diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/check.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/check.rs
index b4232409ba83d..f6653ed899bfc 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/check.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/check.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ use crate::core::builder::{
 };
 use crate::core::config::TargetSelection;
 use crate::utils::build_stamp::{self, BuildStamp};
-use crate::{Compiler, Mode, Subcommand};
+use crate::{CodegenBackendKind, Compiler, Mode, Subcommand};
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
 pub struct Std {
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ fn prepare_compiler_for_check(
 pub struct CodegenBackend {
     pub build_compiler: Compiler,
     pub target: TargetSelection,
-    pub backend: &'static str,
+    pub backend: CodegenBackendKind,
 }
 
 impl Step for CodegenBackend {
@@ -327,14 +327,14 @@ impl Step for CodegenBackend {
     fn make_run(run: RunConfig<'_>) {
         // FIXME: only check the backend(s) that were actually selected in run.paths
         let build_compiler = prepare_compiler_for_check(run.builder, run.target, Mode::Codegen);
-        for &backend in &["cranelift", "gcc"] {
+        for backend in [CodegenBackendKind::Cranelift, CodegenBackendKind::Gcc] {
             run.builder.ensure(CodegenBackend { build_compiler, target: run.target, backend });
         }
     }
 
     fn run(self, builder: &Builder<'_>) {
         // FIXME: remove once https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/issues/112393 is resolved
-        if builder.build.config.vendor && self.backend == "gcc" {
+        if builder.build.config.vendor && self.backend.is_gcc() {
             println!("Skipping checking of `rustc_codegen_gcc` with vendoring enabled.");
             return;
         }
@@ -354,19 +354,22 @@ impl Step for CodegenBackend {
 
         cargo
             .arg("--manifest-path")
-            .arg(builder.src.join(format!("compiler/rustc_codegen_{backend}/Cargo.toml")));
+            .arg(builder.src.join(format!("compiler/{}/Cargo.toml", backend.crate_name())));
         rustc_cargo_env(builder, &mut cargo, target);
 
-        let _guard = builder.msg_check(format!("rustc_codegen_{backend}"), target, None);
+        let _guard = builder.msg_check(backend.crate_name(), target, None);
 
-        let stamp = build_stamp::codegen_backend_stamp(builder, build_compiler, target, backend)
+        let stamp = build_stamp::codegen_backend_stamp(builder, build_compiler, target, &backend)
             .with_prefix("check");
 
         run_cargo(builder, cargo, builder.config.free_args.clone(), &stamp, vec![], true, false);
     }
 
     fn metadata(&self) -> Option<StepMetadata> {
-        Some(StepMetadata::check(self.backend, self.target).built_by(self.build_compiler))
+        Some(
+            StepMetadata::check(&self.backend.crate_name(), self.target)
+                .built_by(self.build_compiler),
+        )
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/compile.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/compile.rs
index 4abfe1843ebeb..59541bf12def0 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/compile.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/compile.rs
@@ -33,7 +33,10 @@ use crate::utils::exec::command;
 use crate::utils::helpers::{
     exe, get_clang_cl_resource_dir, is_debug_info, is_dylib, symlink_dir, t, up_to_date,
 };
-use crate::{CLang, Compiler, DependencyType, FileType, GitRepo, LLVM_TOOLS, Mode, debug, trace};
+use crate::{
+    CLang, CodegenBackendKind, Compiler, DependencyType, FileType, GitRepo, LLVM_TOOLS, Mode,
+    debug, trace,
+};
 
 /// Build a standard library for the given `target` using the given `compiler`.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash)]
@@ -1330,7 +1333,7 @@ pub fn rustc_cargo_env(builder: &Builder<'_>, cargo: &mut Cargo, target: TargetS
     }
 
     if let Some(backend) = builder.config.default_codegen_backend(target) {
-        cargo.env("CFG_DEFAULT_CODEGEN_BACKEND", backend);
+        cargo.env("CFG_DEFAULT_CODEGEN_BACKEND", backend.name());
     }
 
     let libdir_relative = builder.config.libdir_relative().unwrap_or_else(|| Path::new("lib"));
@@ -1543,7 +1546,7 @@ impl Step for RustcLink {
 pub struct CodegenBackend {
     pub target: TargetSelection,
     pub compiler: Compiler,
-    pub backend: String,
+    pub backend: CodegenBackendKind,
 }
 
 fn needs_codegen_config(run: &RunConfig<'_>) -> bool {
@@ -1568,7 +1571,7 @@ fn is_codegen_cfg_needed(path: &TaskPath, run: &RunConfig<'_>) -> bool {
     if path.contains(CODEGEN_BACKEND_PREFIX) {
         let mut needs_codegen_backend_config = true;
         for backend in run.builder.config.codegen_backends(run.target) {
-            if path.ends_with(&(CODEGEN_BACKEND_PREFIX.to_owned() + backend)) {
+            if path.ends_with(&(CODEGEN_BACKEND_PREFIX.to_owned() + backend.name())) {
                 needs_codegen_backend_config = false;
             }
         }
@@ -1602,7 +1605,7 @@ impl Step for CodegenBackend {
         }
 
         for backend in run.builder.config.codegen_backends(run.target) {
-            if backend == "llvm" {
+            if backend.is_llvm() {
                 continue; // Already built as part of rustc
             }
 
@@ -1663,20 +1666,21 @@ impl Step for CodegenBackend {
         );
         cargo
             .arg("--manifest-path")
-            .arg(builder.src.join(format!("compiler/rustc_codegen_{backend}/Cargo.toml")));
+            .arg(builder.src.join(format!("compiler/{}/Cargo.toml", backend.crate_name())));
         rustc_cargo_env(builder, &mut cargo, target);
 
         // Ideally, we'd have a separate step for the individual codegen backends,
         // like we have in tests (test::CodegenGCC) but that would require a lot of restructuring.
         // If the logic gets more complicated, it should probably be done.
-        if backend == "gcc" {
+        if backend.is_gcc() {
             let gcc = builder.ensure(Gcc { target });
             add_cg_gcc_cargo_flags(&mut cargo, &gcc);
         }
 
         let tmp_stamp = BuildStamp::new(&out_dir).with_prefix("tmp");
 
-        let _guard = builder.msg_build(compiler, format_args!("codegen backend {backend}"), target);
+        let _guard =
+            builder.msg_build(compiler, format_args!("codegen backend {}", backend.name()), target);
         let files = run_cargo(builder, cargo, vec![], &tmp_stamp, vec![], false, false);
         if builder.config.dry_run() {
             return;
@@ -1731,7 +1735,7 @@ fn copy_codegen_backends_to_sysroot(
     }
 
     for backend in builder.config.codegen_backends(target) {
-        if backend == "llvm" {
+        if backend.is_llvm() {
             continue; // Already built as part of rustc
         }
 
@@ -2161,7 +2165,7 @@ impl Step for Assemble {
         let _codegen_backend_span =
             span!(tracing::Level::DEBUG, "building requested codegen backends").entered();
         for backend in builder.config.codegen_backends(target_compiler.host) {
-            if backend == "llvm" {
+            if backend.is_llvm() {
                 debug!("llvm codegen backend is already built as part of rustc");
                 continue; // Already built as part of rustc
             }
diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/dist.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/dist.rs
index c8a54ad250cb3..4699813abf42a 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/dist.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/dist.rs
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ use crate::utils::helpers::{
     exe, is_dylib, move_file, t, target_supports_cranelift_backend, timeit,
 };
 use crate::utils::tarball::{GeneratedTarball, OverlayKind, Tarball};
-use crate::{Compiler, DependencyType, FileType, LLVM_TOOLS, Mode, trace};
+use crate::{CodegenBackendKind, Compiler, DependencyType, FileType, LLVM_TOOLS, Mode, trace};
 
 pub fn pkgname(builder: &Builder<'_>, component: &str) -> String {
     format!("{}-{}", component, builder.rust_package_vers())
@@ -1372,10 +1372,10 @@ impl Step for Miri {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, PartialOrd, Ord, Clone, Hash, PartialEq, Eq)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Hash, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub struct CodegenBackend {
     pub compiler: Compiler,
-    pub backend: String,
+    pub backend: CodegenBackendKind,
 }
 
 impl Step for CodegenBackend {
@@ -1389,7 +1389,7 @@ impl Step for CodegenBackend {
 
     fn make_run(run: RunConfig<'_>) {
         for backend in run.builder.config.codegen_backends(run.target) {
-            if backend == "llvm" {
+            if backend.is_llvm() {
                 continue; // Already built as part of rustc
             }
 
@@ -1412,12 +1412,11 @@ impl Step for CodegenBackend {
             return None;
         }
 
-        if !builder.config.codegen_backends(self.compiler.host).contains(&self.backend.to_string())
-        {
+        if !builder.config.codegen_backends(self.compiler.host).contains(&self.backend) {
             return None;
         }
 
-        if self.backend == "cranelift" && !target_supports_cranelift_backend(self.compiler.host) {
+        if self.backend.is_cranelift() && !target_supports_cranelift_backend(self.compiler.host) {
             builder.info("target not supported by rustc_codegen_cranelift. skipping");
             return None;
         }
@@ -1425,15 +1424,18 @@ impl Step for CodegenBackend {
         let compiler = self.compiler;
         let backend = self.backend;
 
-        let mut tarball =
-            Tarball::new(builder, &format!("rustc-codegen-{backend}"), &compiler.host.triple);
-        if backend == "cranelift" {
+        let mut tarball = Tarball::new(
+            builder,
+            &format!("rustc-codegen-{}", backend.name()),
+            &compiler.host.triple,
+        );
+        if backend.is_cranelift() {
             tarball.set_overlay(OverlayKind::RustcCodegenCranelift);
         } else {
-            panic!("Unknown backend rustc_codegen_{backend}");
+            panic!("Unknown codegen backend {}", backend.name());
         }
         tarball.is_preview(true);
-        tarball.add_legal_and_readme_to(format!("share/doc/rustc_codegen_{backend}"));
+        tarball.add_legal_and_readme_to(format!("share/doc/{}", backend.crate_name()));
 
         let src = builder.sysroot(compiler);
         let backends_src = builder.sysroot_codegen_backends(compiler);
@@ -1445,7 +1447,7 @@ impl Step for CodegenBackend {
         // Don't use custom libdir here because ^lib/ will be resolved again with installer
         let backends_dst = PathBuf::from("lib").join(backends_rel);
 
-        let backend_name = format!("rustc_codegen_{backend}");
+        let backend_name = backend.crate_name();
         let mut found_backend = false;
         for backend in fs::read_dir(&backends_src).unwrap() {
             let file_name = backend.unwrap().file_name();
@@ -1575,7 +1577,7 @@ impl Step for Extended {
         add_component!("analysis" => Analysis { compiler, target });
         add_component!("rustc-codegen-cranelift" => CodegenBackend {
             compiler: builder.compiler(stage, target),
-            backend: "cranelift".to_string(),
+            backend: CodegenBackendKind::Cranelift,
         });
         add_component!("llvm-bitcode-linker" => LlvmBitcodeLinker {
             build_compiler: compiler,
diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/install.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/install.rs
index 4156b49a8b337..4513a138e192a 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/install.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/install.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use crate::core::config::{Config, TargetSelection};
 use crate::utils::exec::command;
 use crate::utils::helpers::t;
 use crate::utils::tarball::GeneratedTarball;
-use crate::{Compiler, Kind};
+use crate::{CodegenBackendKind, Compiler, Kind};
 
 #[cfg(target_os = "illumos")]
 const SHELL: &str = "bash";
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ install!((self, builder, _config),
     RustcCodegenCranelift, alias = "rustc-codegen-cranelift", Self::should_build(_config), only_hosts: true, {
         if let Some(tarball) = builder.ensure(dist::CodegenBackend {
             compiler: self.compiler,
-            backend: "cranelift".to_string(),
+            backend: CodegenBackendKind::Cranelift,
         }) {
             install_sh(builder, "rustc-codegen-cranelift", self.compiler.stage, Some(self.target), &tarball);
         } else {
diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/test.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/test.rs
index 951ca73fcc494..119fa4237bcfe 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/test.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/test.rs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ use crate::utils::helpers::{
     linker_flags, t, target_supports_cranelift_backend, up_to_date,
 };
 use crate::utils::render_tests::{add_flags_and_try_run_tests, try_run_tests};
-use crate::{CLang, DocTests, GitRepo, Mode, PathSet, debug, envify};
+use crate::{CLang, CodegenBackendKind, DocTests, GitRepo, Mode, PathSet, debug, envify};
 
 const ADB_TEST_DIR: &str = "/data/local/tmp/work";
 
@@ -1786,7 +1786,9 @@ NOTE: if you're sure you want to do this, please open an issue as to why. In the
         cmd.arg("--llvm-filecheck").arg(builder.llvm_filecheck(builder.config.host_target));
 
         if let Some(codegen_backend) = builder.config.default_codegen_backend(compiler.host) {
-            cmd.arg("--codegen-backend").arg(&codegen_backend);
+            // Tells compiletest which codegen backend is used by default by the compiler.
+            // It is used to e.g. ignore tests that don't support that codegen backend.
+            cmd.arg("--codegen-backend").arg(codegen_backend.name());
         }
 
         if builder.build.config.llvm_enzyme {
@@ -3406,7 +3408,7 @@ impl Step for CodegenCranelift {
             return;
         }
 
-        if !builder.config.codegen_backends(run.target).contains(&"cranelift".to_owned()) {
+        if !builder.config.codegen_backends(run.target).contains(&CodegenBackendKind::Cranelift) {
             builder.info("cranelift not in rust.codegen-backends. skipping");
             return;
         }
@@ -3533,7 +3535,7 @@ impl Step for CodegenGCC {
             return;
         }
 
-        if !builder.config.codegen_backends(run.target).contains(&"gcc".to_owned()) {
+        if !builder.config.codegen_backends(run.target).contains(&CodegenBackendKind::Gcc) {
             builder.info("gcc not in rust.codegen-backends. skipping");
             return;
         }
diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/core/builder/cargo.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/core/builder/cargo.rs
index badd5f24dba7e..6b3236ef47ef6 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/core/builder/cargo.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/core/builder/cargo.rs
@@ -1286,7 +1286,7 @@ impl Builder<'_> {
 
             if let Some(limit) = limit
                 && (build_compiler_stage == 0
-                    || self.config.default_codegen_backend(target).unwrap_or_default() == "llvm")
+                    || self.config.default_codegen_backend(target).unwrap_or_default().is_llvm())
             {
                 rustflags.arg(&format!("-Cllvm-args=-import-instr-limit={limit}"));
             }
diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/core/builder/mod.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/core/builder/mod.rs
index 020622d1c1219..96289a63785e2 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/core/builder/mod.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/core/builder/mod.rs
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ pub trait Step: 'static + Clone + Debug + PartialEq + Eq + Hash {
 #[allow(unused)]
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub struct StepMetadata {
-    name: &'static str,
+    name: String,
     kind: Kind,
     target: TargetSelection,
     built_by: Option<Compiler>,
@@ -151,28 +151,28 @@ pub struct StepMetadata {
 }
 
 impl StepMetadata {
-    pub fn build(name: &'static str, target: TargetSelection) -> Self {
+    pub fn build(name: &str, target: TargetSelection) -> Self {
         Self::new(name, target, Kind::Build)
     }
 
-    pub fn check(name: &'static str, target: TargetSelection) -> Self {
+    pub fn check(name: &str, target: TargetSelection) -> Self {
         Self::new(name, target, Kind::Check)
     }
 
-    pub fn doc(name: &'static str, target: TargetSelection) -> Self {
+    pub fn doc(name: &str, target: TargetSelection) -> Self {
         Self::new(name, target, Kind::Doc)
     }
 
-    pub fn dist(name: &'static str, target: TargetSelection) -> Self {
+    pub fn dist(name: &str, target: TargetSelection) -> Self {
         Self::new(name, target, Kind::Dist)
     }
 
-    pub fn test(name: &'static str, target: TargetSelection) -> Self {
+    pub fn test(name: &str, target: TargetSelection) -> Self {
         Self::new(name, target, Kind::Test)
     }
 
-    fn new(name: &'static str, target: TargetSelection, kind: Kind) -> Self {
-        Self { name, kind, target, built_by: None, stage: None, metadata: None }
+    fn new(name: &str, target: TargetSelection, kind: Kind) -> Self {
+        Self { name: name.to_string(), kind, target, built_by: None, stage: None, metadata: None }
     }
 
     pub fn built_by(mut self, compiler: Compiler) -> Self {
diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/core/builder/tests.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/core/builder/tests.rs
index 6ea5d4e655328..7192c9f9a175e 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/core/builder/tests.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/core/builder/tests.rs
@@ -1309,8 +1309,8 @@ mod snapshot {
                 .path("compiler")
                 .render_steps(), @r"
         [check] rustc 0 <host> -> rustc 1 <host>
-        [check] rustc 0 <host> -> cranelift 1 <host>
-        [check] rustc 0 <host> -> gcc 1 <host>
+        [check] rustc 0 <host> -> rustc_codegen_cranelift 1 <host>
+        [check] rustc 0 <host> -> rustc_codegen_gcc 1 <host>
         ");
     }
 
@@ -1341,8 +1341,8 @@ mod snapshot {
                 .stage(1)
                 .render_steps(), @r"
         [check] rustc 0 <host> -> rustc 1 <host>
-        [check] rustc 0 <host> -> cranelift 1 <host>
-        [check] rustc 0 <host> -> gcc 1 <host>
+        [check] rustc 0 <host> -> rustc_codegen_cranelift 1 <host>
+        [check] rustc 0 <host> -> rustc_codegen_gcc 1 <host>
         ");
     }
 
@@ -1358,8 +1358,8 @@ mod snapshot {
         [build] rustc 0 <host> -> rustc 1 <host>
         [build] rustc 1 <host> -> std 1 <host>
         [check] rustc 1 <host> -> rustc 2 <host>
-        [check] rustc 1 <host> -> cranelift 2 <host>
-        [check] rustc 1 <host> -> gcc 2 <host>
+        [check] rustc 1 <host> -> rustc_codegen_cranelift 2 <host>
+        [check] rustc 1 <host> -> rustc_codegen_gcc 2 <host>
         ");
     }
 
@@ -1377,8 +1377,8 @@ mod snapshot {
         [build] rustc 1 <host> -> std 1 <target1>
         [check] rustc 1 <host> -> rustc 2 <target1>
         [check] rustc 1 <host> -> Rustdoc 2 <target1>
-        [check] rustc 1 <host> -> cranelift 2 <target1>
-        [check] rustc 1 <host> -> gcc 2 <target1>
+        [check] rustc 1 <host> -> rustc_codegen_cranelift 2 <target1>
+        [check] rustc 1 <host> -> rustc_codegen_gcc 2 <target1>
         [check] rustc 1 <host> -> Clippy 2 <target1>
         [check] rustc 1 <host> -> Miri 2 <target1>
         [check] rustc 1 <host> -> CargoMiri 2 <target1>
@@ -1472,8 +1472,8 @@ mod snapshot {
                 .args(&args)
                 .render_steps(), @r"
         [check] rustc 0 <host> -> rustc 1 <host>
-        [check] rustc 0 <host> -> cranelift 1 <host>
-        [check] rustc 0 <host> -> gcc 1 <host>
+        [check] rustc 0 <host> -> rustc_codegen_cranelift 1 <host>
+        [check] rustc 0 <host> -> rustc_codegen_gcc 1 <host>
         ");
     }
 
@@ -1557,8 +1557,8 @@ mod snapshot {
                 .path("rustc_codegen_cranelift")
                 .render_steps(), @r"
         [check] rustc 0 <host> -> rustc 1 <host>
-        [check] rustc 0 <host> -> cranelift 1 <host>
-        [check] rustc 0 <host> -> gcc 1 <host>
+        [check] rustc 0 <host> -> rustc_codegen_cranelift 1 <host>
+        [check] rustc 0 <host> -> rustc_codegen_gcc 1 <host>
         ");
     }
 
diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/core/config/config.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/core/config/config.rs
index 78abdd7f9b8ce..6055876c47579 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/core/config/config.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/core/config/config.rs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ use crate::core::download::{
 use crate::utils::channel;
 use crate::utils::exec::{ExecutionContext, command};
 use crate::utils::helpers::{exe, get_host_target};
-use crate::{GitInfo, OnceLock, TargetSelection, check_ci_llvm, helpers, t};
+use crate::{CodegenBackendKind, GitInfo, OnceLock, TargetSelection, check_ci_llvm, helpers, t};
 
 /// Each path in this list is considered "allowed" in the `download-rustc="if-unchanged"` logic.
 /// This means they can be modified and changes to these paths should never trigger a compiler build
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub rustc_default_linker: Option<String>,
     pub rust_optimize_tests: bool,
     pub rust_dist_src: bool,
-    pub rust_codegen_backends: Vec<String>,
+    pub rust_codegen_backends: Vec<CodegenBackendKind>,
     pub rust_verify_llvm_ir: bool,
     pub rust_thin_lto_import_instr_limit: Option<u32>,
     pub rust_randomize_layout: bool,
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ impl Config {
             channel: "dev".to_string(),
             codegen_tests: true,
             rust_dist_src: true,
-            rust_codegen_backends: vec!["llvm".to_owned()],
+            rust_codegen_backends: vec![CodegenBackendKind::Llvm],
             deny_warnings: true,
             bindir: "bin".into(),
             dist_include_mingw_linker: true,
@@ -1747,7 +1747,7 @@ impl Config {
             .unwrap_or(self.profiler)
     }
 
-    pub fn codegen_backends(&self, target: TargetSelection) -> &[String] {
+    pub fn codegen_backends(&self, target: TargetSelection) -> &[CodegenBackendKind] {
         self.target_config
             .get(&target)
             .and_then(|cfg| cfg.codegen_backends.as_deref())
@@ -1758,7 +1758,7 @@ impl Config {
         self.target_config.get(&target).and_then(|cfg| cfg.jemalloc).unwrap_or(self.jemalloc)
     }
 
-    pub fn default_codegen_backend(&self, target: TargetSelection) -> Option<String> {
+    pub fn default_codegen_backend(&self, target: TargetSelection) -> Option<CodegenBackendKind> {
         self.codegen_backends(target).first().cloned()
     }
 
@@ -1774,7 +1774,7 @@ impl Config {
     }
 
     pub fn llvm_enabled(&self, target: TargetSelection) -> bool {
-        self.codegen_backends(target).contains(&"llvm".to_owned())
+        self.codegen_backends(target).contains(&CodegenBackendKind::Llvm)
     }
 
     pub fn llvm_libunwind(&self, target: TargetSelection) -> LlvmLibunwind {
diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/core/config/toml/rust.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/core/config/toml/rust.rs
index c136bd4a6f9bd..03da993a17dd2 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/core/config/toml/rust.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/core/config/toml/rust.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ use crate::core::config::{
     DebuginfoLevel, Merge, ReplaceOpt, RustcLto, StringOrBool, set, threads_from_config,
 };
 use crate::flags::Warnings;
-use crate::{BTreeSet, Config, HashSet, PathBuf, TargetSelection, define_config, exit};
+use crate::{
+    BTreeSet, CodegenBackendKind, Config, HashSet, PathBuf, TargetSelection, define_config, exit,
+};
 
 define_config! {
     /// TOML representation of how the Rust build is configured.
@@ -389,9 +391,13 @@ pub fn check_incompatible_options_for_ci_rustc(
     Ok(())
 }
 
-pub(crate) const VALID_CODEGEN_BACKENDS: &[&str] = &["llvm", "cranelift", "gcc"];
+pub(crate) const BUILTIN_CODEGEN_BACKENDS: &[&str] = &["llvm", "cranelift", "gcc"];
 
-pub(crate) fn validate_codegen_backends(backends: Vec<String>, section: &str) -> Vec<String> {
+pub(crate) fn parse_codegen_backends(
+    backends: Vec<String>,
+    section: &str,
+) -> Vec<CodegenBackendKind> {
+    let mut found_backends = vec![];
     for backend in &backends {
         if let Some(stripped) = backend.strip_prefix(CODEGEN_BACKEND_PREFIX) {
             panic!(
@@ -400,14 +406,21 @@ pub(crate) fn validate_codegen_backends(backends: Vec<String>, section: &str) ->
                 Please, use '{stripped}' instead."
             )
         }
-        if !VALID_CODEGEN_BACKENDS.contains(&backend.as_str()) {
+        if !BUILTIN_CODEGEN_BACKENDS.contains(&backend.as_str()) {
             println!(
                 "HELP: '{backend}' for '{section}.codegen-backends' might fail. \
-                List of known good values: {VALID_CODEGEN_BACKENDS:?}"
+                List of known codegen backends: {BUILTIN_CODEGEN_BACKENDS:?}"
             );
         }
+        let backend = match backend.as_str() {
+            "llvm" => CodegenBackendKind::Llvm,
+            "cranelift" => CodegenBackendKind::Cranelift,
+            "gcc" => CodegenBackendKind::Gcc,
+            backend => CodegenBackendKind::Custom(backend.to_string()),
+        };
+        found_backends.push(backend);
     }
-    backends
+    found_backends
 }
 
 #[cfg(not(test))]
@@ -609,7 +622,7 @@ impl Config {
                 llvm_libunwind.map(|v| v.parse().expect("failed to parse rust.llvm-libunwind"));
             set(
                 &mut self.rust_codegen_backends,
-                codegen_backends.map(|backends| validate_codegen_backends(backends, "rust")),
+                codegen_backends.map(|backends| parse_codegen_backends(backends, "rust")),
             );
 
             self.rust_codegen_units = codegen_units.map(threads_from_config);
diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/core/config/toml/target.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/core/config/toml/target.rs
index 337276948b324..9dedadff3a19d 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/core/config/toml/target.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/core/config/toml/target.rs
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 
 use serde::{Deserialize, Deserializer};
 
-use crate::core::config::toml::rust::validate_codegen_backends;
+use crate::core::config::toml::rust::parse_codegen_backends;
 use crate::core::config::{LlvmLibunwind, Merge, ReplaceOpt, SplitDebuginfo, StringOrBool};
-use crate::{Config, HashSet, PathBuf, TargetSelection, define_config, exit};
+use crate::{CodegenBackendKind, Config, HashSet, PathBuf, TargetSelection, define_config, exit};
 
 define_config! {
     /// TOML representation of how each build target is configured.
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ pub struct Target {
     pub qemu_rootfs: Option<PathBuf>,
     pub runner: Option<String>,
     pub no_std: bool,
-    pub codegen_backends: Option<Vec<String>>,
+    pub codegen_backends: Option<Vec<CodegenBackendKind>>,
     pub optimized_compiler_builtins: Option<bool>,
     pub jemalloc: Option<bool>,
 }
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ impl Config {
                 target.jemalloc = cfg.jemalloc;
                 if let Some(backends) = cfg.codegen_backends {
                     target.codegen_backends =
-                        Some(validate_codegen_backends(backends, &format!("target.{triple}")))
+                        Some(parse_codegen_backends(backends, &format!("target.{triple}")))
                 }
 
                 target.split_debuginfo = cfg.split_debuginfo.as_ref().map(|v| {
diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/lib.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/lib.rs
index 51a84ad5272c9..011b52df97bbd 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/lib.rs
@@ -123,6 +123,46 @@ impl PartialEq for Compiler {
     }
 }
 
+/// Represents a codegen backend.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash, Default)]
+pub enum CodegenBackendKind {
+    #[default]
+    Llvm,
+    Cranelift,
+    Gcc,
+    Custom(String),
+}
+
+impl CodegenBackendKind {
+    /// Name of the codegen backend, as identified in the `compiler` directory
+    /// (`rustc_codegen_<name>`).
+    pub fn name(&self) -> &str {
+        match self {
+            CodegenBackendKind::Llvm => "llvm",
+            CodegenBackendKind::Cranelift => "cranelift",
+            CodegenBackendKind::Gcc => "gcc",
+            CodegenBackendKind::Custom(name) => name,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Name of the codegen backend's crate, e.g. `rustc_codegen_cranelift`.
+    pub fn crate_name(&self) -> String {
+        format!("rustc_codegen_{}", self.name())
+    }
+
+    pub fn is_llvm(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(self, Self::Llvm)
+    }
+
+    pub fn is_cranelift(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(self, Self::Cranelift)
+    }
+
+    pub fn is_gcc(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(self, Self::Gcc)
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Copy, Clone, Debug)]
 pub enum DocTests {
     /// Run normal tests and doc tests (default).
diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/utils/build_stamp.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/utils/build_stamp.rs
index f43d860893f6b..bd4eb790ae50e 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/utils/build_stamp.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/utils/build_stamp.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use sha2::digest::Digest;
 use crate::core::builder::Builder;
 use crate::core::config::TargetSelection;
 use crate::utils::helpers::{hex_encode, mtime};
-use crate::{Compiler, Mode, helpers, t};
+use crate::{CodegenBackendKind, Compiler, Mode, helpers, t};
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests;
@@ -129,10 +129,10 @@ pub fn codegen_backend_stamp(
     builder: &Builder<'_>,
     compiler: Compiler,
     target: TargetSelection,
-    backend: &str,
+    backend: &CodegenBackendKind,
 ) -> BuildStamp {
     BuildStamp::new(&builder.cargo_out(compiler, Mode::Codegen, target))
-        .with_prefix(&format!("librustc_codegen_{backend}"))
+        .with_prefix(&format!("lib{}", backend.crate_name()))
 }
 
 /// Cargo's output path for the standard library in a given stage, compiled