diff --git a/pip/commands/install.py b/pip/commands/install.py
index 7ddde93c255..12aabcd0b37 100644
--- a/pip/commands/install.py
+++ b/pip/commands/install.py
@@ -352,35 +352,45 @@ def run(self, options, args):
         if options.target_dir:
             ensure_dir(options.target_dir)
 
-            lib_dir = distutils_scheme('', home=temp_target_dir)['purelib']
-
-            for item in os.listdir(lib_dir):
-                target_item_dir = os.path.join(options.target_dir, item)
-                if os.path.exists(target_item_dir):
-                    if not options.upgrade:
-                        logger.warning(
-                            'Target directory %s already exists. Specify '
-                            '--upgrade to force replacement.',
-                            target_item_dir
-                        )
-                        continue
-                    if os.path.islink(target_item_dir):
-                        logger.warning(
-                            'Target directory %s already exists and is '
-                            'a link. Pip will not automatically replace '
-                            'links, please remove if replacement is '
-                            'desired.',
-                            target_item_dir
-                        )
-                        continue
-                    if os.path.isdir(target_item_dir):
-                        shutil.rmtree(target_item_dir)
-                    else:
-                        os.remove(target_item_dir)
+            lib_dir_purelib = distutils_scheme('', home=temp_target_dir)['purelib']
+            lib_dir_platlib = distutils_scheme('', home=temp_target_dir)['platlib']
+            if os.path.exists(lib_dir_purelib):
+                self._install_to_target(lib_dir_purelib, options.target_dir,
+                                        options)
+            if os.path.exists(lib_dir_platlib):
+                self._install_to_target(lib_dir_platlib, options.target_dir,
+                                        options)
 
-                shutil.move(
-                    os.path.join(lib_dir, item),
-                    target_item_dir
-                )
             shutil.rmtree(temp_target_dir)
         return requirement_set
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _install_to_target(lib_dir, target_dir, options):
+        for item in os.listdir(lib_dir):
+            target_item_dir = os.path.join(target_dir, item)
+            if os.path.exists(target_item_dir):
+                if not options.upgrade:
+                    logger.warning(
+                        'Target directory %s already exists. Specify '
+                        '--upgrade to force replacement.',
+                        target_item_dir
+                    )
+                    continue
+                if os.path.islink(target_item_dir):
+                    logger.warning(
+                        'Target directory %s already exists and is '
+                        'a link. Pip will not automatically replace '
+                        'links, please remove if replacement is '
+                        'desired.',
+                        target_item_dir
+                    )
+                    continue
+                if os.path.isdir(target_item_dir):
+                    shutil.rmtree(target_item_dir)
+                else:
+                    os.remove(target_item_dir)
+
+            shutil.move(
+                os.path.join(lib_dir, item),
+                target_item_dir
+            )