diff --git a/src/librustc/session/mod.rs b/src/librustc/session/mod.rs
index a3aa7594c6c..23dcaf27c2c 100644
--- a/src/librustc/session/mod.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/session/mod.rs
@@ -430,6 +430,15 @@ impl Session {
     }
 
     pub fn crt_static(&self) -> bool {
+        // If the target does not opt in to crt-static support, use its default.
+        if self.target.target.options.crt_static_respected {
+            self.crt_static_feature()
+        } else {
+            self.target.target.options.crt_static_default
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn crt_static_feature(&self) -> bool {
         let requested_features = self.opts.cg.target_feature.split(',');
         let found_negative = requested_features.clone().any(|r| r == "-crt-static");
         let found_positive = requested_features.clone().any(|r| r == "+crt-static");
diff --git a/src/librustc_back/target/linux_musl_base.rs b/src/librustc_back/target/linux_musl_base.rs
index 236f2c1ef0a..e77a40e3a3a 100644
--- a/src/librustc_back/target/linux_musl_base.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_back/target/linux_musl_base.rs
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ pub fn opts() -> TargetOptions {
 
     // These targets statically link libc by default
     base.crt_static_default = true;
+    // These targets allow the user to choose between static and dynamic linking.
+    base.crt_static_respected = true;
 
     base
 }
diff --git a/src/librustc_back/target/mod.rs b/src/librustc_back/target/mod.rs
index 08b94d5a01c..0ff633ffe37 100644
--- a/src/librustc_back/target/mod.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_back/target/mod.rs
@@ -418,6 +418,8 @@ pub struct TargetOptions {
 
     /// Whether or not the CRT is statically linked by default.
     pub crt_static_default: bool,
+    /// Whether or not crt-static is respected by the compiler (or is a no-op).
+    pub crt_static_respected: bool,
 
     /// Whether or not stack probes (__rust_probestack) are enabled
     pub stack_probes: bool,
@@ -479,6 +481,7 @@ impl Default for TargetOptions {
             panic_strategy: PanicStrategy::Unwind,
             abi_blacklist: vec![],
             crt_static_default: false,
+            crt_static_respected: false,
             stack_probes: false,
         }
     }
@@ -715,6 +718,7 @@ impl Target {
         key!(min_atomic_width, Option<u64>);
         try!(key!(panic_strategy, PanicStrategy));
         key!(crt_static_default, bool);
+        key!(crt_static_respected, bool);
         key!(stack_probes, bool);
 
         if let Some(array) = obj.find("abi-blacklist").and_then(Json::as_array) {
@@ -903,6 +907,7 @@ impl ToJson for Target {
         target_option_val!(max_atomic_width);
         target_option_val!(panic_strategy);
         target_option_val!(crt_static_default);
+        target_option_val!(crt_static_respected);
         target_option_val!(stack_probes);
 
         if default.abi_blacklist != self.options.abi_blacklist {
diff --git a/src/librustc_back/target/windows_msvc_base.rs b/src/librustc_back/target/windows_msvc_base.rs
index c07321e418e..f44a9b44426 100644
--- a/src/librustc_back/target/windows_msvc_base.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_back/target/windows_msvc_base.rs
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ pub fn opts() -> TargetOptions {
         is_like_windows: true,
         is_like_msvc: true,
         pre_link_args: args,
+        crt_static_respected: true,
 
         .. Default::default()
     }
diff --git a/src/librustc_driver/target_features.rs b/src/librustc_driver/target_features.rs
index 4616db3ae87..96264472b5f 100644
--- a/src/librustc_driver/target_features.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_driver/target_features.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ pub fn add_configuration(cfg: &mut ast::CrateConfig, sess: &Session) {
         cfg.insert((tf, Some(feat)));
     }
 
-    if sess.crt_static() {
+    if sess.crt_static_feature() {
         cfg.insert((tf, Some(Symbol::intern("crt-static"))));
     }
 }