diff --git a/reframe/schemas/config.json b/reframe/schemas/config.json
index 55c30f424b..e6d9e16e13 100644
--- a/reframe/schemas/config.json
+++ b/reframe/schemas/config.json
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@
                                 "devices": {"$ref": "#/defs/devices"},
                                 "features": {
                                     "type": "array",
-                                    "items": {"$ref": "#/defs/alphanum_string"}
+                                    "items": {"$ref": "#/defs/alphanum_ext_string"}
                                 },
                                 "extras": {
                                     "type": "object",
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@
                     },
                     "features": {
                         "type": "array",
-                        "items": {"$ref": "#/defs/alphanum_string"}
+                        "items": {"$ref": "#/defs/alphanum_ext_string"}
                     },
                     "resources": {
                         "type": "object",
diff --git a/unittests/resources/config/settings.py b/unittests/resources/config/settings.py
index 7c8fbd7339..30e22a24f9 100644
--- a/unittests/resources/config/settings.py
+++ b/unittests/resources/config/settings.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def hostname():
                     'launcher': 'local',
                     'environs': ['PrgEnv-cray', 'PrgEnv-gnu'],
                     'descr': 'Login nodes',
-                    'features': ['cross_compile'],
+                    'features': ['cross-compile'],
                     'container_platforms': [
                         {'type': 'Sarus'},
                         {'type': 'Docker', 'default': True},
diff --git a/unittests/test_pipeline.py b/unittests/test_pipeline.py
index 4f14c4c4c1..8cd988ffaf 100644
--- a/unittests/test_pipeline.py
+++ b/unittests/test_pipeline.py
@@ -740,7 +740,7 @@ def _assert_supported(valid_systems, valid_prog_environs,
         }
     )
     _assert_supported(
-        valid_systems=['+cross_compile'],
+        valid_systems=['+cross-compile'],
         valid_prog_environs=['-cxx14'],
         expected={
             'testsys:login': []