diff --git a/autoload/syntastic/c.vim b/autoload/syntastic/c.vim
index 1c6bc522..82f4c704 100644
--- a/autoload/syntastic/c.vim
+++ b/autoload/syntastic/c.vim
@@ -67,7 +67,8 @@ function! syntastic#c#GetLocList(filetype, subchecker, options)
         return []
     endtry
 
-    let makeprg = expand(g:syntastic_{a:filetype}_compiler) . ' ' . flags . ' ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%')
+    let makeprg = syntastic#util#shexpand(g:syntastic_{a:filetype}_compiler) .
+        \ ' ' . flags . ' ' . syntastic#util#shexpand('%')
 
     let errorformat = s:GetCheckerVar('g', a:filetype, a:subchecker, 'errorformat', a:options['errorformat'])
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/c/gcc.vim b/syntax_checkers/c/gcc.vim
index 9a8848f4..4fd19847 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/c/gcc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/c/gcc.vim
@@ -15,10 +15,6 @@ if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_c_gcc_checker')
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_c_gcc_checker = 1
 
-if !exists('g:syntastic_c_compiler')
-    let g:syntastic_c_compiler = executable('gcc') ? 'gcc' : 'clang'
-endif
-
 if !exists('g:syntastic_c_compiler_options')
     let g:syntastic_c_compiler_options = '-std=gnu99'
 endif
@@ -27,6 +23,9 @@ let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_c_gcc_IsAvailable() dict
+    if !exists('g:syntastic_c_compiler')
+        let g:syntastic_c_compiler = executable(self.getExec()) ? self.getExec() : 'clang'
+    endif
     return executable(expand(g:syntastic_c_compiler))
 endfunction
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/cpp/gcc.vim b/syntax_checkers/cpp/gcc.vim
index ef810517..c8d77996 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/cpp/gcc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/cpp/gcc.vim
@@ -15,10 +15,6 @@ if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_gcc_checker')
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_cpp_gcc_checker = 1
 
-if !exists('g:syntastic_cpp_compiler')
-    let g:syntastic_cpp_compiler = executable('g++') ? 'g++' : 'clang++'
-endif
-
 if !exists('g:syntastic_cpp_compiler_options')
     let g:syntastic_cpp_compiler_options = ''
 endif
@@ -27,6 +23,9 @@ let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_cpp_gcc_IsAvailable() dict
+    if !exists('g:syntastic_cpp_compiler')
+        let g:syntastic_cpp_compiler = executable(self.getExec()) ? self.getExec() : 'clang++'
+    endif
     return executable(expand(g:syntastic_cpp_compiler))
 endfunction
 
@@ -47,7 +46,8 @@ endfunction
 
 call g:SyntasticRegistry.CreateAndRegisterChecker({
     \ 'filetype': 'cpp',
-    \ 'name': 'gcc' })
+    \ 'name': 'gcc',
+    \ 'exec': 'g++' })
 
 let &cpo = s:save_cpo
 unlet s:save_cpo
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/eruby/ruby.vim b/syntax_checkers/eruby/ruby.vim
index 94ba42e6..34dc9bdc 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/eruby/ruby.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/eruby/ruby.vim
@@ -15,19 +15,18 @@ if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_eruby_ruby_checker")
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_eruby_ruby_checker = 1
 
-if !exists("g:syntastic_ruby_exec")
-    let g:syntastic_ruby_exec = "ruby"
-endif
-
 let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_eruby_ruby_IsAvailable() dict
+    if !exists("g:syntastic_ruby_exec")
+        let g:syntastic_ruby_exec = self.getExec()
+    endif
     return executable(expand(g:syntastic_ruby_exec))
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_eruby_ruby_GetLocList() dict
-    let exe = expand(g:syntastic_ruby_exec)
+    let exe = syntastic#util#shexpand(g:syntastic_ruby_exec)
     if !syntastic#util#isRunningWindows()
         let exe = 'RUBYOPT= ' . exe
     endif
@@ -35,7 +34,7 @@ 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('ruby --version'), [1, 9])
+    if syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(syntastic#util#getVersion(exe . ' --version'), [1, 9])
         let enc = &fileencoding != '' ? &fileencoding : &encoding
         let encoding_spec = ', :encoding => "' . (enc ==? 'utf-8' ? 'UTF-8' : 'BINARY') . '"'
     else
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/haml/haml.vim b/syntax_checkers/haml/haml.vim
index fa7086f9..b01143e9 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/haml/haml.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/haml/haml.vim
@@ -15,20 +15,19 @@ if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_haml_haml_checker')
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_haml_haml_checker = 1
 
-if !exists('g:syntastic_haml_interpreter')
-    let g:syntastic_haml_interpreter = 'haml'
-endif
-
 let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_haml_haml_IsAvailable() dict
+    if !exists('g:syntastic_haml_interpreter')
+        let g:syntastic_haml_interpreter = self.getExec()
+    endif
     return executable(expand(g:syntastic_haml_interpreter))
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_haml_haml_GetLocList() dict
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'exe': expand(g:syntastic_haml_interpreter),
+        \ 'exe': syntastic#util#shexpand(g:syntastic_haml_interpreter),
         \ 'args_after': '-c' })
 
     let errorformat =
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/java/javac.vim b/syntax_checkers/java/javac.vim
index 48a42f8b..7bdd0ebd 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/java/javac.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/java/javac.vim
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ function! s:GetMavenProperties()
     let pom = findfile("pom.xml", ".;")
     if s:has_maven && filereadable(pom)
         if !has_key(g:syntastic_java_javac_maven_pom_properties, pom)
-            let mvn_cmd = expand(g:syntastic_java_maven_executable) . ' -f ' . pom
+            let mvn_cmd = syntastic#util#shexpand(g:syntastic_java_maven_executable) . ' -f ' . pom
             let mvn_is_managed_tag = 1
             let mvn_settings_output = split(system(mvn_cmd . ' help:effective-pom'), "\n")
             let current_path = 'project'
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ function! s:GetMavenClasspath()
     let pom = findfile("pom.xml", ".;")
     if s:has_maven && filereadable(pom)
         if !has_key(g:syntastic_java_javac_maven_pom_ftime, pom) || g:syntastic_java_javac_maven_pom_ftime[pom] != getftime(pom)
-            let mvn_cmd = expand(g:syntastic_java_maven_executable) . ' -f ' . pom
+            let mvn_cmd = syntastic#util#shexpand(g:syntastic_java_maven_executable) . ' -f ' . pom
             let mvn_classpath_output = split(system(mvn_cmd . ' dependency:build-classpath'), "\n")
             let mvn_classpath = ''
             let class_path_next = 0
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/javascript/jshint.vim b/syntax_checkers/javascript/jshint.vim
index e57329e5..e1c84f14 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/javascript/jshint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/javascript/jshint.vim
@@ -14,10 +14,6 @@ if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_jshint_checker')
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_javascript_jshint_checker = 1
 
-if !exists('g:syntastic_jshint_exec')
-    let g:syntastic_jshint_exec = 'jshint'
-endif
-
 if !exists('g:syntastic_javascript_jshint_conf')
     let g:syntastic_javascript_jshint_conf = ''
 endif
@@ -26,17 +22,21 @@ let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_javascript_jshint_IsAvailable() dict
+    if !exists('g:syntastic_jshint_exec')
+        let g:syntastic_jshint_exec = self.getExec()
+    endif
     return executable(expand(g:syntastic_jshint_exec))
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_javascript_jshint_GetLocList() dict
+    let exe = syntastic#util#shexpand(g:syntastic_jshint_exec)
     if !exists('s:jshint_new')
         let s:jshint_new =
-            \ syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(syntastic#util#getVersion(expand(g:syntastic_jshint_exec) . ' --version'), [1, 1])
+            \ syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(syntastic#util#getVersion(exe . ' --version'), [1, 1])
     endif
 
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
-        \ 'exe': expand(g:syntastic_jshint_exec),
+        \ 'exe': exe,
         \ 'args': (g:syntastic_javascript_jshint_conf != '' ? '--config ' . g:syntastic_javascript_jshint_conf : ''),
         \ 'args_after': (s:jshint_new ? '--verbose ' : '') })
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/less/lessc.vim b/syntax_checkers/less/lessc.vim
index 853524eb..9b5efa96 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/less/lessc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/less/lessc.vim
@@ -33,17 +33,17 @@ endif
 let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
-if g:syntastic_less_use_less_lint
-    let s:check_file = 'node ' . syntastic#util#shescape(expand('<sfile>:p:h') . syntastic#util#Slash() . 'less-lint.js')
-else
-    let s:check_file = 'lessc'
-endif
+let s:node_file = 'node ' . syntastic#util#shescape(expand('<sfile>:p:h') . syntastic#util#Slash() . 'less-lint.js')
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_less_lessc_IsAvailable() dict
-    return g:syntastic_less_use_less_lint ? executable('node') : executable('lessc')
+    return g:syntastic_less_use_less_lint ? executable('node') : executable(self.getExec())
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_less_lessc_GetLocList() dict
+    if !exists('s:check_file')
+        let s:check_file = g:syntastic_less_use_less_lint ? s:node_file : self.getExecEscaped()
+    endif
+
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({
         \ 'exe': s:check_file,
         \ 'args': g:syntastic_less_options,
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/objc/gcc.vim b/syntax_checkers/objc/gcc.vim
index d5241592..09c3daa2 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/objc/gcc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/objc/gcc.vim
@@ -15,10 +15,6 @@ if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_objc_gcc_checker')
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_objc_gcc_checker = 1
 
-if !exists('g:syntastic_objc_compiler')
-    let g:syntastic_objc_compiler = executable('gcc') ? 'gcc' : 'clang'
-endif
-
 if !exists('g:syntastic_objc_compiler_options')
     let g:syntastic_objc_compiler_options = '-std=gnu99'
 endif
@@ -27,6 +23,9 @@ let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_objc_gcc_IsAvailable() dict
+    if !exists('g:syntastic_objc_compiler')
+        let g:syntastic_objc_compiler = executable(self.getExec()) ? self.getExec() : 'clang'
+    endif
     return executable(expand(g:syntastic_objc_compiler))
 endfunction
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/objcpp/gcc.vim b/syntax_checkers/objcpp/gcc.vim
index 55ae5014..853d6657 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/objcpp/gcc.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/objcpp/gcc.vim
@@ -15,10 +15,6 @@ if exists('g:loaded_syntastic_objcpp_gcc_checker')
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_objcpp_gcc_checker = 1
 
-if !exists('g:syntastic_objcpp_compiler')
-    let g:syntastic_objcpp_compiler = executable('gcc') ? 'gcc' : 'clang'
-endif
-
 if !exists('g:syntastic_objcpp_compiler_options')
     let g:syntastic_objcpp_compiler_options = '-std=gnu99'
 endif
@@ -27,6 +23,9 @@ let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_objcpp_gcc_IsAvailable() dict
+    if !exists('g:syntastic_c_compiler')
+        let g:syntastic_objcpp_compiler = executable(self.getExec()) ? self.getExec() : 'clang'
+    endif
     return executable(expand(g:syntastic_objcpp_compiler))
 endfunction
 
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/puppet/puppetlint.vim b/syntax_checkers/puppet/puppetlint.vim
index 425a90f3..2a32a8fa 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/puppet/puppetlint.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/puppet/puppetlint.vim
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ endif
 function! SyntaxCheckers_puppet_puppetlint_IsAvailable() dict
     return
         \ executable("puppet") &&
-        \ executable("puppet-lint") &&
-        \ syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(syntastic#util#getVersion('puppet-lint --version 2>' .
-        \     syntastic#util#DevNull()), [0,1,10])
+        \ executable(self.getExec()) &&
+        \ syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(syntastic#util#getVersion(
+        \       self.getExecEscaped() . ' --version 2>' . syntastic#util#DevNull()), [0,1,10])
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_puppet_puppetlint_GetLocList() dict
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/ruby/mri.vim b/syntax_checkers/ruby/mri.vim
index bdc74ea0..c0b0166d 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/ruby/mri.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/ruby/mri.vim
@@ -15,10 +15,6 @@ if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_mri_checker")
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_ruby_mri_checker = 1
 
-if !exists("g:syntastic_ruby_exec")
-    let g:syntastic_ruby_exec = "ruby"
-endif
-
 let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
@@ -32,7 +28,11 @@ function! SyntaxCheckers_ruby_mri_GetHighlightRegex(i)
 endfunction
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_ruby_mri_GetLocList() dict
-    let exe = expand(g:syntastic_ruby_exec)
+    if !exists('g:syntastic_ruby_exec')
+        let g:syntastic_ruby_exec = self.getExec()
+    endif
+
+    let exe = syntastic#util#shexpand(g:syntastic_ruby_exec)
     if !syntastic#util#isRunningWindows()
         let exe = 'RUBYOPT= ' . exe
     endif
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/slim/slimrb.vim b/syntax_checkers/slim/slimrb.vim
index 1c3d2b17..8cc2bfc0 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/slim/slimrb.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/slim/slimrb.vim
@@ -18,17 +18,15 @@ let g:loaded_syntastic_slim_slimrb_checker = 1
 let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
-function! s:SlimrbVersion()
-    if !exists('s:slimrb_version')
-        let s:slimrb_version = syntastic#util#getVersion('slimrb --version 2>' . syntastic#util#DevNull())
-    endif
-    return s:slimrb_version
-endfunction
-
 function! SyntaxCheckers_slim_slimrb_GetLocList() dict
+    if !exists('s:slimrb_new')
+        let s:slimrb_new = syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(syntastic#util#getVersion(
+            \ self.getExecEscaped() . ' --version 2>'. syntastic#util#DevNull()), [1, 3, 1])
+    endif
+
     let makeprg = self.makeprgBuild({ 'args_after': '-c' })
 
-    if syntastic#util#versionIsAtLeast(s:SlimrbVersion(), [1,3,1])
+    if s:slimrb_new
         let errorformat =
             \ '%C\ %#%f\, Line %l\, Column %c,'.
             \ '%-G\ %.%#,'.
diff --git a/syntax_checkers/yaml/yamlxs.vim b/syntax_checkers/yaml/yamlxs.vim
index ec254a32..20665335 100644
--- a/syntax_checkers/yaml/yamlxs.vim
+++ b/syntax_checkers/yaml/yamlxs.vim
@@ -16,10 +16,6 @@ if exists("g:loaded_syntastic_yaml_yamlxs_checker")
 endif
 let g:loaded_syntastic_yaml_yamlxs_checker = 1
 
-if !exists('g:syntastic_perl_interpreter')
-    let g:syntastic_perl_interpreter = 'perl'
-endif
-
 if !exists('g:syntastic_perl_lib_path')
     let g:syntastic_perl_lib_path = []
 endif
@@ -28,6 +24,10 @@ let s:save_cpo = &cpo
 set cpo&vim
 
 function! SyntaxCheckers_yaml_yamlxs_IsAvailable() dict
+    if !exists('g:syntastic_perl_interpreter')
+        let g:syntastic_perl_interpreter = self.getExec()
+    endif
+
     " don't call executable() here, to allow things like
     " let g:syntastic_perl_interpreter='/usr/bin/env perl'
     silent! call system(s:Exe() . ' ' . s:Modules() . ' -e ' . syntastic#util#shescape('exit(0)'))