. versionadded:: 3.0
     #:
@@ -387,7 +381,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: :type: :class:`List[str]`
     #: :default: ``[]``
-    prebuild_cmds = variable(typ.List[str], value=[], loggable=True)
+    prebuild_cmds = variable(typ.List[str], value=[])
 
     #: .. versionadded:: 3.0
     #:
@@ -399,7 +393,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: :type: :class:`List[str]`
     #: :default: ``[]``
-    postbuild_cmds = variable(typ.List[str], value=[], loggable=True)
+    postbuild_cmds = variable(typ.List[str], value=[])
 
     #: The name of the executable to be launched during the run phase.
     #:
@@ -414,13 +408,13 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #: .. versionchanged:: 3.7.3
     #:    Default value changed from ``os.path.join('.', self.unique_name)`` to
     #:    :class:`required`.
-    executable = variable(str, loggable=True)
+    executable = variable(str)
 
     #: List of options to be passed to the :attr:`executable`.
     #:
     #: :type: :class:`List[str]`
     #: :default: ``[]``
-    executable_opts = variable(typ.List[str], value=[], loggable=True)
+    executable_opts = variable(typ.List[str], value=[])
 
     #: .. versionadded:: 2.20
     #:
@@ -460,7 +454,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:    This field is now set automatically from the current partition's
     #:    configuration.
     container_platform = variable(field=ContainerPlatformField,
-                                  value=_NoRuntime())
+                                  value=_NoRuntime(), loggable=False)
 
     #: .. versionadded:: 3.0
     #:
@@ -472,7 +466,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: :type: :class:`List[str]`
     #: :default: ``[]``
-    prerun_cmds = variable(typ.List[str], value=[], loggable=True)
+    prerun_cmds = variable(typ.List[str], value=[])
 
     #: .. versionadded:: 3.0
     #:
@@ -483,7 +477,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: :type: :class:`List[str]`
     #: :default: ``[]``
-    postrun_cmds = variable(typ.List[str], value=[], loggable=True)
+    postrun_cmds = variable(typ.List[str], value=[])
 
     #: List of files to be kept after the test finishes.
     #:
@@ -503,7 +497,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #: .. versionchanged:: 3.3
     #:    This field accepts now also file glob patterns.
     #:
-    keep_files = variable(typ.List[str], value=[], loggable=True)
+    keep_files = variable(typ.List[str], value=[])
 
     #: List of files or directories (relative to the :attr:`sourcesdir`) that
     #: will be symlinked in the stage directory and not copied.
@@ -513,7 +507,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: :type: :class:`List[str]`
     #: :default: ``[]``
-    readonly_files = variable(typ.List[str], value=[], loggable=True)
+    readonly_files = variable(typ.List[str], value=[])
 
     #: Set of tags associated with this test.
     #:
@@ -521,7 +515,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: :type: :class:`Set[str]`
     #: :default: an empty set
-    tags = variable(typ.Set[str], value=set(), loggable=True)
+    tags = variable(typ.Set[str], value=set())
 
     #: List of people responsible for this test.
     #:
@@ -529,7 +523,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: :type: :class:`List[str]`
     #: :default: ``[]``
-    maintainers = variable(typ.List[str], value=[], loggable=True)
+    maintainers = variable(typ.List[str], value=[])
 
     #: Mark this test as a strict performance test.
     #:
@@ -539,7 +533,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: :type: boolean
     #: :default: :class:`True`
-    strict_check = variable(typ.Bool, value=True, loggable=True)
+    strict_check = variable(typ.Bool, value=True)
 
     #: Number of tasks required by this test.
     #:
@@ -582,7 +576,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:        number of required tasks by the test.
     #:     .. versionchanged:: 4.1
     #:        Allow :attr:`num_tasks` to be :obj:`None`.
-    num_tasks = variable(int, type(None), value=1, loggable=True)
+    num_tasks = variable(int, type(None), value=1)
 
     #: Number of tasks per node required by this test.
     #:
@@ -590,7 +584,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: :type: integral or :class:`None`
     #: :default: :class:`None`
-    num_tasks_per_node = variable(int, type(None), value=None, loggable=True)
+    num_tasks_per_node = variable(int, type(None), value=None)
 
     #: Number of GPUs per node required by this test.
     #: This attribute is translated internally to the ``_rfm_gpu`` resource.
@@ -602,7 +596,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: .. versionchanged:: 4.0.0
     #:    The default value changed to :const:`None`.
-    num_gpus_per_node = variable(int, type(None), value=None, loggable=True)
+    num_gpus_per_node = variable(int, type(None), value=None)
 
     #: Number of CPUs per task required by this test.
     #:
@@ -610,7 +604,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: :type: integral or :class:`None`
     #: :default: :class:`None`
-    num_cpus_per_task = variable(int, type(None), value=None, loggable=True)
+    num_cpus_per_task = variable(int, type(None), value=None)
 
     #: Number of tasks per core required by this test.
     #:
@@ -618,7 +612,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: :type: integral or :class:`None`
     #: :default: :class:`None`
-    num_tasks_per_core = variable(int, type(None), value=None, loggable=True)
+    num_tasks_per_core = variable(int, type(None), value=None)
 
     #: Number of tasks per socket required by this test.
     #:
@@ -626,7 +620,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: :type: integral or :class:`None`
     #: :default: :class:`None`
-    num_tasks_per_socket = variable(int, type(None), value=None, loggable=True)
+    num_tasks_per_socket = variable(int, type(None), value=None)
 
     #: Specify whether this tests needs simultaneous multithreading enabled.
     #:
@@ -634,8 +628,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: :type: boolean or :class:`None`
     #: :default: :class:`None`
-    use_multithreading = variable(
-        typ.Bool, type(None), value=None, loggable=True)
+    use_multithreading = variable(typ.Bool, type(None), value=None)
 
     #: .. versionadded:: 3.0
     #:
@@ -646,19 +639,19 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #: :type: :class:`str` or :class:`datetime.timedelta`
     #: :default: :class:`None`
     max_pending_time = variable(type(None), typ.Duration, value=None,
-                                loggable=True, allow_implicit=True)
+                                allow_implicit=True)
 
     #: Specify whether this test needs exclusive access to nodes.
     #:
     #: :type: boolean
     #: :default: :class:`False`
-    exclusive_access = variable(typ.Bool, value=False, loggable=True)
+    exclusive_access = variable(typ.Bool, value=False)
 
     #: Always execute this test locally.
     #:
     #: :type: boolean
     #: :default: :class:`False`
-    local = variable(typ.Bool, value=False, loggable=True)
+    local = variable(typ.Bool, value=False)
 
     #: The set of reference values for this test.
     #:
@@ -721,7 +714,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
         typ.Tuple[~Deferrable, ~Deferrable, ~Deferrable],
         typ.Dict[str, typ.Dict[str, typ.Tuple[~Deferrable, ~Deferrable,
                                               ~Deferrable, ~Deferrable]]],
-        field=fields.ScopedDictField, value={}
+        field=fields.ScopedDictField, value={}, loggable=False
     )
 
     #: Require that a reference is defined for each system that this test is
@@ -734,7 +727,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #: :default: :const:`False`
     #:
     #: .. versionadded:: 4.0.0
-    require_reference = variable(typ.Bool, value=False)
+    require_reference = variable(typ.Bool, value=False, loggable=False)
 
     #:
     #: Refer to the :doc:`ReFrame Tutorials </tutorials>` for concrete usage
@@ -761,7 +754,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #:    .. versionchanged:: 3.6
     #:       The default value has changed from ``None`` to ``required``.
-    sanity_patterns = variable(_DeferredExpression)
+    sanity_patterns = variable(_DeferredExpression, loggable=False)
 
     #: Patterns for verifying the performance of this test.
     #:
@@ -780,7 +773,8 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:    <reframe.core.builtins.performance_function>` builtin or the
     #:    :attr:`perf_variables`, as :attr:`perf_patterns` will likely be
     #:    deprecated in the future.
-    perf_patterns = variable(typ.Dict[str, _DeferredExpression], type(None))
+    perf_patterns = variable(typ.Dict[str, _DeferredExpression], type(None),
+                             loggable=False)
 
     #: The performance variables associated with the test.
     #:
@@ -816,7 +810,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: .. versionadded:: 3.8.0
     perf_variables = variable(typ.Dict[str, _DeferredPerformanceExpression],
-                              value={})
+                              value={}, loggable=False)
 
     #: List of modules to be loaded before running this test.
     #:
@@ -825,7 +819,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #: :type: :class:`List[str]` or :class:`Dict[str, object]`
     #: :default: ``[]``
     modules = variable(typ.List[str], typ.List[typ.Dict[str, object]],
-                       value=[], loggable=True)
+                       value=[])
 
     #: Environment variables to be set before running this test.
     #:
@@ -837,7 +831,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: .. versionadded:: 4.0.0
     env_vars = variable(typ.Dict[str, str],
-                        typ.Dict[str, object], value={}, loggable=True)
+                        typ.Dict[str, object], value={})
     # NOTE: We still keep the original type, just to allow setting this
     # variable from the command line, because otherwise, ReFrame will not know
     # how to convert a value to an arbitrary object.
@@ -848,7 +842,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: .. deprecated:: 4.0.0
     #:    Please use :attr:`env_vars` instead.
-    variables = deprecate(variable(alias=env_vars, loggable=True),
+    variables = deprecate(variable(alias=env_vars),
                           f"the use of 'variables' is deprecated; "
                           f"please use 'env_vars' instead")
 
@@ -880,7 +874,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:       The default value is now :class:`None` and it can be set globally
     #:       per partition via the configuration.
     time_limit = variable(type(None), typ.Duration, value=None,
-                          loggable=True, allow_implicit=True)
+                          allow_implicit=True)
 
     #: .. versionadded:: 3.5.1
     #:
@@ -891,7 +885,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #: :type: :class:`str` or :class:`float` or :class:`int`
     #: :default: :class:`None`
     build_time_limit = variable(type(None), typ.Duration, value=None,
-                                loggable=True, allow_implicit=True)
+                                allow_implicit=True)
 
     #: .. versionadded:: 2.8
     #:
@@ -964,7 +958,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:       A new more powerful syntax was introduced
     #:       that allows also custom job script directive prefixes.
     extra_resources = variable(typ.Dict[str, typ.Dict[str, object]],
-                               value={}, loggable=True)
+                               value={})
 
     #: .. versionadded:: 3.3
     #:
@@ -980,7 +974,7 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: :type: boolean
     #: :default: :class:`True`
-    build_locally = variable(typ.Bool, value=True, loggable=True)
+    build_locally = variable(typ.Bool, value=True)
 
     #: .. versionadded:: 4.2
     #:
@@ -1003,12 +997,13 @@ def pipeline_hooks(cls):
     #:
     #: :type: :class:`dict`
     #: :default: ``{}``
-    ci_extras = variable(typ.Dict[typ.Str['gitlab'], object], value={})
+    ci_extras = variable(typ.Dict[typ.Str['gitlab'], object], value={},
+                         loggable=False)
 
     # Special variables
 
     #: Dry-run mode
-    _rfm_dry_run = variable(typ.Bool, value=False)
+    _rfm_dry_run = variable(typ.Bool, value=False, loggable=False)
 
     def __new__(cls, *args, **kwargs):
         obj = super().__new__(cls)
diff --git a/reframe/core/variables.py b/reframe/core/variables.py
index 0939206120..91c54aa84f 100644
--- a/reframe/core/variables.py
+++ b/reframe/core/variables.py
@@ -178,7 +178,8 @@ class MyRequiredTest(HelloTest):
         field can be specified for an alias variable.
     :param loggable: Mark this variable as loggable. If :obj:`True`, this
         variable will become a log record attribute under the name
-        ``check_NAME``, where ``NAME`` is the name of the variable.
+        ``check_NAME``, where ``NAME`` is the name of the variable (default
+        :obj:`True`).
     :param `kwargs`: keyword arguments to be forwarded to the constructor of
         the field validator.
     :returns: A new test variable.
@@ -189,6 +190,9 @@ class MyRequiredTest(HelloTest):
     .. versionadded:: 4.0.0
        Alias variable are introduced.
 
+    .. versionchanged:: 4.5
+       Variables are now loggable by default.
+
     '''
 
     # NOTE: We can't use truly private fields in `__slots__`, because
@@ -220,7 +224,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         else:
             self._p_default_value = kwargs.pop('value', Undefined)
 
-        self._loggable = kwargs.pop('loggable', False)
+        self._loggable = kwargs.pop('loggable', True)
         if not issubclass(field_type, fields.Field):
             raise TypeError(
                 f'field {field_type!r} is not derived from '
diff --git a/unittests/resources/checks/frontend_checks.py b/unittests/resources/checks/frontend_checks.py
index 7923672ce0..d0e7205bea 100644
--- a/unittests/resources/checks/frontend_checks.py
+++ b/unittests/resources/checks/frontend_checks.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ class BaseFrontendCheck(rfm.RunOnlyRegressionTest):
 
     # Add two required variables that may affect the final run report
     x = variable(int)
-    xlog = variable(int, loggable=True)
+    xlog = variable(int)
 
     @run_after('setup')
     def setx(self):
diff --git a/unittests/test_logging.py b/unittests/test_logging.py
index 7fce8e586b..97009298ab 100644
--- a/unittests/test_logging.py
+++ b/unittests/test_logging.py
@@ -23,18 +23,16 @@
 @pytest.fixture
 def fake_check():
     class _FakeCheck(rfm.RegressionTest):
-        param = parameter(range(3), loggable=True, fmt=lambda x: 10*x)
-        custom = variable(str, value='hello extras', loggable=True)
-        custom2 = variable(alias=custom)
-        custom_list = variable(list,
-                               value=['custom', 3.0, ['hello', 'world']],
-                               loggable=True)
-        custom_dict = variable(dict, value={'a': 1, 'b': 2}, loggable=True)
+        param = parameter(range(3), fmt=lambda x: 10*x)
+        custom = variable(str, value='hello extras')
+        custom2 = variable(alias=custom, loggable=False)
+        custom_list = variable(list, value=['custom', 3.0, ['hello', 'world']])
+        custom_dict = variable(dict, value={'a': 1, 'b': 2})
 
         # x is a variable that is loggable, but is left undefined. We want to
         # make sure that logging does not crash and simply reports is as
         # undefined
-        x = variable(str, loggable=True)
+        x = variable(str)
 
     # A bit hacky, but we don't want to run a full test every time
     test = _FakeCheck(variant_num=1)
diff --git a/unittests/test_meta.py b/unittests/test_meta.py
index 060df0bfdf..7f868f2151 100644
--- a/unittests/test_meta.py
+++ b/unittests/test_meta.py
@@ -512,10 +512,10 @@ class Foo(MyMeta):
 
 def test_loggable_attrs():
     class T(metaclass=meta.RegressionTestMeta):
-        x = variable(int, value=3, loggable=True)
-        y = variable(int, loggable=True)    # loggable but undefined
-        z = variable(int)
-        p = parameter(range(3), loggable=True)
+        x = variable(int, value=3)
+        y = variable(int)    # loggable but undefined
+        z = variable(int, loggable=False)
+        p = parameter(range(3))
 
         @loggable
         @property
@@ -555,6 +555,6 @@ class T(rfm.RegressionTest):
 
 def test_deprecated_loggable_attrs():
     class T(metaclass=meta.RegressionTestMeta):
-        x = deprecate(variable(int, value=3, loggable=True), 'deprecated')
+        x = deprecate(variable(int, value=3), 'deprecated')
 
     assert T.loggable_attrs() == [('x', None)]
diff --git a/unittests/test_pipeline.py b/unittests/test_pipeline.py
index 05cc9f8f8c..35ac202bd3 100644
--- a/unittests/test_pipeline.py
+++ b/unittests/test_pipeline.py
@@ -1183,7 +1183,6 @@ def foo(self):
 
 
 def test_pinned_hooks():
-    @test_util.custom_prefix('unittests/resources/checks')
     class X(rfm.RunOnlyRegressionTest):
         @run_before('run', always_last=True)
         def foo(self):
@@ -1207,34 +1206,43 @@ def bar(self):
 
 
 def test_pinned_hooks_multiple_last():
-    @test_util.custom_prefix('unittests/resources/checks')
     class X(rfm.RunOnlyRegressionTest):
         @run_before('run', always_last=True)
-        def foo(self):
+        def hook_a(self):
+            pass
+
+        @run_before('run')
+        def hook_b(self):
             pass
 
     class Y(X):
         @run_before('run', always_last=True)
-        def bar(self):
+        def hook_c(self):
             pass
 
-    with pytest.raises(ReframeSyntaxError):
-        test = Y()
+        @run_before('run')
+        def hook_d(self):
+            pass
+
+    test = Y()
+    assert test.pipeline_hooks() == {
+        'pre_run': [X.hook_b, Y.hook_d, Y.hook_c, X.hook_a]
+    }
 
 
 def test_pinned_hooks_multiple_last_inherited():
-    @test_util.custom_prefix('unittests/resources/checks')
     class X(rfm.RunOnlyRegressionTest):
         @run_before('run', always_last=True)
         def foo(self):
             pass
 
+    class Y(X):
         @run_before('run', always_last=True)
         def bar(self):
             pass
 
-    with pytest.raises(ReframeSyntaxError):
-        test = X()
+    test = Y()
+    assert test.pipeline_hooks() == {'pre_run': [Y.bar, X.foo]}
 
 
 def test_disabled_hooks(HelloTest, local_exec_ctx):