diff --git a/easybuild/tools/options.py b/easybuild/tools/options.py
index 678363ab35..9709fb71ea 100644
--- a/easybuild/tools/options.py
+++ b/easybuild/tools/options.py
@@ -1756,24 +1756,38 @@ def set_tmpdir(tmpdir=None, raise_error=False):
     # reset to make sure tempfile picks up new temporary directory to use
     tempfile.tempdir = None
 
-    # test if temporary directory allows to execute files, warn if it doesn't
-    try:
-        fd, tmptest_file = tempfile.mkstemp()
-        os.close(fd)
-        os.chmod(tmptest_file, 0o700)
-        if not run_cmd(tmptest_file, simple=True, log_ok=False, regexp=False, force_in_dry_run=True, trace=False,
-                       stream_output=False):
-            msg = "The temporary directory (%s) does not allow to execute files. " % tempfile.gettempdir()
-            msg += "This can cause problems in the build process, consider using --tmpdir."
-            if raise_error:
-                raise EasyBuildError(msg)
+    # cache for checked paths, via function attribute
+    executable_tmp_paths = getattr(set_tmpdir, 'executable_tmp_paths', [])
+
+    # Skip the executable check if it already succeeded for any parent folder
+    # Especially important for the unit test suite, less so for actual execution
+    if not any(current_tmpdir.startswith(path) for path in executable_tmp_paths):
+
+        # test if temporary directory allows to execute files, warn if it doesn't
+        try:
+            fd, tmptest_file = tempfile.mkstemp()
+            os.close(fd)
+            os.chmod(tmptest_file, 0o700)
+            if not run_cmd(tmptest_file, simple=True, log_ok=False, regexp=False, force_in_dry_run=True, trace=False,
+                           stream_output=False):
+                msg = "The temporary directory (%s) does not allow to execute files. " % tempfile.gettempdir()
+                msg += "This can cause problems in the build process, consider using --tmpdir."
+                if raise_error:
+                    raise EasyBuildError(msg)
+                else:
+                    _log.warning(msg)
             else:
-                _log.warning(msg)
-        else:
-            _log.debug("Temporary directory %s allows to execute files, good!" % tempfile.gettempdir())
-        os.remove(tmptest_file)
+                _log.debug("Temporary directory %s allows to execute files, good!" % tempfile.gettempdir())
 
-    except OSError as err:
-        raise EasyBuildError("Failed to test whether temporary directory allows to execute files: %s", err)
+                # Put this folder into the cache
+                executable_tmp_paths.append(current_tmpdir)
+
+                # set function attribute so we can retrieve cache later
+                set_tmpdir.executable_tmp_paths = executable_tmp_paths
+
+            os.remove(tmptest_file)
+
+        except OSError as err:
+            raise EasyBuildError("Failed to test whether temporary directory allows to execute files: %s", err)
 
     return current_tmpdir
diff --git a/test/framework/toolchain.py b/test/framework/toolchain.py
index 0bf963857c..11a6c083d0 100644
--- a/test/framework/toolchain.py
+++ b/test/framework/toolchain.py
@@ -752,17 +752,28 @@ def test_compiler_dependent_optarch(self):
         intel_options = [('intelflag', 'intelflag'), ('GENERIC', 'xSSE2'), ('', '')]
         gcc_options = [('gccflag', 'gccflag'), ('march=nocona', 'march=nocona'), ('', '')]
         gcccore_options = [('gcccoreflag', 'gcccoreflag'), ('GENERIC', 'march=x86-64 -mtune=generic'), ('', '')]
-        toolchains = [
-            ('iccifort', '2018.1.163'),
-            ('GCC', '6.4.0-2.28'),
-            ('GCCcore', '6.2.0'),
-            ('PGI', '16.7-GCC-5.4.0-2.26'),
-        ]
-        enabled = [True, False]
 
-        test_cases = product(intel_options, gcc_options, gcccore_options, toolchains, enabled)
+        tc_intel = ('iccifort', '2018.1.163')
+        tc_gcc = ('GCC', '6.4.0-2.28')
+        tc_gcccore = ('GCCcore', '6.2.0')
+        tc_pgi = ('PGI', '16.7-GCC-5.4.0-2.26')
+        enabled = [True, False]
 
-        for intel_flags, gcc_flags, gcccore_flags, (toolchain_name, toolchain_ver), enable in test_cases:
+        test_cases = []
+        for i, (tc, options) in enumerate(zip((tc_intel, tc_gcc, tc_gcccore),
+                                              (intel_options, gcc_options, gcccore_options))):
+            # Vary only the compiler specific option
+            for opt in options:
+                new_value = [intel_options[0], gcc_options[0], gcccore_options[0], tc]
+                new_value[i] = opt
+                test_cases.append(new_value)
+        # Add one case for PGI
+        test_cases.append((intel_options[0], gcc_options[0], gcccore_options[0], tc_pgi))
+
+        # Run each for enabled and disabled
+        test_cases = list(product(test_cases, enabled))
+
+        for (intel_flags, gcc_flags, gcccore_flags, (toolchain_name, toolchain_ver)), enable in test_cases:
 
             intel_flags, intel_flags_exp = intel_flags
             gcc_flags, gcc_flags_exp = gcc_flags