diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index d991376950c..c14d354c145 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -476,6 +476,11 @@ matrix:
       language: generic
       env:
         - SHARD="Rust + Platform-specific Tests OSX"
+        # Specifically avoid the OSX provided 2.7.10 under xcode8.3 since it returns a platform
+        # of `macosx-*-intel` where the `intel` suffix is bogus but pex has not yet been taught to
+        # deal with this. Can be removed when this issue is resolved:
+        # https://github.com/pantsbuild/pex/issues/523
+        - PANTS_PYTHON_SETUP_INTERPRETER_CONSTRAINTS="['CPython>2.7.10,<3']"
       before_install:
         - brew tap caskroom/cask && brew update && brew cask install osxfuse
       before_script:
diff --git a/contrib/mypy/src/python/pants/contrib/mypy/tasks/mypy_task.py b/contrib/mypy/src/python/pants/contrib/mypy/tasks/mypy_task.py
index 5222edd0811..9115e4e12fa 100644
--- a/contrib/mypy/src/python/pants/contrib/mypy/tasks/mypy_task.py
+++ b/contrib/mypy/src/python/pants/contrib/mypy/tasks/mypy_task.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def _run_mypy(self, py3_interpreter, mypy_args, **kwargs):
     path = os.path.realpath(os.path.join(self.workdir, str(py3_interpreter.identity), mypy_version))
     if not os.path.isdir(path):
       self.merge_pexes(path, pex_info, py3_interpreter, [mypy_requirement_pex])
-    pex = WrappedPEX(PEX(path, py3_interpreter), py3_interpreter)
+    pex = WrappedPEX(PEX(path, py3_interpreter))
     return pex.run(mypy_args, **kwargs)
 
   def execute(self):
diff --git a/contrib/python/src/python/pants/contrib/python/checks/tasks/python_eval.py b/contrib/python/src/python/pants/contrib/python/checks/tasks/python_eval.py
index 904a46bf491..bb70bd8e7a8 100644
--- a/contrib/python/src/python/pants/contrib/python/checks/tasks/python_eval.py
+++ b/contrib/python/src/python/pants/contrib/python/checks/tasks/python_eval.py
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ def _compile_target(self, vt):
 
       exec_pex = PEX(exec_pex_path, interpreter)
       extra_pex_paths = [pex.path() for pex in filter(None, [reqs_pex, srcs_pex])]
-      pex = WrappedPEX(exec_pex, interpreter, extra_pex_paths)
+      pex = WrappedPEX(exec_pex, extra_pex_paths)
 
       with self.context.new_workunit(name='eval',
                                      labels=[WorkUnitLabel.COMPILER, WorkUnitLabel.RUN,
diff --git a/examples/src/python/example/python_distribution/hello/setup_requires/BUILD b/examples/src/python/example/python_distribution/hello/setup_requires/BUILD
index 4245e88e59f..ca852ee8104 100644
--- a/examples/src/python/example/python_distribution/hello/setup_requires/BUILD
+++ b/examples/src/python/example/python_distribution/hello/setup_requires/BUILD
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ python_dist(
   sources=[
     'hello_package/hello.py',
     'hello_package/__init__.py',
+    'setup.cfg',
     'setup.py'
   ],
   setup_requires=[
diff --git a/examples/src/python/example/python_distribution/hello/setup_requires/setup.cfg b/examples/src/python/example/python_distribution/hello/setup_requires/setup.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3480374bc2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/src/python/example/python_distribution/hello/setup_requires/setup.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[bdist_wheel]
+universal=1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/python/pants/backend/python/interpreter_cache.py b/src/python/pants/backend/python/interpreter_cache.py
index b8eb9eea2ec..01340de0882 100644
--- a/src/python/pants/backend/python/interpreter_cache.py
+++ b/src/python/pants/backend/python/interpreter_cache.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 from pex.resolver import resolve
 from pex.variables import Variables
 
-from pants.backend.python.pex_util import create_bare_interpreter, get_local_platform
+from pants.backend.python.pex_util import create_bare_interpreter, expand_and_maybe_adjust_platform
 from pants.backend.python.targets.python_target import PythonTarget
 from pants.base.exceptions import TaskError
 from pants.process.lock import OwnerPrintingInterProcessFileLock
@@ -222,7 +222,11 @@ def _resolve_and_link(self, interpreter, requirement, target_link):
     distributions = resolve(requirements=[requirement],
                             fetchers=self._python_repos.get_fetchers(),
                             interpreter=interpreter,
-                            platform=get_local_platform(),
+                            platform=expand_and_maybe_adjust_platform(
+                              interpreter=interpreter,
+                              # The local interpreter cache is, by definition, composed of
+                              # interpreters for the 'current' platform.
+                              platform='current'),
                             context=self._python_repos.get_network_context(),
                             precedence=precedence)
     if not distributions:
diff --git a/src/python/pants/backend/python/pex_util.py b/src/python/pants/backend/python/pex_util.py
index 7a2841b41ec..a93237de5ba 100644
--- a/src/python/pants/backend/python/pex_util.py
+++ b/src/python/pants/backend/python/pex_util.py
@@ -4,10 +4,15 @@
 
 from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function, unicode_literals
 
+import logging
+
 from pex.interpreter import PythonInterpreter
 from pex.platforms import Platform
 
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
 def create_bare_interpreter(binary_path):
   """Creates an interpreter for python binary at the given path.
 
@@ -22,13 +27,61 @@ def create_bare_interpreter(binary_path):
   return PythonInterpreter(binary_path, interpreter_with_extras.identity, extras=None)
 
 
-def get_local_platform():
-  """Returns the name of the local platform; eg: 'linux_x86_64' or 'macosx_10_8_x86_64'.
+def _interpreter_str(interp):
+  ident = interp.identity
+  return ('PythonInterpreter({binary!r}, {identity!r} with extended info: '
+          '(abbr_impl: {abbr_impl!r}, impl_ver: {impl_ver!r}, abi_tag: {abi_tag!r}))'
+          .format(binary=interp.binary,
+                  identity=ident,
+                  abbr_impl=ident.abbr_impl,
+                  impl_ver=ident.impl_ver,
+                  abi_tag=ident.abi_tag))
+
+
+def expand_and_maybe_adjust_platform(interpreter, platform):
+  """Adjusts `platform` if it is 'current' and does not match the given `interpreter` platform.
 
-  :returns: The local platform name.
-  :rtype: str
+  :param interpreter: The target interpreter for the given `platform`.
+  :type interpreter: :class:`pex.interpreter.PythonInterpreter`
+  :param platform: The platform name to expand and maybe adjust.
+  :type platform: text
+  :returns: The `platform`, potentially adjusted.
+  :rtype: :class:`pex.platforms.Platform`
   """
-  # TODO(John Sirois): Kill some or all usages when https://github.com/pantsbuild/pex/issues/511
-  # is fixed.
-  current_platform = Platform.current()
-  return current_platform.platform
+  # TODO(John Sirois): Kill all usages when https://github.com/pantsbuild/pex/issues/511 is fixed.
+  cur_plat = Platform.current()
+
+  if cur_plat.platform != Platform.create(platform).platform:
+    # IE: Say we're on OSX and platform was 'linux-x86_64' or 'linux_x86_64-cp-27-cp27mu'.
+    return Platform.create(platform)
+
+  ii = interpreter.identity
+  if (ii.abbr_impl, ii.impl_ver, ii.abi_tag) == (cur_plat.impl, cur_plat.version, cur_plat.abi):
+    # IE: Say we're on Linux and platform was 'current' or 'linux-x86_64' or
+    # 'linux_x86_64-cp-27-cp27mu'and the current extended platform info matches the given
+    # interpreter exactly.
+    return cur_plat
+
+  # Otherwise we need to adjust the platform to match a local interpreter different from the
+  # currently executing interpreter.
+  interpreter_platform = Platform(platform=cur_plat.platform,
+                                  impl=ii.abbr_impl,
+                                  version=ii.impl_ver,
+                                  abi=ii.abi_tag)
+
+  logger.debug("""
+Modifying given platform of {given_platform!r}:
+Using the current platform of {current_platform!r}
+Under current interpreter {current_interpreter!r}
+        
+To match given interpreter {given_interpreter!r}.
+        
+Calculated platform: {calculated_platform!r}""".format(
+    given_platform=platform,
+    current_platform=cur_plat,
+    current_interpreter=_interpreter_str(PythonInterpreter.get()),
+    given_interpreter=_interpreter_str(interpreter),
+    calculated_platform=interpreter_platform)
+  )
+
+  return interpreter_platform
diff --git a/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/build_local_python_distributions.py b/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/build_local_python_distributions.py
index 9f6dd4d00d4..0d21cb2083a 100644
--- a/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/build_local_python_distributions.py
+++ b/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/build_local_python_distributions.py
@@ -205,10 +205,8 @@ def _prepare_and_create_dist(self, interpreter, shared_libs_product, versioned_t
                              'Installing setup requirements: {}\n\n'
                              .format([req.key for req in setup_reqs_to_resolve]))
 
-    cur_platforms = ['current'] if is_platform_specific else None
-
     setup_requires_site_dir = ensure_setup_requires_site_dir(
-      setup_reqs_to_resolve, interpreter, setup_requires_dir, platforms=cur_platforms)
+      setup_reqs_to_resolve, interpreter, setup_requires_dir, platforms=['current'])
     if setup_requires_site_dir:
       self.context.log.debug('Setting PYTHONPATH with setup_requires site directory: {}'
                              .format(setup_requires_site_dir))
@@ -226,8 +224,9 @@ def _create_dist(self, dist_tgt, dist_target_dir, interpreter,
     self._copy_sources(dist_tgt, dist_target_dir)
 
     setup_runner = SetupPyRunner.for_bdist_wheel(
-      dist_target_dir,
-      is_platform_specific=is_platform_specific)
+      source_dir=dist_target_dir,
+      is_platform_specific=is_platform_specific,
+      interpreter=interpreter)
 
     with environment_as(**setup_py_execution_environment.as_environment()):
       # Build a whl using SetupPyRunner and return its absolute path.
diff --git a/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/pex_build_util.py b/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/pex_build_util.py
index 1a0002c3238..eb3e2190c7f 100644
--- a/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/pex_build_util.py
+++ b/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/pex_build_util.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 from pex.resolver import resolve
 from twitter.common.collections import OrderedSet
 
-from pants.backend.python.pex_util import get_local_platform
+from pants.backend.python.pex_util import expand_and_maybe_adjust_platform
 from pants.backend.python.subsystems.python_repos import PythonRepos
 from pants.backend.python.subsystems.python_setup import PythonSetup
 from pants.backend.python.targets.python_binary import PythonBinary
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ def resolve_multi(interpreter, requirements, platforms, find_links):
       requirements=[req.requirement for req in requirements],
       interpreter=interpreter,
       fetchers=fetchers,
-      platform=get_local_platform() if platform == 'current' else platform,
+      platform=expand_and_maybe_adjust_platform(interpreter=interpreter, platform=platform),
       context=python_repos.get_network_context(),
       cache=requirements_cache_dir,
       cache_ttl=python_setup.resolver_cache_ttl,
diff --git a/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/python_execution_task_base.py b/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/python_execution_task_base.py
index 8ee154c1f45..7d6f79d9dae 100644
--- a/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/python_execution_task_base.py
+++ b/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/python_execution_task_base.py
@@ -119,4 +119,4 @@ def create_pex(self, pex_info=None):
             extra_file.add_to(builder)
           builder.freeze()
 
-    return WrappedPEX(PEX(path, interpreter), interpreter)
+    return WrappedPEX(PEX(path, interpreter))
diff --git a/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/setup_py.py b/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/setup_py.py
index f83914396f8..f917c606199 100644
--- a/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/setup_py.py
+++ b/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/setup_py.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 from builtins import map, object, str, zip
 from collections import OrderedDict, defaultdict
 
+from pex import pep425tags
 from pex.compatibility import string, to_bytes
 from pex.installer import InstallerBase, Packager
 from pex.interpreter import PythonInterpreter
@@ -21,7 +22,6 @@
 from wheel.install import WheelFile
 
 from pants.backend.native.config.environment import CCompiler, CppCompiler, Linker, Platform
-from pants.backend.python.pex_util import get_local_platform
 from pants.backend.python.targets.python_binary import PythonBinary
 from pants.backend.python.targets.python_requirement_library import PythonRequirementLibrary
 from pants.backend.python.targets.python_target import PythonTarget
@@ -63,9 +63,7 @@ class SetupPyRunner(InstallerBase):
   def for_bdist_wheel(cls, source_dir, is_platform_specific, **kw):
     cmd = ['bdist_wheel']
     if is_platform_specific:
-      cmd.extend(['--plat-name', get_local_platform()])
-    else:
-      cmd.append('--universal')
+      cmd.extend(['--plat-name', pep425tags.get_platform()])
     cmd.extend(['--dist-dir', cls.DIST_DIR])
     return cls(source_dir, cmd, **kw)
 
diff --git a/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/wrapped_pex.py b/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/wrapped_pex.py
index 4a128f7baab..1676f490154 100644
--- a/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/wrapped_pex.py
+++ b/src/python/pants/backend/python/tasks/wrapped_pex.py
@@ -4,10 +4,14 @@
 
 from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function, unicode_literals
 
+import logging
 from builtins import object
 from copy import copy
 
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
 class WrappedPEX(object):
   """Wrapper around a PEX that exposes only its run() method.
 
@@ -15,46 +19,53 @@ class WrappedPEX(object):
   """
 
   _PEX_PATH_ENV_VAR_NAME = 'PEX_PATH'
+  _PEX_PYTHON_PATH_ENV_VAR_NAME = 'PEX_PYTHON_PATH'
 
-  # TODO(benjy): I think we can get rid of the interpreter argument.
-  # In all cases it appears to be set to pex.interpreter.
-  def __init__(self, pex, interpreter, extra_pex_paths=None):
+  def __init__(self, pex, extra_pex_paths=None):
     """
     :param pex: The main pex we wrap.
-    :param interpreter: The interpreter the main pex will run on.
     :param extra_pex_paths: Other pexes, to "merge" in via the PEX_PATH mechanism.
     """
     self._pex = pex
-    self._interpreter = interpreter
     self._extra_pex_paths = extra_pex_paths
 
   @property
   def interpreter(self):
-    return self._interpreter
+    return self._pex._interpreter
 
   def path(self):
     return self._pex.path()
 
   def cmdline(self, args=()):
     cmdline = ' '.join(self._pex.cmdline(args))
+
+    def render_env_var(key, value):
+      return '{key}={value}'.format(key=key, value=value)
+
+    env_vars = [(self._PEX_PYTHON_PATH_ENV_VAR_NAME, self._pex._interpreter.binary)]
+
     pex_path = self._pex_path()
     if pex_path:
-      return '{env_var_name}={pex_path} {cmdline}'.format(env_var_name=self._PEX_PATH_ENV_VAR_NAME,
-                                                          pex_path=pex_path,
-                                                          cmdline=cmdline)
-    else:
-      return cmdline
+      env_vars.append((self._PEX_PATH_ENV_VAR_NAME, pex_path))
+
+    return '{execution_control_env_vars} {cmdline}'.format(
+      execution_control_env_vars=' '.join(render_env_var(k, v) for k, v in env_vars),
+      cmdline=cmdline
+    )
 
   def run(self, *args, **kwargs):
+    env = copy(kwargs.pop('env', {}))
+
+    # Hack around bug in PEX where custom interpreters are not forwarded to PEXEnvironments.
+    # TODO(John Sirois): Remove when https://github.com/pantsbuild/pex/issues/522 is fixed.
+    env[self._PEX_PYTHON_PATH_ENV_VAR_NAME] = self._pex._interpreter.binary
+
     pex_path = self._pex_path()
     if pex_path:
-      kwargs_copy = copy(kwargs)
-      env = copy(kwargs_copy.get('env')) if 'env' in kwargs_copy else {}
-      env[self._PEX_PATH_ENV_VAR_NAME] = self._pex_path()
-      kwargs_copy['env'] = env
-      return self._pex.run(*args, **kwargs_copy)
-    else:
-      return self._pex.run(*args, **kwargs)
+      env[self._PEX_PATH_ENV_VAR_NAME] = pex_path
+
+    logger.debug('Executing WrappedPEX using: {}'.format(self.cmdline(args=tuple(*args))))
+    return self._pex.run(*args, env=env, **kwargs)
 
   def _pex_path(self):
     if self._extra_pex_paths:
diff --git a/tests/python/pants_test/backend/python/tasks/BUILD b/tests/python/pants_test/backend/python/tasks/BUILD
index f8a2aac928d..c013d962389 100644
--- a/tests/python/pants_test/backend/python/tasks/BUILD
+++ b/tests/python/pants_test/backend/python/tasks/BUILD
@@ -88,10 +88,12 @@ python_tests(
   sources=globs('*_integration.py', exclude=python_native_code_test_files),
   dependencies=[
     '3rdparty/python:pex',
+    'src/python/pants/base:build_environment',
     'src/python/pants/util:contextutil',
     'src/python/pants/util:process_handler',
-    'tests/python/pants_test/backend/python:pants_requirement_integration_test_base',
     'tests/python/pants_test:int-test',
+    'tests/python/pants_test/backend/python:pants_requirement_integration_test_base',
+    'tests/python/pants_test/backend/python/tasks:python_task_test_base',
   ],
   tags={'integration'},
   timeout=2400
diff --git a/tests/python/pants_test/backend/python/tasks/python_task_test_base.py b/tests/python/pants_test/backend/python/tasks/python_task_test_base.py
index 4199c8db622..c8f79b866f3 100644
--- a/tests/python/pants_test/backend/python/tasks/python_task_test_base.py
+++ b/tests/python/pants_test/backend/python/tasks/python_task_test_base.py
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
 from builtins import map
 from textwrap import dedent
 
-from pants.backend.python.pex_util import get_local_platform
+from pex import pep425tags
+
 from pants.backend.python.register import build_file_aliases as register_python
 from pants.build_graph.address import Address
 from pants_test.backend.python.tasks.interpreter_cache_test_mixin import InterpreterCacheTestMixin
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ def name_and_platform(whl):
 
 def check_wheel_platform_matches_host(wheel_dist):
   _, _, wheel_platform = name_and_platform(wheel_dist)
-  return wheel_platform == normalize_platform_tag(get_local_platform())
+  return wheel_platform == normalize_platform_tag(pep425tags.get_platform())
 
 
 class PythonTaskTestBase(InterpreterCacheTestMixin, TaskTestBase):