diff --git a/tests/testsuite/fix.rs b/tests/testsuite/fix.rs
index e21b7df0a76..225362ac10f 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/fix.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/fix.rs
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ fn specify_rustflags() {
 [FINISHED] [..]
 ";
     p.cargo("fix --edition --allow-no-vcs")
-        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C target-cpu=native")
+        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C linker=cc")
         .with_stderr(stderr)
         .with_stdout("")
         .run();
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/freshness.rs b/tests/testsuite/freshness.rs
index e87cc895e30..e103da47b77 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/freshness.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/freshness.rs
@@ -1153,7 +1153,7 @@ fn changing_rustflags_is_cached() {
 
     p.cargo("build").run();
     p.cargo("build")
-        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C target-cpu=native")
+        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C linker=cc")
         .with_stderr(
             "\
 [COMPILING] foo v0.0.1 ([..])
@@ -1165,7 +1165,7 @@ fn changing_rustflags_is_cached() {
         .with_stderr("[FINISHED] dev [unoptimized + debuginfo] target(s) in [..]")
         .run();
     p.cargo("build")
-        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C target-cpu=native")
+        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C linker=cc")
         .with_stderr("[FINISHED] dev [unoptimized + debuginfo] target(s) in [..]")
         .run();
 }
@@ -1191,7 +1191,7 @@ fn update_dependency_mtime_does_not_rebuild() {
 
     p.cargo("build -Z mtime-on-use")
         .masquerade_as_nightly_cargo()
-        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C target-cpu=native")
+        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C linker=cc")
         .with_stderr(
             "\
 [COMPILING] bar v0.0.1 ([..])
@@ -1202,13 +1202,13 @@ fn update_dependency_mtime_does_not_rebuild() {
     // This does not make new files, but it does update the mtime of the dependency.
     p.cargo("build -p bar -Z mtime-on-use")
         .masquerade_as_nightly_cargo()
-        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C target-cpu=native")
+        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C linker=cc")
         .with_stderr("[FINISHED] dev [unoptimized + debuginfo] target(s) in [..]")
         .run();
     // This should not recompile!
     p.cargo("build -Z mtime-on-use")
         .masquerade_as_nightly_cargo()
-        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C target-cpu=native")
+        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C linker=cc")
         .with_stderr("[FINISHED] dev [unoptimized + debuginfo] target(s) in [..]")
         .run();
 }
@@ -1269,7 +1269,7 @@ fn fingerprint_cleaner_does_not_rebuild() {
         .run();
     p.cargo("build -Z mtime-on-use")
         .masquerade_as_nightly_cargo()
-        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C target-cpu=native")
+        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C linker=cc")
         .with_stderr(
             "\
 [COMPILING] bar v0.0.1 ([..])
@@ -1287,14 +1287,14 @@ fn fingerprint_cleaner_does_not_rebuild() {
     // This does not make new files, but it does update the mtime.
     p.cargo("build -Z mtime-on-use")
         .masquerade_as_nightly_cargo()
-        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C target-cpu=native")
+        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C linker=cc")
         .with_stderr("[FINISHED] dev [unoptimized + debuginfo] target(s) in [..]")
         .run();
     fingerprint_cleaner(p.target_debug_dir(), timestamp);
     // This should not recompile!
     p.cargo("build -Z mtime-on-use")
         .masquerade_as_nightly_cargo()
-        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C target-cpu=native")
+        .env("RUSTFLAGS", "-C linker=cc")
         .with_stderr("[FINISHED] dev [unoptimized + debuginfo] target(s) in [..]")
         .run();
     // But this should be cleaned and so need a rebuild