diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/core/sanity.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/core/sanity.rs
index b39d464493e56..15e04f591296c 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/core/sanity.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/core/sanity.rs
@@ -338,12 +338,6 @@ than building it.
 
         // Make sure musl-root is valid.
         if target.contains("musl") && !target.contains("unikraft") {
-            // If this is a native target (host is also musl) and no musl-root is given,
-            // fall back to the system toolchain in /usr before giving up
-            if build.musl_root(*target).is_none() && build.config.is_host_target(*target) {
-                let target = build.config.target_config.entry(*target).or_default();
-                target.musl_root = Some("/usr".into());
-            }
             match build.musl_libdir(*target) {
                 Some(libdir) => {
                     if fs::metadata(libdir.join("libc.a")).is_err() {
diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/lib.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/lib.rs
index 63aab4d116a93..51a84ad5272c9 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/lib.rs
@@ -1329,23 +1329,33 @@ impl Build {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Returns the "musl root" for this `target`, if defined
+    /// Returns the "musl root" for this `target`, if defined.
+    ///
+    /// If this is a native target (host is also musl) and no musl-root is given,
+    /// it falls back to the system toolchain in /usr.
     fn musl_root(&self, target: TargetSelection) -> Option<&Path> {
-        self.config
+        let configured_root = self
+            .config
             .target_config
             .get(&target)
             .and_then(|t| t.musl_root.as_ref())
             .or(self.config.musl_root.as_ref())
-            .map(|p| &**p)
+            .map(|p| &**p);
+
+        if self.config.is_host_target(target) && configured_root.is_none() {
+            Some(Path::new("/usr"))
+        } else {
+            configured_root
+        }
     }
 
     /// Returns the "musl libdir" for this `target`.
     fn musl_libdir(&self, target: TargetSelection) -> Option<PathBuf> {
-        let t = self.config.target_config.get(&target)?;
-        if let libdir @ Some(_) = &t.musl_libdir {
-            return libdir.clone();
-        }
-        self.musl_root(target).map(|root| root.join("lib"))
+        self.config
+            .target_config
+            .get(&target)
+            .and_then(|t| t.musl_libdir.clone())
+            .or_else(|| self.musl_root(target).map(|root| root.join("lib")))
     }
 
     /// Returns the `lib` directory for the WASI target specified, if