diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ff6ae677a..884a02271 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ $(MYGOBIN)/helm:
 
 .PHONY: clean
 clean:
+	go clean --cache
 	rm -f $(builtinplugins)
 	rm -f $(MYGOBIN)/pluginator
 	rm -f $(MYGOBIN)/kustomize
diff --git a/api/internal/target/chartinflatorplugin_test.go b/api/internal/target/chartinflatorplugin_test.go
index 91016f2f1..d2a7b3173 100644
--- a/api/internal/target/chartinflatorplugin_test.go
+++ b/api/internal/target/chartinflatorplugin_test.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func TestChartInflatorPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 	tc := kusttest_test.NewPluginTestEnv(t).Set()
 	defer tc.Reset()
 
-	tc.BuildExecPlugin(
+	tc.PrepExecPlugin(
 		"someteam.example.com", "v1", "ChartInflator")
 
 	th := kusttest_test.NewKustTestHarnessAllowPlugins(t, "/app")
diff --git a/api/internal/target/plugindir_test.go b/api/internal/target/plugindir_test.go
index 0ed73862f..463f9fd24 100644
--- a/api/internal/target/plugindir_test.go
+++ b/api/internal/target/plugindir_test.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ func TestPluginDir(t *testing.T) {
 	tc := kusttest_test.NewPluginTestEnv(t).Set()
 	defer tc.Reset()
 
-	tc.BuildExecPlugin(
+	tc.PrepExecPlugin(
 		"someteam.example.com", "v1", "PrintWorkDir")
 
 	base, err := os.Getwd()
diff --git a/api/internal/target/transformerplugin_test.go b/api/internal/target/transformerplugin_test.go
index 421fe0fe0..1376def49 100644
--- a/api/internal/target/transformerplugin_test.go
+++ b/api/internal/target/transformerplugin_test.go
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func TestSedTransformer(t *testing.T) {
 	tc := kusttest_test.NewPluginTestEnv(t).Set()
 	defer tc.Reset()
 
-	tc.BuildExecPlugin(
+	tc.PrepExecPlugin(
 		"someteam.example.com", "v1", "SedTransformer")
 
 	th := kusttest_test.NewKustTestHarnessAllowPlugins(t, "/app")
diff --git a/api/krusty/testingharness_test.go b/api/krusty/testingharness_test.go
index 424005e31..edda22743 100644
--- a/api/krusty/testingharness_test.go
+++ b/api/krusty/testingharness_test.go
@@ -43,20 +43,25 @@ func (th testingHarness) WriteF(path string, content string) {
 }
 
 func (th testingHarness) MakeDefaultOptions() Options {
+	return th.MakeOptionsPluginsDisabled()
+}
+
+func (th testingHarness) MakeOptionsPluginsDisabled() Options {
 	return Options{
 		LoadRestrictions: types.LoadRestrictionsRootOnly,
 		PluginConfig:     konfig.DisabledPluginConfig(),
 	}
 }
 
-func (th testingHarness) MakeEnabledPluginConfig() *types.PluginConfig {
-	// TODO: this doesn't work yet - need to set an env var.
-	// TODO: steal from kusttest_test.NewPluginTestEnv
+func (th testingHarness) MakeOptionsPluginsEnabled() Options {
 	c, err := konfig.EnabledPluginConfig()
 	if err != nil {
 		th.t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	return c
+	return Options{
+		LoadRestrictions: types.LoadRestrictionsRootOnly,
+		PluginConfig:     c,
+	}
 }
 
 // Run, failing on error.
diff --git a/api/testutils/kusttest/plugintestenv.go b/api/testutils/kusttest/plugintestenv.go
index d7d2d8434..9d8a9b1ac 100644
--- a/api/testutils/kusttest/plugintestenv.go
+++ b/api/testutils/kusttest/plugintestenv.go
@@ -17,32 +17,47 @@ import (
 )
 
 // PluginTestEnv manages the plugin test environment.
-// It sets/resets XDG_CONFIG_HOME, makes/removes a temp objRoot,
-// manages a plugin compiler, etc.
+// It manages a Go plugin compiler,
+// makes and removes a temporary working directory,
+// and sets/resets shell env vars as needed.
 type PluginTestEnv struct {
 	t        *testing.T
 	compiler *compiler.Compiler
+	srcRoot  string
 	workDir  string
 	oldXdg   string
 	wasSet   bool
 }
 
+// NewPluginTestEnv returns a new instance of PluginTestEnv.
 func NewPluginTestEnv(t *testing.T) *PluginTestEnv {
 	return &PluginTestEnv{t: t}
 }
 
+// Set creates a test environment.
 func (x *PluginTestEnv) Set() *PluginTestEnv {
 	x.createWorkDir()
-	x.compiler = x.makeCompiler()
+	var err error
+	x.srcRoot, err = compiler.DeterminePluginSrcRoot(filesys.MakeFsOnDisk())
+	if err != nil {
+		x.t.Error(err)
+	}
+	x.compiler = compiler.NewCompiler(x.srcRoot, x.workDir)
 	x.setEnv()
 	return x
 }
 
+// Reset restores the environment to pre-test state.
 func (x *PluginTestEnv) Reset() {
 	x.resetEnv()
 	x.removeWorkDir()
 }
 
+// BuildGoPlugin compiles a Go plugin, leaving the newly
+// created object code in the right place - a temporary
+// working  directory pointed to by KustomizePluginHomeEnv.
+// This avoids overwriting anything the user/developer has
+// otherwise created.
 func (x *PluginTestEnv) BuildGoPlugin(g, v, k string) {
 	err := x.compiler.Compile(g, v, k)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -50,39 +65,28 @@ func (x *PluginTestEnv) BuildGoPlugin(g, v, k string) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (x *PluginTestEnv) BuildExecPlugin(g, v, k string) {
+// PrepExecPlugin copies an exec plugin from it's
+// home in the discovered srcRoot to the same temp
+// directory where Go plugin object code is placed.
+// Kustomize (and its tests) expect to find plugins
+// (Go or Exec) in the same spot, and since the test
+// framework is compiling Go plugins to a temp dir,
+// it must likewise copy Exec plugins to that same
+// temp dir.
+func (x *PluginTestEnv) PrepExecPlugin(g, v, k string) {
 	lowK := strings.ToLower(k)
-	obj := filepath.Join(x.compiler.ObjRoot(), g, v, lowK, k)
-	src := filepath.Join(x.compiler.SrcRoot(), g, v, lowK, k)
-	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(obj), 0755); err != nil {
-		x.t.Errorf("error making directory: %s", filepath.Dir(obj))
+	src := filepath.Join(x.srcRoot, g, v, lowK, k)
+	tmp := filepath.Join(x.workDir, g, v, lowK, k)
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(tmp), 0755); err != nil {
+		x.t.Errorf("error making directory: %s", filepath.Dir(tmp))
 	}
-	cmd := exec.Command("cp", src, obj)
+	cmd := exec.Command("cp", src, tmp)
 	cmd.Env = os.Environ()
 	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
-		x.t.Errorf("error copying %s to %s: %v", src, obj, err)
+		x.t.Errorf("error copying %s to %s: %v", src, tmp, err)
 	}
 }
 
-func (x *PluginTestEnv) makeCompiler() *compiler.Compiler {
-	// The plugin loader wants to find object code under
-	//    $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/kustomize/plugins
-	// and the compiler writes object code to
-	//    $objRoot
-	// so set things up accordingly.
-	objRoot := filepath.Join(
-		x.workDir, konfig.ProgramName, konfig.RelPluginHome)
-	err := os.MkdirAll(objRoot, os.ModePerm)
-	if err != nil {
-		x.t.Error(err)
-	}
-	srcRoot, err := compiler.DeterminePluginSrcRoot(filesys.MakeFsOnDisk())
-	if err != nil {
-		x.t.Error(err)
-	}
-	return compiler.NewCompiler(srcRoot, objRoot)
-}
-
 func (x *PluginTestEnv) createWorkDir() {
 	var err error
 	x.workDir, err = ioutil.TempDir("", "kustomize-plugin-tests")
@@ -100,14 +104,14 @@ func (x *PluginTestEnv) removeWorkDir() {
 }
 
 func (x *PluginTestEnv) setEnv() {
-	x.oldXdg, x.wasSet = os.LookupEnv(konfig.XdgConfigHomeEnv)
-	os.Setenv(konfig.XdgConfigHomeEnv, x.workDir)
+	x.oldXdg, x.wasSet = os.LookupEnv(konfig.KustomizePluginHomeEnv)
+	os.Setenv(konfig.KustomizePluginHomeEnv, x.workDir)
 }
 
 func (x *PluginTestEnv) resetEnv() {
 	if x.wasSet {
-		os.Setenv(konfig.XdgConfigHomeEnv, x.oldXdg)
+		os.Setenv(konfig.KustomizePluginHomeEnv, x.oldXdg)
 	} else {
-		os.Unsetenv(konfig.XdgConfigHomeEnv)
+		os.Unsetenv(konfig.KustomizePluginHomeEnv)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/bashedconfigmap/BashedConfigMap_test.go b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/bashedconfigmap/BashedConfigMap_test.go
index 24b09afe6..097fda8f3 100644
--- a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/bashedconfigmap/BashedConfigMap_test.go
+++ b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/bashedconfigmap/BashedConfigMap_test.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ func TestBashedConfigMapPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 	tc := kusttest_test.NewPluginTestEnv(t).Set()
 	defer tc.Reset()
 
-	tc.BuildExecPlugin(
+	tc.PrepExecPlugin(
 		"someteam.example.com", "v1", "BashedConfigMap")
 
 	th := kusttest_test.NewKustTestHarnessAllowPlugins(t, "/app")
diff --git a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/chartinflator/ChartInflator_test.go b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/chartinflator/ChartInflator_test.go
index c3abbb84a..efb136a18 100644
--- a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/chartinflator/ChartInflator_test.go
+++ b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/chartinflator/ChartInflator_test.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ func TestChartInflator(t *testing.T) {
 	tc := kusttest_test.NewPluginTestEnv(t).Set()
 	defer tc.Reset()
 
-	tc.BuildExecPlugin(
+	tc.PrepExecPlugin(
 		"someteam.example.com", "v1", "ChartInflator")
 
 	th := kusttest_test.NewKustTestHarnessAllowPlugins(t, "/app")
diff --git a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/gogetter/GoGetter_test.go b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/gogetter/GoGetter_test.go
index e5c659d89..1171f5b4d 100644
--- a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/gogetter/GoGetter_test.go
+++ b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/gogetter/GoGetter_test.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ func TestGoGetter(t *testing.T) {
 	tc := kusttest_test.NewPluginTestEnv(t).Set()
 	defer tc.Reset()
 
-	tc.BuildExecPlugin(
+	tc.PrepExecPlugin(
 		"someteam.example.com", "v1", "GoGetter")
 
 	th := kusttest_test.NewKustTestHarnessAllowPlugins(t, "/app")
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func TestGoGetterUrl(t *testing.T) {
 	tc := kusttest_test.NewPluginTestEnv(t).Set()
 	defer tc.Reset()
 
-	tc.BuildExecPlugin(
+	tc.PrepExecPlugin(
 		"someteam.example.com", "v1", "GoGetter")
 
 	th := kusttest_test.NewKustTestHarnessAllowPlugins(t, "/app")
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ func TestGoGetterCommand(t *testing.T) {
 	tc := kusttest_test.NewPluginTestEnv(t).Set()
 	defer tc.Reset()
 
-	tc.BuildExecPlugin(
+	tc.PrepExecPlugin(
 		"someteam.example.com", "v1", "GoGetter")
 
 	th := kusttest_test.NewKustTestHarnessAllowPlugins(t, "/app")
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ func TestGoGetterSubPath(t *testing.T) {
 	tc := kusttest_test.NewPluginTestEnv(t).Set()
 	defer tc.Reset()
 
-	tc.BuildExecPlugin(
+	tc.PrepExecPlugin(
 		"someteam.example.com", "v1", "GoGetter")
 
 	th := kusttest_test.NewKustTestHarnessAllowPlugins(t, "/app")
diff --git a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/printworkdir/PrintWorkDir_test.go b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/printworkdir/PrintWorkDir_test.go
index 5410ab079..353915969 100644
--- a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/printworkdir/PrintWorkDir_test.go
+++ b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/printworkdir/PrintWorkDir_test.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func TestPrintWorkDirPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 	tc := kusttest_test.NewPluginTestEnv(t).Set()
 	defer tc.Reset()
 
-	tc.BuildExecPlugin(
+	tc.PrepExecPlugin(
 		"someteam.example.com", "v1", "PrintWorkDir")
 
 	th := kusttest_test.NewKustTestHarnessAllowPlugins(t, "/theAppRoot")
diff --git a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/sedtransformer/SedTransformer_test.go b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/sedtransformer/SedTransformer_test.go
index 60bba0965..eaed5dfc1 100644
--- a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/sedtransformer/SedTransformer_test.go
+++ b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/sedtransformer/SedTransformer_test.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ func TestSedTransformer(t *testing.T) {
 	tc := kusttest_test.NewPluginTestEnv(t).Set()
 	defer tc.Reset()
 
-	tc.BuildExecPlugin("someteam.example.com", "v1", "SedTransformer")
+	tc.PrepExecPlugin("someteam.example.com", "v1", "SedTransformer")
 	th := kusttest_test.NewKustTestHarnessAllowPlugins(t, "/app")
 
 	th.WriteF("/app/sed-input.txt", `
diff --git a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/validator/validator_test.go b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/validator/validator_test.go
index e1fbe120d..6a580f1b3 100644
--- a/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/validator/validator_test.go
+++ b/plugin/someteam.example.com/v1/validator/validator_test.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ func TestValidatorHappy(t *testing.T) {
 	tc := kusttest_test.NewPluginTestEnv(t).Set()
 	defer tc.Reset()
 
-	tc.BuildExecPlugin("someteam.example.com", "v1", "Validator")
+	tc.PrepExecPlugin("someteam.example.com", "v1", "Validator")
 	th := kusttest_test.NewKustTestHarnessAllowPlugins(t, "/app")
 
 	rm := th.LoadAndRunTransformer(`
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func TestValidatorUnHappy(t *testing.T) {
 	tc := kusttest_test.NewPluginTestEnv(t).Set()
 	defer tc.Reset()
 
-	tc.BuildExecPlugin("someteam.example.com", "v1", "Validator")
+	tc.PrepExecPlugin("someteam.example.com", "v1", "Validator")
 	th := kusttest_test.NewKustTestHarnessAllowPlugins(t, "/app")
 
 	err := th.ErrorFromLoadAndRunTransformer(`