diff --git a/plugin/syntastic.vim b/plugin/syntastic.vim
index 5e84bd9e..176f50bd 100644
--- a/plugin/syntastic.vim
+++ b/plugin/syntastic.vim
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ if has('reltime')
     lockvar! g:syntastic_start
 endif
 
-let g:syntastic_version = '3.4.0-92'
+let g:syntastic_version = '3.4.0-93'
 lockvar g:syntastic_version
 
 " Sanity checks {{{1
@@ -408,7 +408,9 @@ endfunction " }}}2
 "   'preprocess' - a function to be applied to the error file before parsing errors
 "   'postprocess' - a list of functions to be applied to the error list
 "   'cwd' - change directory to the given path before running the checker
+"   'env' - environment variables to set before running the checker
 "   'returns' - a list of valid exit codes for the checker
+" @vimlint(EVL102, 1, l:env_save)
 function! SyntasticMake(options) " {{{2
     call syntastic#log#debug(g:SyntasticDebugTrace, 'SyntasticMake: called with options:', a:options)
 
@@ -432,11 +434,31 @@ function! SyntasticMake(options) " {{{2
         execute 'lcd ' . fnameescape(a:options['cwd'])
     endif
 
+    " set environment variables {{{3
+    let env_save = {}
+    if has_key(a:options, 'env') && len(a:options['env'])
+        for key in keys(a:options['env'])
+            if key =~? '\m^[a-z_]\+$'
+                exec 'let env_save[' . string(key) . '] = $' . key
+                exec 'let $' . key . ' = ' . string(a:options['env'][key])
+            endif
+        endfor
+    endif
     let $LC_MESSAGES = 'C'
     let $LC_ALL = ''
+    " }}}3
+
     let err_lines = split(system(a:options['makeprg']), "\n", 1)
+
+    " restore environment variables {{{3
     let $LC_ALL = old_lc_all
     let $LC_MESSAGES = old_lc_messages
+    if len(env_save)
+        for key in keys(env_save)
+            exec 'let $' . key . ' = ' . string(env_save[key])
+        endfor
+    endif
+    " }}}3
 
     call syntastic#log#debug(g:SyntasticDebugLoclist, 'checker output:', err_lines)
 
@@ -497,6 +519,7 @@ function! SyntasticMake(options) " {{{2
 
     return errors
 endfunction " }}}2
+" @vimlint(EVL102, 0, l:env_save)
 
 "return a string representing the state of buffer according to
 "g:syntastic_stl_format
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/eruby/ruby.vim b/syntax_checkers/eruby/ruby.vim
index 47378e0f..ea6b2f05 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/eruby/ruby.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/eruby/ruby.vim
@@ -22,24 +22,14 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_eruby_ruby_IsAvailable() dict
     if !exists('g:syntastic_eruby_ruby_exec') && exists('g:syntastic_ruby_exec')
         let g:syntastic_eruby_ruby_exec = g:syntastic_ruby_exec
     endif
-    let s:exe = self.getExec()
-
-    if executable(s:exe)
-        let s:exe = syntastic#util#shescape(s:exe)
-        if !syntastic#util#isRunningWindows()
-            let s:exe = 'RUBYOPT= ' . s:exe
-        endif
-        return 1
-    endif
-
-    return 0
+    return executable(self.getExec())
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_eruby_ruby_GetLocList() dict
     let fname = "'" . escape(expand('%'), "\\'") . "'"
 
     " TODO: encodings became useful in ruby 1.9 :)
-    if syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(syntastic#util#getVersion(s:exe . ' --version'), [1, 9])
+    if syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(syntastic#util#getVersion(self.getExecEscaped(). ' --version'), [1, 9])
         let enc = &fileencoding != '' ? &fileencoding : &encoding
         let encoding_spec = ', :encoding => "' . (enc ==? 'utf-8' ? 'UTF-8' : 'BINARY') . '"'
     else
@@ -48,11 +38,11 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_eruby_ruby_GetLocList() dict
 
     "gsub fixes issue #7, rails has it's own eruby syntax
     let makeprg =
-        \ s:exe . ' -rerb -e ' .
+        \ self.getExecEscaped() . ' -rerb -e ' .
         \ syntastic#util#shescape('puts ERB.new(File.read(' .
         \     fname . encoding_spec .
         \     ').gsub(''<%='',''<%''), nil, ''-'').src') .
-        \ ' | ' . s:exe . ' -c'
+        \ ' | ' . self.getExecEscaped() . ' -c'
 
     let errorformat =
         \ '%-GSyntax OK,'.
@@ -61,9 +51,12 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_eruby_ruby_GetLocList() dict
         \ '%Z%p^,'.
         \ '%-C%.%#'
 
+    let env = syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? {} : { 'RUBYOPT': '' }
+
     return SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'env': env,
         \ 'defaults': { 'bufnr': bufnr(""), 'vcol': 1 } })
 endfunction
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/html/tidy.vim b/syntax_checkers/html/tidy.vim
index c13451c3..7dcf5223 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/html/tidy.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/html/tidy.vim
@@ -186,9 +186,7 @@ function! s:Args()
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_html_tidy_GetLocList() dict
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'args_after': s:Args(),
-        \ 'tail': '2>&1' })
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args_after': s:Args() })
 
     let errorformat =
         \ '%Wline %l column %v - Warning: %m,' .
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/java/javac.vim b/syntax_checkers/java/javac.vim
index ecf54725..2e138bea 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/java/javac.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/java/javac.vim
@@ -399,8 +399,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_java_javac_GetLocList() dict
 
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
         \ 'args': javac_opts,
-        \ 'fname': syntastic#util#shescape(fname),
-        \ 'tail': '2>&1' })
+        \ 'fname': syntastic#util#shescape(fname) })
 
     " unashamedly stolen from *errorformat-javac* (quickfix.txt) and modified to include error types
     let errorformat =
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/flake8.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/flake8.vim
index ebc484f2..1e4f1c9b 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/flake8.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/flake8.vim
@@ -19,8 +19,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_python_flake8_GetHighlightRegex(item)
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_python_flake8_GetLocList() dict
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'exe_before': (syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? '' : 'TERM=dumb') })
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({})
 
     let errorformat =
         \ '%E%f:%l: could not compile,%-Z%p^,' .
@@ -28,9 +27,12 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_python_flake8_GetLocList() dict
         \ '%A%f:%l: %t%n %m,' .
         \ '%-G%.%#'
 
+    let env = syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? {} : { 'TERM': 'dumb' }
+
     let loclist = SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
-        \ 'errorformat': errorformat })
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'env': env })
 
     for e in loclist
         " E*** and W*** are pep8 errors
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/frosted.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/frosted.vim
index e96a8cc1..e1284e44 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/frosted.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/frosted.vim
@@ -19,9 +19,7 @@ let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_python_frosted_GetLocList() dict
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'exe_before': (syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? '' : 'TERM=dumb'),
-        \ 'args_after': '-vb' })
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args_after': '-vb' })
 
     let errorformat =
         \ '%f:%l:%c:%m,' .
@@ -29,9 +27,12 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_python_frosted_GetLocList() dict
         \ '%-Z%p^,' .
         \ '%-G%.%#'
 
+    let env = syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? {} : { 'TERM': 'dumb' }
+
     let loclist = SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'env': env,
         \ 'returns': [0, 1] })
 
     for e in loclist
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/pep257.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/pep257.vim
index 60cf916e..d4b16575 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/pep257.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/pep257.vim
@@ -19,8 +19,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_python_pep257_GetLocList() dict
             \ self.getExecEscaped() . ' --version'), [0, 3])
     endif
 
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'exe_before': (syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? '' : 'TERM=dumb') })
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({})
 
     if s:pep257_new
         let errorformat =
@@ -33,9 +32,12 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_python_pep257_GetLocList() dict
             \ '%+C    %m'
     endif
 
+    let env = syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? {} : { 'TERM': 'dumb' }
+
     let loclist = SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'env': env,
         \ 'subtype': 'Style',
         \ 'preprocess': 'killEmpty',
         \ 'postprocess': ['compressWhitespace'] })
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/pep8.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/pep8.vim
index 64c9e640..0f35c276 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/pep8.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/pep8.vim
@@ -21,14 +21,16 @@ let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_python_pep8_GetLocList() dict
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'exe_before': (syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? '' : 'TERM=dumb') })
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({})
 
     let errorformat = '%f:%l:%c: %m'
 
+    let env = syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? {} : { 'TERM': 'dumb' }
+
     let loclist = SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'env': env,
         \ 'subtype': 'Style' })
 
     for e in loclist
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/py3kwarn.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/py3kwarn.vim
index 1a4465e0..69a3060f 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/py3kwarn.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/py3kwarn.vim
@@ -14,14 +14,16 @@ let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_python_py3kwarn_GetLocList() dict
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'exe_before': (syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? '' : 'TERM=dumb') })
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({})
 
     let errorformat = '%W%f:%l:%c: %m'
 
+    let env = syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? {} : { 'TERM': 'dumb' }
+
     return SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
-        \ 'errorformat': errorformat })
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'env': env })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/pyflakes.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/pyflakes.vim
index 351eb206..530a275c 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/pyflakes.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/pyflakes.vim
@@ -40,8 +40,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_python_pyflakes_GetHighlightRegex(i)
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_python_pyflakes_GetLocList() dict
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'exe_before': (syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? '' : 'TERM=dumb') })
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({})
 
     let errorformat =
         \ '%E%f:%l: could not compile,'.
@@ -50,9 +49,12 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_python_pyflakes_GetLocList() dict
         \ '%E%f:%l: %m,'.
         \ '%-G%.%#'
 
+    let env = syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? {} : { 'TERM': 'dumb' }
+
     let loclist = SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'env': env,
         \ 'defaults': {'text': "Syntax error"} })
 
     for e in loclist
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/pylama.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/pylama.vim
index b8611814..01c0ab62 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/pylama.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/pylama.vim
@@ -23,18 +23,19 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_python_pylama_GetHighlightRegex(item)
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_python_pylama_GetLocList() dict
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'exe_before': (syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? '' : 'TERM=dumb'),
-        \ 'args_after': '-f pep8' })
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args_after': '-f pep8' })
 
     " TODO: "WARNING:pylama:..." messages are probably a logging bug
     let errorformat =
         \ '%-GWARNING:pylama:%.%#,' .
         \ '%A%f:%l:%c: %m'
 
+    let env = syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? {} : { 'TERM': 'dumb' }
+
     let loclist = SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
-        \ 'errorformat': errorformat })
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'env': env })
 
     " adjust for weirdness in each checker
     for e in loclist
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/pylint.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/pylint.vim
index 131ca482..88dff422 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/pylint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/pylint.vim
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_python_pylint_GetLocList() dict
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'exe_before': (syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? '' : 'TERM=dumb'),
         \ 'args_after': (s:pylint_new ? '-f text --msg-template="{path}:{line}:{column}:{C}: [{symbol}] {msg}" -r n' : '-f parseable -r n -i y') })
 
     let errorformat =
@@ -33,9 +32,12 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_python_pylint_GetLocList() dict
         \ '%-Z%p^%.%#,' .
         \ '%-G%.%#'
 
+    let env = syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? {} : { 'TERM': 'dumb' }
+
     let loclist = SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'env': env,
         \ 'returns': range(32) })
 
     for e in loclist
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/python/python.vim b/syntax_checkers/python/python.vim
index e962065d..5023ee6c 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/python/python.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/python/python.vim
@@ -26,15 +26,16 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_python_python_IsAvailable() dict
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_python_python_GetLocList() dict
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'exe_before': (syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? '' : 'TERM=dumb'),
-        \ 'exe': [self.getExec(), s:compiler] })
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'exe': [self.getExec(), s:compiler] })
 
     let errorformat = '%E%f:%l:%c: %m'
 
+    let env = syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? {} : { 'TERM': 'dumb' }
+
     return SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
         \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'env': env,
         \ 'returns': [0] })
 endfunction
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/ruby/jruby.vim b/syntax_checkers/ruby/jruby.vim
index 9dba591a..bf57b091 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/ruby/jruby.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/ruby/jruby.vim
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_ruby_jruby_GetLocList() dict
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'exe_before': (syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? '' : 'RUBYOPT='),
         \ 'args': (syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? '-T1' : ''),
         \ 'args_after': '-W1 -c' })
 
@@ -33,9 +32,12 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_ruby_jruby_GetLocList() dict
         \ '%W%f:%l: %m,'.
         \ '%-C%.%#'
 
+    let env = syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? {} : { 'RUBYOPT': '' }
+
     return SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
-        \ 'errorformat': errorformat })
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'env': env })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/ruby/macruby.vim b/syntax_checkers/ruby/macruby.vim
index a5fc1c40..54c8365f 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/ruby/macruby.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/ruby/macruby.vim
@@ -18,9 +18,7 @@ let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_ruby_macruby_GetLocList() dict
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'exe_before': 'RUBYOPT=',
-        \ 'args_after': '-W1 -c' })
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args_after': '-W1 -c' })
 
     let errorformat =
         \ '%-GSyntax OK,'.
@@ -31,9 +29,12 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_ruby_macruby_GetLocList() dict
         \ '%W%f:%l: %m,'.
         \ '%-C%.%#'
 
+    let env = { 'RUBYOPT': '' }
+
     return SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
-        \ 'errorformat': errorformat })
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'env': env })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/ruby/mri.vim b/syntax_checkers/ruby/mri.vim
index 08af1b45..e55c493d 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/ruby/mri.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/ruby/mri.vim
@@ -35,9 +35,7 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_ruby_mri_GetHighlightRegex(i)
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_ruby_mri_GetLocList() dict
-    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'exe_before': (syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? '' : 'RUBYOPT='),
-        \ 'args_after': '-w -T1 -c' })
+    let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args_after': '-w -T1 -c' })
 
     "this is a hack to filter out a repeated useless warning in rspec files
     "containing lines like
@@ -62,9 +60,12 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_ruby_mri_GetLocList() dict
         \ '%W%f:%l: %m,'.
         \ '%-C%.%#'
 
+    let env = syntastic#util#isRunningWindows() ? {} : { 'RUBYOPT': '' }
+
     return SyntasticMake({
         \ 'makeprg': makeprg,
-        \ 'errorformat': errorformat })
+        \ 'errorformat': errorformat,
+        \ 'env': env })
 endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({