diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/upgrade.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/upgrade.rb
index d222c5a986..644e61184f 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/upgrade.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/upgrade.rb
@@ -54,16 +54,10 @@ module Homebrew extend self
   end
 
   def upgrade_formula f
-    tab = Tab.for_formula(f)
-
-    # Inject options from a previous install into the formula's
-    # BuildOptions object. TODO clean this up.
-    f.build.args += tab.used_options
-
     outdated_keg = Keg.new(f.linked_keg.realpath) rescue nil
 
     installer = FormulaInstaller.new(f)
-    installer.options |= tab.used_options
+    installer.options |= Tab.for_formula(f).used_options
     installer.show_header = false
 
     oh1 "Upgrading #{f.name}"
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/formula_installer.rb b/Library/Homebrew/formula_installer.rb
index 93c3f7a843..c1ea8b9d59 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/formula_installer.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/formula_installer.rb
@@ -217,7 +217,9 @@ class FormulaInstaller
 
       ARGV.filter_for_dependencies do
         f.recursive_requirements do |dependent, req|
-          if (req.optional? || req.recommended?) && dependent.build.without?(req)
+          build = effective_build_options_for(dependent)
+
+          if (req.optional? || req.recommended?) && build.without?(req)
             Requirement.prune
           elsif req.build? && install_bottle?(dependent)
             Requirement.prune
@@ -248,8 +250,9 @@ class FormulaInstaller
     expanded_deps = ARGV.filter_for_dependencies do
       Dependency.expand(f, deps) do |dependent, dep|
         options = inherited_options[dep] = inherited_options_for(dep)
+        build = effective_build_options_for(dependent)
 
-        if (dep.optional? || dep.recommended?) && dependent.build.without?(dep)
+        if (dep.optional? || dep.recommended?) && build.without?(dep)
           Dependency.prune
         elsif dep.build? && dependent == f && pour_bottle
           Dependency.prune
@@ -266,6 +269,16 @@ class FormulaInstaller
     expanded_deps.map { |dep| [dep, inherited_options[dep]] }
   end
 
+  def effective_build_options_for(dependent)
+    if dependent == f
+      build = dependent.build.dup
+      build.args |= options
+      build
+    else
+      dependent.build
+    end
+  end
+
   def inherited_options_for(dep)
     options = Options.new
     if f.build.universal? && !dep.build? && dep.to_formula.build.has_option?("universal")