diff --git a/lib/cocoapods/installer/analyzer.rb b/lib/cocoapods/installer/analyzer.rb
index bf73f24477..1adf594e1c 100644
--- a/lib/cocoapods/installer/analyzer.rb
+++ b/lib/cocoapods/installer/analyzer.rb
@@ -438,6 +438,20 @@ def generate_targets(resolver_specs_by_target, target_inspections)
           end
           target.search_paths_aggregate_targets.concat(search_paths_aggregate_targets).freeze
         end
+
+        aggregate_targets.each do |aggregate_target|
+          is_app_extension = !(aggregate_target.user_targets.map(&:symbol_type) &
+              [:app_extension, :watch_extension, :watch2_extension, :tv_extension, :messages_extension]).empty?
+          is_app_extension ||= aggregate_target.user_targets.any? { |ut| ut.common_resolved_build_setting('APPLICATION_EXTENSION_API_ONLY') == 'YES' }
+
+          next unless is_app_extension 
+
+          aggregate_target.application_extension_api_only = true
+          aggregate_target.pod_targets.each do |pod_target|
+            pod_target.application_extension_api_only = true
+          end
+        end
+
         if installation_options.integrate_targets?
           # Copy embedded target pods that cannot have their pods embedded as frameworks to
           # their host targets, and ensure we properly link library pods to their host targets
diff --git a/lib/cocoapods/installer/xcode/pods_project_generator/aggregate_target_dependency_installer.rb b/lib/cocoapods/installer/xcode/pods_project_generator/aggregate_target_dependency_installer.rb
index 600e403974..7e26e9ee6b 100644
--- a/lib/cocoapods/installer/xcode/pods_project_generator/aggregate_target_dependency_installer.rb
+++ b/lib/cocoapods/installer/xcode/pods_project_generator/aggregate_target_dependency_installer.rb
@@ -41,10 +41,6 @@ def install!
             aggregate_target = aggregate_target_installation_result.target
             aggregate_native_target = aggregate_target_installation_result.native_target
             project = aggregate_native_target.project
-            is_app_extension = !(aggregate_target.user_targets.map(&:symbol_type) &
-                [:app_extension, :watch_extension, :watch2_extension, :tv_extension, :messages_extension]).empty?
-            is_app_extension ||= aggregate_target.user_targets.any? { |ut| ut.common_resolved_build_setting('APPLICATION_EXTENSION_API_ONLY') == 'YES' }
-            configure_app_extension_api_only_to_native_target(aggregate_native_target) if is_app_extension
             # Wire up dependencies that are part of inherit search paths for this aggregate target.
             aggregate_target.search_paths_aggregate_targets.each do |search_paths_target|
               aggregate_native_target.add_dependency(aggregate_target_installation_results[search_paths_target.name].native_target)
@@ -54,7 +50,6 @@ def install!
               if pod_target_installation_result = pod_target_installation_results[pod_target.name]
                 pod_target_native_target = pod_target_installation_result.native_target
                 aggregate_native_target.add_dependency(pod_target_native_target)
-                configure_app_extension_api_only_to_native_target(pod_target_native_target) if is_app_extension
               else
                 # Hit the cache
                 is_local = sandbox.local?(pod_target.pod_name)
@@ -65,17 +60,6 @@ def install!
             end
           end
         end
-
-        private
-
-        # Sets the APPLICATION_EXTENSION_API_ONLY build setting to YES for all
-        # configurations of the given native target.
-        #
-        def configure_app_extension_api_only_to_native_target(native_target)
-          native_target.build_configurations.each do |config|
-            config.build_settings['APPLICATION_EXTENSION_API_ONLY'] = 'YES'
-          end
-        end
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/lib/cocoapods/target.rb b/lib/cocoapods/target.rb
index 9273c70b59..ed565e2c98 100644
--- a/lib/cocoapods/target.rb
+++ b/lib/cocoapods/target.rb
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ class Target
     attr_reader :build_type
     private :build_type
 
+    # @return [Boolean] whether the target .
+    #
+    attr_accessor :application_extension_api_only
+
     # Initialize a new target
     #
     # @param [Sandbox] sandbox @see #sandbox
diff --git a/lib/cocoapods/target/build_settings.rb b/lib/cocoapods/target/build_settings.rb
index 8c151bd2d5..f9cb5c3174 100644
--- a/lib/cocoapods/target/build_settings.rb
+++ b/lib/cocoapods/target/build_settings.rb
@@ -856,6 +856,11 @@ def requires_objc_linker_flag?
           target.configuration_build_dir(CONFIGURATION_BUILD_DIR_VARIABLE)
         end
 
+        # @return [String]
+        define_build_settings_method :application_extension_api_only, :build_setting => true, :memoized => true do
+          target.application_extension_api_only.present? ? 'YES' : nil 
+        end
+
         #-------------------------------------------------------------------------#
 
         # @!group Target Properties