diff --git a/build.cake b/build.cake
index 8c0c51f1..5685c001 100644
--- a/build.cake
+++ b/build.cake
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ var NUnitConsoleToolPath = GetToolPath ("NUnit.ConsoleRunner/tools/nunit3-consol
 var GenApiToolPath = GetToolPath ("Microsoft.DotNet.BuildTools.GenAPI/tools/GenAPI.exe");
 var MDocPath = GetToolPath ("mdoc/mdoc.exe");
 var SNToolPath = GetSNToolPath (EnvironmentVariable ("SN_EXE"));
+var MSBuildToolPath = GetMSBuildToolPath (EnvironmentVariable ("MSBUILD_EXE"));
 
 var VERSION_ASSEMBLY = "1.58.0.0";
 var VERSION_FILE = "1.58.0.0";
@@ -103,10 +104,7 @@ Task ("libs")
     if (IsRunningOnWindows ()) {
         // build bindings
         RunNuGetRestore ("binding/SkiaSharp.Windows.sln");
-        DotNetBuild ("binding/SkiaSharp.Windows.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuild ("binding/SkiaSharp.Windows.sln");
 
         // copy build output
         CopyFileToDirectory ("./binding/SkiaSharp.Portable/bin/Release/SkiaSharp.dll", "./output/portable/");
@@ -120,10 +118,7 @@ Task ("libs")
 
         // build libHarfBuzzSharp bindings
         RunNuGetRestore ("binding/HarfBuzzSharp.Windows.sln");
-        DotNetBuild ("binding/HarfBuzzSharp.Windows.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuild ("binding/HarfBuzzSharp.Windows.sln");
 
         // copy libHarfBuzzSharp build output
         CopyFileToDirectory ("./binding/HarfBuzzSharp.Portable/bin/Release/HarfBuzzSharp.dll", "./output/portable/");
@@ -137,10 +132,7 @@ Task ("libs")
 
         // build other source
         RunNuGetRestore ("./source/SkiaSharpSource.Windows.sln");
-        DotNetBuild ("./source/SkiaSharpSource.Windows.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuild ("./source/SkiaSharpSource.Windows.sln");
 
         // copy the managed views
         CopyFileToDirectory ("./source/SkiaSharp.Views/SkiaSharp.Views.UWP/bin/Release/SkiaSharp.Views.UWP.dll", "./output/uwp/");
@@ -165,10 +157,7 @@ Task ("libs")
     if (IsRunningOnMac ()) {
         // build
         RunNuGetRestore ("binding/SkiaSharp.Mac.sln");
-        DotNetBuild ("binding/SkiaSharp.Mac.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuild ("binding/SkiaSharp.Mac.sln");
 
         // copy build output
         CopyFileToDirectory ("./binding/SkiaSharp.Android/bin/Release/SkiaSharp.dll", "./output/android/");
@@ -182,10 +171,7 @@ Task ("libs")
 
         // build libHarfBuzzSharp bindings
         RunNuGetRestore ("binding/HarfBuzzSharp.Mac.sln");
-        DotNetBuild ("binding/HarfBuzzSharp.Mac.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuild ("binding/HarfBuzzSharp.Mac.sln");
 
         // copy libHarfBuzzSharp build output
         CopyFileToDirectory ("./binding/HarfBuzzSharp.Android/bin/Release/HarfBuzzSharp.dll", "./output/android/");
@@ -199,10 +185,7 @@ Task ("libs")
 
         // build other source
         RunNuGetRestore ("./source/SkiaSharpSource.Mac.sln");
-        DotNetBuild ("./source/SkiaSharpSource.Mac.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuild ("./source/SkiaSharpSource.Mac.sln");
 
         // copy other outputs
         CopyFileToDirectory ("./source/SkiaSharp.Views/SkiaSharp.Views.Android/bin/Release/SkiaSharp.Views.Android.dll", "./output/android/");
@@ -230,30 +213,21 @@ Task ("libs")
     if (IsRunningOnLinux ()) {
         // build
         RunNuGetRestore ("binding/SkiaSharp.Linux.sln");
-        DotNetBuild ("binding/SkiaSharp.Linux.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuild ("binding/SkiaSharp.Linux.sln");
 
         // copy build output
         CopyFileToDirectory ("./binding/SkiaSharp.Portable/bin/Release/SkiaSharp.dll", "./output/portable/");
 
         // build libHarfBuzzSharp bindings
         RunNuGetRestore ("binding/HarfBuzzSharp.Linux.sln");
-        DotNetBuild ("binding/HarfBuzzSharp.Linux.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuild ("binding/HarfBuzzSharp.Linux.sln");
 
         // copy libHarfBuzzSharp build output
         CopyFileToDirectory ("./binding/HarfBuzzSharp.Portable/bin/Release/HarfBuzzSharp.dll", "./output/portable/");
 
         // build other source
         RunNuGetRestore ("./source/SkiaSharpSource.Linux.sln");
-        DotNetBuild ("./source/SkiaSharpSource.Linux.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuild ("./source/SkiaSharpSource.Linux.sln");
 
         // copy SVG
         CopyFileToDirectory ("./source/SkiaSharp.Svg/SkiaSharp.Svg/bin/Release/SkiaSharp.Svg.dll", "./output/portable/");
@@ -348,25 +322,14 @@ Task ("tests")
 
     // Windows (x86 and x64)
     if (IsRunningOnWindows ()) {
-        DotNetBuild ("./tests/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Properties ["Platform"] = new [] { "x86" };
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuildWithPlatform ("./tests/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests.sln", "x86");
         RunTests("./tests/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests/bin/x86/Release/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests.dll");
-        DotNetBuild ("./tests/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Properties ["Platform"] = new [] { "x64" };
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuildWithPlatform ("./tests/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests.sln", "x64");
         RunTests("./tests/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests/bin/x64/Release/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests.dll");
     }
     // Mac OSX (Any CPU)
     if (IsRunningOnMac ()) {
-        DotNetBuild ("./tests/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuild ("./tests/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests.sln");
         RunTests("./tests/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests/bin/AnyCPU/Release/SkiaSharp.Desktop.Tests.dll");
     }
     // .NET Core
@@ -401,47 +364,22 @@ Task ("samples")
 
     if (IsRunningOnMac ()) {
         RunNuGetRestore ("./samples/MacSample/MacSample.sln");
-        DotNetBuild ("./samples/MacSample/MacSample.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuildWithPlatform ("./samples/MacSample/MacSample.sln", "x86");
         RunNuGetRestore ("./samples/FormsSample/FormsSample.Mac.sln");
-        DotNetBuild ("./samples/FormsSample/FormsSample.Mac.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Properties ["Platform"] = new [] { "iPhone" };
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuildWithPlatform ("./samples/FormsSample/FormsSample.Mac.sln", "iPhone");
         RunNuGetRestore ("./samples/TvSample/TvSample.sln");
-        DotNetBuild ("./samples/TvSample/TvSample.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Properties ["Platform"] = new [] { "iPhoneSimulator" };
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuildWithPlatform ("./samples/TvSample/TvSample.sln", "iPhoneSimulator");
     }
     
     if (IsRunningOnWindows ()) {
         RunNuGetRestore ("./samples/WPFSample/WPFSample.sln");
-        DotNetBuild ("./samples/WPFSample/WPFSample.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release";
-            c.Properties ["Platform"] = new [] { "x86" };
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuild ("./samples/WPFSample/WPFSample.sln");
         RunNuGetRestore ("./samples/UWPSample/UWPSample.sln");
-        DotNetBuild ("./samples/UWPSample/UWPSample.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuild ("./samples/UWPSample/UWPSample.sln");
         RunNuGetRestore ("./samples/FormsSample/FormsSample.Windows.sln");
-        DotNetBuild ("./samples/FormsSample/FormsSample.Windows.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuild ("./samples/FormsSample/FormsSample.Windows.sln");
         RunNuGetRestore ("./samples/WindowsSample/WindowsSample.sln");
-        DotNetBuild ("./samples/WindowsSample/WindowsSample.sln", c => { 
-            c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-            c.Properties ["Platform"] = new [] { "x86" };
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        RunMSBuild ("./samples/WindowsSample/WindowsSample.sln");
     }
 });
 
@@ -513,12 +451,9 @@ Task ("update-docs")
         .Union (GetDirectories ("./source/packages/OpenTK.*/lib/net40*"));
     // add windows-specific references
     if (IsRunningOnWindows ()) {
-        // Windows.Foundation.UniversalApiContract is a winmd, so fake the dll
-        // types aren't needed here
-        DotNetBuild ("./externals/Windows.Foundation.UniversalApiContract/Windows.Foundation.UniversalApiContract.csproj", c => {
-            c.Verbosity = Verbosity.Quiet;
-            c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-        });
+        // // Windows.Foundation.UniversalApiContract is a winmd, so fake the dll
+        // // types aren't needed here
+        // RunMSBuild ("./externals/Windows.Foundation.UniversalApiContract/Windows.Foundation.UniversalApiContract.csproj");
         refs = refs.Union (new DirectoryPath [] {
             "./externals/Windows.Foundation.UniversalApiContract/bin/Release",
             "C:/Program Files (x86)/Reference Assemblies/Microsoft/Framework/MonoAndroid/v1.0",
@@ -871,6 +806,7 @@ Information ("NuGet.exe ToolPath: {0}", NugetToolPath);
 Information ("Xamarin-Component.exe ToolPath: {0}", XamarinComponentToolPath);
 Information ("genapi.exe ToolPath: {0}", GenApiToolPath);
 Information ("sn.exe ToolPath: {0}", SNToolPath);
+Information ("msbuild.exe ToolPath: {0}", MSBuildToolPath);
 
 if (IS_ON_CI) {
     Information ("Detected that we are building on CI, {0}.", IS_ON_FINAL_CI ? "and on FINAL CI" : "but NOT on final CI");
diff --git a/cake/BuildExternals.cake b/cake/BuildExternals.cake
index 15cc7cf5..91c98e3e 100644
--- a/cake/BuildExternals.cake
+++ b/cake/BuildExternals.cake
@@ -65,11 +65,7 @@ Task ("externals-genapi")
     // SkiaSharp
 
     // build the dummy project
-    DotNetBuild ("binding/SkiaSharp.Generic.sln", c => { 
-        c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-        c.Properties ["Platform"] = new [] { "\"Any CPU\"" };
-        c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-    });
+    RunMSBuild ("binding/SkiaSharp.Generic.sln");
     
     // generate the PCL
     FilePath input = "binding/SkiaSharp.Generic/bin/Release/SkiaSharp.dll";
@@ -84,11 +80,7 @@ Task ("externals-genapi")
 
     // HarfBuzz
 
-    DotNetBuild ("binding/HarfBuzzSharp.Generic.sln", c => { 
-        c.Configuration = "Release"; 
-        c.Properties ["Platform"] = new [] { "\"Any CPU\"" };
-        c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
-    });
+    RunMSBuild ("binding/HarfBuzzSharp.Generic.sln");
 
     // generate the PCL
     input = "binding/HarfBuzzSharp.Generic/bin/Release/HarfBuzzSharp.dll";
@@ -226,10 +218,7 @@ Task ("externals-windows")
         });
 
         // build libSkiaSharp
-        MSBuild ("native-builds/libSkiaSharp_windows/libSkiaSharp.sln", new MSBuildSettings { 
-            Configuration = "Release",
-            PlatformTarget = (PlatformTarget)Enum.Parse(typeof(PlatformTarget), arch),
-        });
+        RunMSBuildWithPlatformTarget ("native-builds/libSkiaSharp_windows/libSkiaSharp.sln", arch);
 
         // copy libSkiaSharp to output
         if (!DirectoryExists ("native-builds/lib/windows/" + dir)) CreateDirectory ("native-builds/lib/windows/" + dir);
@@ -245,10 +234,7 @@ Task ("externals-windows")
 
     var buildHarfBuzzArch = new Action<string, string> ((arch, dir) => {
         // build libHarfBuzzSharp
-        MSBuild ("native-builds/libHarfBuzzSharp_windows/libHarfBuzzSharp.sln", new MSBuildSettings { 
-            Configuration = "Release",
-            PlatformTarget = (PlatformTarget)Enum.Parse(typeof(PlatformTarget), arch),
-        });
+        RunMSBuildWithPlatformTarget ("native-builds/libHarfBuzzSharp_windows/libHarfBuzzSharp.sln", arch);
 
         // copy libHarfBuzzSharp to output
         if (!DirectoryExists ("native-builds/lib/windows/" + dir)) CreateDirectory ("native-builds/lib/windows/" + dir);
@@ -293,10 +279,7 @@ Task ("externals-uwp")
         });
 
         // build libSkiaSharp
-        MSBuild ("native-builds/libSkiaSharp_uwp/libSkiaSharp.sln", new MSBuildSettings { 
-            Configuration = "Release",
-            PlatformTarget = (PlatformTarget)Enum.Parse(typeof(PlatformTarget), arch),
-        });
+        RunMSBuildWithPlatformTarget ("native-builds/libSkiaSharp_uwp/libSkiaSharp.sln", arch);
 
         // copy libSkiaSharp to output
         if (!DirectoryExists ("native-builds/lib/uwp/" + dir)) CreateDirectory ("native-builds/lib/uwp/" + dir);
@@ -313,10 +296,7 @@ Task ("externals-uwp")
 
     var buildHarfBuzzArch = new Action<string, string> ((arch, dir) => {
         // build libHarfBuzzSharp
-        MSBuild ("native-builds/libHarfBuzzSharp_uwp/libHarfBuzzSharp.sln", new MSBuildSettings { 
-            Configuration = "Release",
-            PlatformTarget = (PlatformTarget)Enum.Parse(typeof(PlatformTarget), arch),
-        });
+        RunMSBuildWithPlatformTarget ("native-builds/libHarfBuzzSharp_uwp/libHarfBuzzSharp.sln", arch);
 
         // copy libHarfBuzzSharp to output
         if (!DirectoryExists ("native-builds/lib/uwp/" + dir)) CreateDirectory ("native-builds/lib/uwp/" + dir);
diff --git a/cake/Utils.cake b/cake/Utils.cake
index fdf61a27..f6d34d61 100644
--- a/cake/Utils.cake
+++ b/cake/Utils.cake
@@ -97,4 +97,18 @@ FilePath GetSNToolPath (string possible)
         }
     }
     return possible;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
+
+FilePath GetMSBuildToolPath (string possible)
+{
+    if (string.IsNullOrEmpty (possible)) {
+        if (IsRunningOnLinux ()) {
+            possible = "/usr/bin/msbuild";
+        } else if (IsRunningOnMac ()) {
+            possible = "/Library/Frameworks/Mono.framework/Versions/Current/Commands/msbuild";
+        } else if (IsRunningOnWindows ()) {
+            possible = null; // use the default
+        }
+    }
+    return possible;
+}
diff --git a/cake/UtilsManaged.cake b/cake/UtilsManaged.cake
index 529ed3dc..450f7e4b 100644
--- a/cake/UtilsManaged.cake
+++ b/cake/UtilsManaged.cake
@@ -37,6 +37,31 @@ var RunDotNetCoreRestore = new Action<string> ((solution) =>
     });
 });
 
+var RunMSBuildWithPlatform = new Action<FilePath, string> ((solution, platform) =>
+{
+    MSBuild (solution, c => { 
+        c.Configuration = "Release"; 
+        c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
+        c.Properties ["Platform"] = new [] { platform };
+        c.ToolPath = MSBuildToolPath;
+    });
+});
+
+var RunMSBuildWithPlatformTarget = new Action<FilePath, string> ((solution, platformTarget) =>
+{
+    MSBuild (solution, c => { 
+        c.Configuration = "Release"; 
+        c.Verbosity = VERBOSITY;
+        c.PlatformTarget = (PlatformTarget)Enum.Parse(typeof(PlatformTarget), platformTarget);
+        c.ToolPath = MSBuildToolPath;
+    });
+});
+
+var RunMSBuild = new Action<FilePath> ((solution) =>
+{
+    RunMSBuildWithPlatform (solution, "\"Any CPU\"");
+});
+
 var PackageNuGet = new Action<FilePath, DirectoryPath> ((nuspecPath, outputPath) =>
 {
     if (!DirectoryExists (outputPath)) {