diff --git a/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/aarch64_apple_darwin.rs b/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/aarch64_apple_darwin.rs
index 0f6bbc323174c..e72cab629ff19 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/aarch64_apple_darwin.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/aarch64_apple_darwin.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use super::apple_base::{macos_link_env_remove, macos_llvm_target, opts, Arch};
+use super::apple_base::{macos_llvm_target, opts, Arch};
 use crate::spec::{FramePointer, SanitizerSet, Target, TargetOptions};
 
 pub fn target() -> Target {
@@ -10,8 +10,6 @@ pub fn target() -> Target {
     // FIXME: The leak sanitizer currently fails the tests, see #88132.
     base.supported_sanitizers = SanitizerSet::ADDRESS | SanitizerSet::CFI | SanitizerSet::THREAD;
 
-    base.link_env_remove.to_mut().extend(macos_link_env_remove());
-
     Target {
         // Clang automatically chooses a more specific target based on
         // MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET.  To enable cross-language LTO to work
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/apple/tests.rs b/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/apple/tests.rs
index d062b36742d60..3c90a5e7e93ea 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/apple/tests.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/apple/tests.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use crate::spec::{
-    aarch64_apple_ios_sim, aarch64_apple_watchos_sim, x86_64_apple_ios, x86_64_apple_tvos,
-    x86_64_apple_watchos_sim,
+    aarch64_apple_darwin, aarch64_apple_ios_sim, aarch64_apple_watchos_sim, i686_apple_darwin,
+    x86_64_apple_darwin, x86_64_apple_ios, x86_64_apple_tvos, x86_64_apple_watchos_sim,
 };
 
 #[test]
@@ -18,3 +18,18 @@ fn simulator_targets_set_abi() {
         assert_eq!(target.abi, "sim")
     }
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn macos_link_environment_unmodified() {
+    let all_macos_targets = [
+        aarch64_apple_darwin::target(),
+        i686_apple_darwin::target(),
+        x86_64_apple_darwin::target(),
+    ];
+
+    for target in all_macos_targets {
+        // macOS targets should only remove information for cross-compiling, but never
+        // for the host.
+        assert_eq!(target.link_env_remove, crate::spec::cvs!["IPHONEOS_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET"]);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/apple_base.rs b/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/apple_base.rs
index 23c826cb1bda2..7f8160b5dec62 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/apple_base.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/apple_base.rs
@@ -72,16 +72,6 @@ impl Arch {
             Arm64_sim => "apple-a12",
         }
     }
-
-    fn link_env_remove(self) -> StaticCow<[StaticCow<str>]> {
-        match self {
-            Armv7 | Armv7k | Armv7s | Arm64 | Arm64_32 | I386 | I686 | X86_64 | X86_64_sim
-            | Arm64_sim => {
-                cvs!["MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET"]
-            }
-            X86_64_macabi | Arm64_macabi => cvs!["IPHONEOS_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET"],
-        }
-    }
 }
 
 fn pre_link_args(os: &'static str, arch: Arch, abi: &'static str) -> LinkArgs {
@@ -140,7 +130,7 @@ pub fn opts(os: &'static str, arch: Arch) -> TargetOptions {
         abi: abi.into(),
         os: os.into(),
         cpu: arch.target_cpu().into(),
-        link_env_remove: arch.link_env_remove(),
+        link_env_remove: link_env_remove(arch, os),
         vendor: "apple".into(),
         linker_flavor: LinkerFlavor::Darwin(Cc::Yes, Lld::No),
         // macOS has -dead_strip, which doesn't rely on function_sections
@@ -211,20 +201,38 @@ pub fn macos_llvm_target(arch: Arch) -> String {
     format!("{}-apple-macosx{}.{}.0", arch.target_name(), major, minor)
 }
 
-pub fn macos_link_env_remove() -> Vec<StaticCow<str>> {
-    let mut env_remove = Vec::with_capacity(2);
-    // Remove the `SDKROOT` environment variable if it's clearly set for the wrong platform, which
-    // may occur when we're linking a custom build script while targeting iOS for example.
-    if let Ok(sdkroot) = env::var("SDKROOT") {
-        if sdkroot.contains("iPhoneOS.platform") || sdkroot.contains("iPhoneSimulator.platform") {
-            env_remove.push("SDKROOT".into())
+fn link_env_remove(arch: Arch, os: &'static str) -> StaticCow<[StaticCow<str>]> {
+    // Apple platforms only officially support macOS as a host for any compilation.
+    //
+    // If building for macOS, we go ahead and remove any erronous environment state
+    // that's only applicable to cross-OS compilation. Always leave anything for the
+    // host OS alone though.
+    if os == "macos" {
+        let mut env_remove = Vec::with_capacity(2);
+        // Remove the `SDKROOT` environment variable if it's clearly set for the wrong platform, which
+        // may occur when we're linking a custom build script while targeting iOS for example.
+        if let Ok(sdkroot) = env::var("SDKROOT") {
+            if sdkroot.contains("iPhoneOS.platform") || sdkroot.contains("iPhoneSimulator.platform")
+            {
+                env_remove.push("SDKROOT".into())
+            }
+        }
+        // Additionally, `IPHONEOS_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET` must not be set when using the Xcode linker at
+        // "/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Toolchains/XcodeDefault.xctoolchain/usr/bin/ld",
+        // although this is apparently ignored when using the linker at "/usr/bin/ld".
+        env_remove.push("IPHONEOS_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET".into());
+        env_remove.into()
+    } else {
+        // Otherwise if cross-compiling for a different OS/SDK, remove any part
+        // of the linking environment that's wrong and reversed.
+        match arch {
+            Armv7 | Armv7k | Armv7s | Arm64 | Arm64_32 | I386 | I686 | X86_64 | X86_64_sim
+            | Arm64_sim => {
+                cvs!["MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET"]
+            }
+            X86_64_macabi | Arm64_macabi => cvs!["IPHONEOS_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET"],
         }
     }
-    // Additionally, `IPHONEOS_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET` must not be set when using the Xcode linker at
-    // "/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Toolchains/XcodeDefault.xctoolchain/usr/bin/ld",
-    // although this is apparently ignored when using the linker at "/usr/bin/ld".
-    env_remove.push("IPHONEOS_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET".into());
-    env_remove
 }
 
 fn ios_deployment_target() -> (u32, u32) {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/i686_apple_darwin.rs b/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/i686_apple_darwin.rs
index 8b968af5eccff..ad22467ba9c89 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/i686_apple_darwin.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/i686_apple_darwin.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use super::apple_base::{macos_link_env_remove, macos_llvm_target, opts, Arch};
+use super::apple_base::{macos_llvm_target, opts, Arch};
 use crate::spec::{Cc, FramePointer, LinkerFlavor, Lld, StackProbeType, Target, TargetOptions};
 
 pub fn target() -> Target {
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ pub fn target() -> Target {
     let mut base = opts("macos", arch);
     base.max_atomic_width = Some(64);
     base.add_pre_link_args(LinkerFlavor::Darwin(Cc::Yes, Lld::No), &["-m32"]);
-    base.link_env_remove.to_mut().extend(macos_link_env_remove());
     base.stack_probes = StackProbeType::X86;
     base.frame_pointer = FramePointer::Always;
 
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/x86_64_apple_darwin.rs b/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/x86_64_apple_darwin.rs
index c053031612ce5..9a3e7a8050025 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/x86_64_apple_darwin.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_target/src/spec/x86_64_apple_darwin.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use super::apple_base::{macos_link_env_remove, macos_llvm_target, opts, Arch};
+use super::apple_base::{macos_llvm_target, opts, Arch};
 use crate::spec::{Cc, FramePointer, LinkerFlavor, Lld, SanitizerSet};
 use crate::spec::{StackProbeType, Target, TargetOptions};
 
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ pub fn target() -> Target {
     base.max_atomic_width = Some(128); // core2 supports cmpxchg16b
     base.frame_pointer = FramePointer::Always;
     base.add_pre_link_args(LinkerFlavor::Darwin(Cc::Yes, Lld::No), &["-m64"]);
-    base.link_env_remove.to_mut().extend(macos_link_env_remove());
     base.stack_probes = StackProbeType::X86;
     base.supported_sanitizers =
         SanitizerSet::ADDRESS | SanitizerSet::CFI | SanitizerSet::LEAK | SanitizerSet::THREAD;
diff --git a/src/test/run-make/macos-deployment-target/Makefile b/src/test/run-make/macos-deployment-target/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..70fca04365378
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/run-make/macos-deployment-target/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# only-macos
+#
+# Check that a set deployment target actually makes it to the linker.
+# This is important since its a compatibility hazard. The linker will
+# generate load commands differently based on what minimum OS it can assume.
+
+include ../../run-make-fulldeps/tools.mk
+
+ifeq ($(strip $(shell uname -m)),arm64)
+	GREP_PATTERN = "minos 11.0"
+else
+ 	GREP_PATTERN = "version 10.9"
+endif
+
+OUT_FILE=$(TMPDIR)/with_deployment_target.dylib
+all:
+	env MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET=10.9 $(RUSTC) with_deployment_target.rs -o $(OUT_FILE)
+# XXX: The check is for either the x86_64 minimum OR the aarch64 minimum (M1 starts at macOS 11).
+# They also use different load commands, so we let that change with each too. The aarch64 check
+# isn't as robust as the x86 one, but testing both seems unneeded.
+	vtool -show-build $(OUT_FILE) | $(CGREP) -e $(GREP_PATTERN)
diff --git a/src/test/run-make/macos-deployment-target/with_deployment_target.rs b/src/test/run-make/macos-deployment-target/with_deployment_target.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..342fe0ecbcfcd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/run-make/macos-deployment-target/with_deployment_target.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+#![crate_type = "cdylib"]
+
+#[allow(dead_code)]
+fn something_and_nothing() {}