--- a/src/python/pants/init/plugin_resolver.py
+++ b/src/python/pants/init/plugin_resolver.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import os
 
 from pex import resolver
 from pex.base import requirement_is_exact
-from pex.package import EggPackage, SourcePackage
+from pex.package import EggPackage, SourcePackage, WheelPackage
 from pkg_resources import working_set as global_working_set
 from pkg_resources import Requirement
 
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class PluginResolver(object):
     # When bootstrapping plugins without the full pants python backend machinery in-play, we are not
     # guaranteed a properly initialized interpreter with wheel support so we enforce eggs only for
     # bdists with this custom precedence.
-    precedence = (EggPackage, SourcePackage)
+    precedence = (WheelPackage, EggPackage, SourcePackage)
     <http://logger.info|logger.info>('Resolving new plugins...:\n  {}'.format('\n  '.join(self._plugin_requirements)))
     return resolver.resolve(self._plugin_requirements,
                             fetchers=self._python_repos.get_fetchers(),