diff --git a/pex/pex_info.py b/pex/pex_info.py
index 92a19f6b1..cfc8245c9 100644
--- a/pex/pex_info.py
+++ b/pex/pex_info.py
@@ -6,10 +6,11 @@
 import json
 import os
 import zipfile
+from multiprocessing import Array
 
 from pex import layout, pex_warnings, variables
 from pex.cache import root as cache_root
-from pex.common import can_write_dir, open_zip, safe_mkdtemp, safe_rmtree
+from pex.common import can_write_dir, open_zip, safe_mkdtemp
 from pex.compatibility import PY2, WINDOWS
 from pex.compatibility import string as compatibility_string
 from pex.inherit_path import InheritPath
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ class PexInfo(object):
     """
 
     PATH = layout.PEX_INFO_PATH
+    _BACKUP_PEX_ROOT = Array("u", safe_mkdtemp())
 
     @classmethod
     def make_build_properties(cls):
@@ -151,9 +153,6 @@ def __init__(self, info=None):
 
         self._excluded = OrderedSet(self._pex_info.get("excluded", ()))  # type: OrderedSet[str]
         self._overridden = OrderedSet(self._pex_info.get("overridden", ()))  # type: OrderedSet[str]
-        os.environ["_PEX_BACKUP_ROOT"] = self._backup_pex_root = (
-            os.environ.get("_PEX_BACKUP_ROOT") or safe_mkdtemp()
-        )
 
     def _get_safe(self, key):
         if key not in self._pex_info:
@@ -512,11 +511,8 @@ def raw_pex_root(self):
     def pex_root(self):
         # type: () -> str
         pex_root = os.path.realpath(os.path.expanduser(self.raw_pex_root))
-        if can_write_dir(pex_root):
-            os.environ.pop("_PEX_BACKUP_ROOT", None)
-            safe_rmtree(self._backup_pex_root)
-        else:
-            tmp_root = os.path.realpath(self._backup_pex_root)
+        if not can_write_dir(pex_root):
+            tmp_root = os.path.realpath(self._BACKUP_PEX_ROOT.tounicode())
             pex_warnings.warn(
                 "PEX_ROOT is configured as {pex_root} but that path is un-writeable, "
                 "falling back to a temporary PEX_ROOT of {tmp_root} which will hurt "