diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/4.5/default.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/4.5/default.nix
index 5bad03d3025..498d2f0f6c7 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/4.5/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/4.5/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, noSysDirs
+{ stdenv, targetPackages, fetchurl, noSysDirs
 , langC ? true, langCC ? true, langFortran ? false
 , langJava ? false
 , langAda ? false
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ let version = "4.5.4";
       withCpu +
       withAbi +
       # Ensure that -print-prog-name is able to find the correct programs.
-      " --with-as=${binutils}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-as" +
-      " --with-ld=${binutils}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-ld" +
+      " --with-as=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-as" +
+      " --with-ld=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-ld" +
       (if crossMingw && crossStageStatic then
         " --with-headers=${libcCross}/include" +
         " --with-gcc" +
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation ({
     ++ (optional langJava boehmgc)
     ++ (optionals langJava [zip unzip])
     ++ (optionals javaAwtGtk ([gtk2 pkgconfig libart_lgpl] ++ xlibs))
-    ++ (optionals (targetPlatform != hostPlatform) [binutils])
+    ++ (optionals (targetPlatform != hostPlatform) [targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools])
     ++ (optionals langAda [gnatboot])
     ++ (optionals langVhdl [gnat])
     ;
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/4.8/default.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/4.8/default.nix
index 72e37f18a17..a49ea7bd689 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/4.8/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/4.8/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, fetchpatch, noSysDirs
+{ stdenv, targetPackages, fetchurl, fetchpatch, noSysDirs
 , langC ? true, langCC ? true, langFortran ? false
 , langObjC ? targetPlatform.isDarwin
 , langObjCpp ? targetPlatform.isDarwin
@@ -149,8 +149,8 @@ let version = "4.8.5";
         withFloat +
         withMode +
         # Ensure that -print-prog-name is able to find the correct programs.
-        " --with-as=${binutils}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-as" +
-        " --with-ld=${binutils}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-ld" +
+        " --with-as=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-as" +
+        " --with-ld=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-ld" +
         (if crossMingw && crossStageStatic then
           " --with-headers=${libcCross}/include" +
           " --with-gcc" +
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation ({
     ++ (optional (zlib != null) zlib)
     ++ (optionals langJava [ boehmgc zip unzip ])
     ++ (optionals javaAwtGtk ([ gtk2 libart_lgpl ] ++ xlibs))
-    ++ (optionals (targetPlatform != hostPlatform) [binutils])
+    ++ (optionals (targetPlatform != hostPlatform) [targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools])
     ++ (optionals langAda [gnatboot])
     ++ (optionals langVhdl [gnat])
 
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/4.9/default.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/4.9/default.nix
index d7684a61a2a..ee0df2e9c54 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/4.9/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/4.9/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, noSysDirs
+{ stdenv, targetPackages, fetchurl, noSysDirs
 , langC ? true, langCC ? true, langFortran ? false
 , langObjC ? targetPlatform.isDarwin
 , langObjCpp ? targetPlatform.isDarwin
@@ -143,8 +143,8 @@ let version = "4.9.4";
         withFloat +
         withMode +
         # Ensure that -print-prog-name is able to find the correct programs.
-        " --with-as=${binutils}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-as" +
-        " --with-ld=${binutils}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-ld" +
+        " --with-as=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-as" +
+        " --with-ld=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-ld" +
         (if crossMingw && crossStageStatic then
           " --with-headers=${libcCross}/include" +
           " --with-gcc" +
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation ({
     ++ (optional (zlib != null) zlib)
     ++ (optionals langJava [ boehmgc zip unzip ])
     ++ (optionals javaAwtGtk ([ gtk2 libart_lgpl ] ++ xlibs))
-    ++ (optionals (targetPlatform != hostPlatform) [binutils])
+    ++ (optionals (targetPlatform != hostPlatform) [targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools])
     ++ (optionals langAda [gnatboot])
     ++ (optionals langVhdl [gnat])
 
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/5/default.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/5/default.nix
index 346ea928b76..345e2baf671 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/5/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/5/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, noSysDirs
+{ stdenv, targetPackages, fetchurl, noSysDirs
 , langC ? true, langCC ? true, langFortran ? false
 , langObjC ? targetPlatform.isDarwin
 , langObjCpp ? targetPlatform.isDarwin
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 , libpthread ? null, libpthreadCross ? null  # required for GNU/Hurd
 , stripped ? true
 , gnused ? null
-, binutils ? null
 , cloog # unused; just for compat with gcc4, as we override the parameter on some places
 , darwin ? null
 , buildPlatform, hostPlatform, targetPlatform
@@ -51,7 +50,7 @@ assert libelf != null -> zlib != null;
 assert hostPlatform.isDarwin -> gnused != null;
 
 # Need c++filt on darwin
-assert hostPlatform.isDarwin -> binutils != null;
+assert hostPlatform.isDarwin -> targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools or null != null;
 
 # The go frontend is written in c++
 assert langGo -> langCC;
@@ -149,8 +148,8 @@ let version = "5.5.0";
         withFloat +
         withMode +
         # Ensure that -print-prog-name is able to find the correct programs.
-        " --with-as=${binutils}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-as" +
-        " --with-ld=${binutils}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-ld" +
+        " --with-as=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-as" +
+        " --with-ld=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-ld" +
         (if crossMingw && crossStageStatic then
           " --with-headers=${libcCross}/include" +
           " --with-gcc" +
@@ -312,7 +311,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation ({
     ++ (optional (zlib != null) zlib)
     ++ (optionals langJava [ boehmgc zip unzip ])
     ++ (optionals javaAwtGtk ([ gtk2 libart_lgpl ] ++ xlibs))
-    ++ (optionals (targetPlatform != hostPlatform) [binutils])
+    ++ (optionals (targetPlatform != hostPlatform) [targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools])
     ++ (optionals (buildPlatform != hostPlatform) [buildPackages.stdenv.cc])
     ++ (optionals langAda [gnatboot])
     ++ (optionals langVhdl [gnat])
@@ -320,7 +319,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation ({
     # The builder relies on GNU sed (for instance, Darwin's `sed' fails with
     # "-i may not be used with stdin"), and `stdenvNative' doesn't provide it.
     ++ (optional hostPlatform.isDarwin gnused)
-    ++ (optional hostPlatform.isDarwin binutils)
+    ++ (optional hostPlatform.isDarwin targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools)
     ;
 
   NIX_LDFLAGS = stdenv.lib.optionalString  hostPlatform.isSunOS "-lm -ldl";
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/6/default.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/6/default.nix
index 47cb93c1995..e3639fdf0f5 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/6/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/6/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, noSysDirs
+{ stdenv, targetPackages, fetchurl, noSysDirs
 , langC ? true, langCC ? true, langFortran ? false
 , langObjC ? targetPlatform.isDarwin
 , langObjCpp ? targetPlatform.isDarwin
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 , libpthread ? null, libpthreadCross ? null  # required for GNU/Hurd
 , stripped ? true
 , gnused ? null
-, binutils ? null
 , cloog # unused; just for compat with gcc4, as we override the parameter on some places
 , darwin ? null
 , buildPlatform, hostPlatform, targetPlatform
@@ -50,7 +49,7 @@ assert libelf != null -> zlib != null;
 assert hostPlatform.isDarwin -> gnused != null;
 
 # Need c++filt on darwin
-assert hostPlatform.isDarwin -> binutils != null;
+assert hostPlatform.isDarwin -> targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools or null != null;
 
 # The go frontend is written in c++
 assert langGo -> langCC;
@@ -143,8 +142,8 @@ let version = "6.4.0";
         withFloat +
         withMode +
         # Ensure that -print-prog-name is able to find the correct programs.
-        " --with-as=${binutils}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-as" +
-        " --with-ld=${binutils}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-ld" +
+        " --with-as=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-as" +
+        " --with-ld=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-ld" +
         (if crossMingw && crossStageStatic then
           " --with-headers=${libcCross}/include" +
           " --with-gcc" +
@@ -307,14 +306,14 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation ({
     ++ (optional (zlib != null) zlib)
     ++ (optionals langJava [ boehmgc zip unzip ])
     ++ (optionals javaAwtGtk ([ gtk2 libart_lgpl ] ++ xlibs))
-    ++ (optionals (targetPlatform != hostPlatform) [binutils])
+    ++ (optionals (targetPlatform != hostPlatform) [targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools])
     ++ (optionals langAda [gnatboot])
     ++ (optionals langVhdl [gnat])
 
     # The builder relies on GNU sed (for instance, Darwin's `sed' fails with
     # "-i may not be used with stdin"), and `stdenvNative' doesn't provide it.
     ++ (optional hostPlatform.isDarwin gnused)
-    ++ (optional hostPlatform.isDarwin binutils)
+    ++ (optional hostPlatform.isDarwin targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools)
     ;
 
   NIX_LDFLAGS = stdenv.lib.optionalString  hostPlatform.isSunOS "-lm -ldl";
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/7/default.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/7/default.nix
index 064f2ab00d4..3a7c0eb6443 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/7/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/7/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, noSysDirs
+{ stdenv, targetPackages, fetchurl, noSysDirs
 , langC ? true, langCC ? true, langFortran ? false
 , langObjC ? targetPlatform.isDarwin
 , langObjCpp ? targetPlatform.isDarwin
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 , libpthread ? null, libpthreadCross ? null  # required for GNU/Hurd
 , stripped ? true
 , gnused ? null
-, binutils ? null
 , cloog # unused; just for compat with gcc4, as we override the parameter on some places
 , darwin ? null
 , flex ? null
@@ -51,7 +50,7 @@ assert libelf != null -> zlib != null;
 assert hostPlatform.isDarwin -> gnused != null;
 
 # Need c++filt on darwin
-assert hostPlatform.isDarwin -> binutils != null;
+assert hostPlatform.isDarwin -> targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools or null != null;
 
 # The go frontend is written in c++
 assert langGo -> langCC;
@@ -144,8 +143,8 @@ let version = "7.2.0";
         withFloat +
         withMode +
         # Ensure that -print-prog-name is able to find the correct programs.
-        " --with-as=${binutils}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-as" +
-        " --with-ld=${binutils}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-ld" +
+        " --with-as=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-as" +
+        " --with-ld=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-ld" +
         (if crossMingw && crossStageStatic then
           " --with-headers=${libcCross}/include" +
           " --with-gcc" +
@@ -308,14 +307,14 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation ({
     ++ (optional (zlib != null) zlib)
     ++ (optionals langJava [ boehmgc zip unzip ])
     ++ (optionals javaAwtGtk ([ gtk2 libart_lgpl ] ++ xlibs))
-    ++ (optionals (targetPlatform != hostPlatform) [binutils])
+    ++ (optionals (targetPlatform != hostPlatform) [targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools])
     ++ (optionals langAda [gnatboot])
     ++ (optionals langVhdl [gnat])
 
     # The builder relies on GNU sed (for instance, Darwin's `sed' fails with
     # "-i may not be used with stdin"), and `stdenvNative' doesn't provide it.
     ++ (optional hostPlatform.isDarwin gnused)
-    ++ (optional hostPlatform.isDarwin binutils)
+    ++ (optional hostPlatform.isDarwin targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools)
     ;
 
   NIX_LDFLAGS = stdenv.lib.optionalString  hostPlatform.isSunOS "-lm -ldl";
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/snapshot/default.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/snapshot/default.nix
index 696417a4956..e235be639c6 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/snapshot/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/gcc/snapshot/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, noSysDirs
+{ stdenv, targetPackages, fetchurl, noSysDirs
 , langC ? true, langCC ? true, langFortran ? false
 , langObjC ? targetPlatform.isDarwin
 , langObjCpp ? targetPlatform.isDarwin
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 , libpthread ? null, libpthreadCross ? null  # required for GNU/Hurd
 , stripped ? true
 , gnused ? null
-, binutils ? null
 , cloog # unused; just for compat with gcc4, as we override the parameter on some places
 , darwin ? null
 , flex ? null
@@ -51,7 +50,7 @@ assert libelf != null -> zlib != null;
 assert hostPlatform.isDarwin -> gnused != null;
 
 # Need c++filt on darwin
-assert hostPlatform.isDarwin -> binutils != null;
+assert hostPlatform.isDarwin -> targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools or null != null;
 
 # The go frontend is written in c++
 assert langGo -> langCC;
@@ -144,8 +143,8 @@ let version = "7-20170409";
         withFloat +
         withMode +
         # Ensure that -print-prog-name is able to find the correct programs.
-        " --with-as=${binutils}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-as" +
-        " --with-ld=${binutils}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-ld" +
+        " --with-as=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-as" +
+        " --with-ld=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${targetPlatform.config}-ld" +
         (if crossMingw && crossStageStatic then
           " --with-headers=${libcCross}/include" +
           " --with-gcc" +
@@ -295,14 +294,14 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation ({
     ++ (optional (zlib != null) zlib)
     ++ (optionals langJava [ boehmgc zip unzip ])
     ++ (optionals javaAwtGtk ([ gtk2 libart_lgpl ] ++ xlibs))
-    ++ (optionals (targetPlatform != hostPlatform) [binutils])
+    ++ (optionals (targetPlatform != hostPlatform) [targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools])
     ++ (optionals langAda [gnatboot])
     ++ (optionals langVhdl [gnat])
 
     # The builder relies on GNU sed (for instance, Darwin's `sed' fails with
     # "-i may not be used with stdin"), and `stdenvNative' doesn't provide it.
     ++ (optional hostPlatform.isDarwin gnused)
-    ++ (optional hostPlatform.isDarwin binutils)
+    ++ (optional hostPlatform.isDarwin targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools)
     ;
 
   NIX_LDFLAGS = stdenv.lib.optionalString  hostPlatform.isSunOS "-lm -ldl";
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/7.10.2.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/7.10.2.nix
index 863f904e4e9..51274dd6059 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/7.10.2.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/7.10.2.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, fetchpatch, bootPkgs, perl, ncurses, libiconv, binutils, coreutils
+{ stdenv, fetchurl, fetchpatch, bootPkgs, perl, ncurses, libiconv, targetPackages, coreutils
 , libxml2, libxslt, docbook_xsl, docbook_xml_dtd_45, docbook_xml_dtd_42, hscolour
 
   # If enabled GHC will be build with the GPL-free but slower integer-simple
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     for i in "$out/bin/"*; do
       test ! -h $i || continue
       egrep --quiet '^#!' <(head -n 1 $i) || continue
-      sed -i -e '2i export PATH="$PATH:${stdenv.lib.makeBinPath [ binutils coreutils ]}"' $i
+      sed -i -e '2i export PATH="$PATH:${stdenv.lib.makeBinPath [ targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools coreutils ]}"' $i
     done
   '';
 
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/7.10.3.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/7.10.3.nix
index eb8f1dddd19..d573a22e0ae 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/7.10.3.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/7.10.3.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, fetchpatch, bootPkgs, perl, ncurses, libiconv, binutils, coreutils
+{ stdenv, fetchurl, fetchpatch, bootPkgs, perl, ncurses, libiconv, targetPackages, coreutils
 , libxml2, libxslt, docbook_xsl, docbook_xml_dtd_45, docbook_xml_dtd_42, hscolour
 
   # If enabled GHC will be build with the GPL-free but slower integer-simple
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     for i in "$out/bin/"*; do
       test ! -h $i || continue
       egrep --quiet '^#!' <(head -n 1 $i) || continue
-      sed -i -e '2i export PATH="$PATH:${stdenv.lib.makeBinPath [ binutils coreutils ]}"' $i
+      sed -i -e '2i export PATH="$PATH:${stdenv.lib.makeBinPath [ targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools coreutils ]}"' $i
     done
   '';
 
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/7.6.3.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/7.6.3.nix
index 5f951936046..fde4ca2aa37 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/7.6.3.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/7.6.3.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, ghc, perl, ncurses, binutils, libiconv
+{ stdenv, fetchurl, ghc, perl, ncurses, libiconv
 
   # If enabled GHC will be build with the GPL-free but slower integer-simple
   # library instead of the faster but GPLed integer-gmp library.
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/8.0.2.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/8.0.2.nix
index e50a8df7352..d475e3438b4 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/8.0.2.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/8.0.2.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, lib, fetchurl, fetchpatch, bootPkgs, perl, ncurses, libiconv, binutils, coreutils
+{ stdenv, lib, fetchurl, fetchpatch, bootPkgs, perl, ncurses, libiconv, targetPackages, coreutils
 , hscolour, patchutils, sphinx
 
   # If enabled GHC will be build with the GPL-free but slower integer-simple
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     for i in "$out/bin/"*; do
       test ! -h $i || continue
       egrep --quiet '^#!' <(head -n 1 $i) || continue
-      sed -i -e '2i export PATH="$PATH:${stdenv.lib.makeBinPath [ binutils coreutils ]}"' $i
+      sed -i -e '2i export PATH="$PATH:${stdenv.lib.makeBinPath [ targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools coreutils ]}"' $i
     done
   '';
 
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/8.2.1.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/8.2.1.nix
index dde56df8131..bcc801c98ea 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/8.2.1.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/8.2.1.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, lib, fetchurl, bootPkgs, perl, ncurses, libiconv, binutils, coreutils
+{ stdenv, lib, fetchurl, bootPkgs, perl, ncurses, libiconv, targetPackages, coreutils
 , autoconf, automake, happy, alex, python3, sphinx, hscolour
 , buildPlatform, targetPlatform , selfPkgs, cross ? null
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation (rec {
     for i in "$out/bin/"*; do
       test ! -h $i || continue
       egrep --quiet '^#!' <(head -n 1 $i) || continue
-      sed -i -e '2i export PATH="$PATH:${stdenv.lib.makeBinPath [ binutils coreutils ]}"' $i
+      sed -i -e '2i export PATH="$PATH:${stdenv.lib.makeBinPath [ targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools coreutils ]}"' $i
     done
   '';
 
@@ -97,23 +97,23 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation (rec {
 
   configureFlags = [
     "CC=${stdenv.ccCross}/bin/${cross.config}-cc"
-    "LD=${stdenv.binutils}/bin/${cross.config}-ld"
-    "AR=${stdenv.binutils}/bin/${cross.config}-ar"
-    "NM=${stdenv.binutils}/bin/${cross.config}-nm"
-    "RANLIB=${stdenv.binutils}/bin/${cross.config}-ranlib"
+    "LD=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${cross.config}-ld"
+    "AR=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${cross.config}-ar"
+    "NM=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${cross.config}-nm"
+    "RANLIB=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${cross.config}-ranlib"
     "--target=${cross.config}"
     "--enable-bootstrap-with-devel-snapshot"
   ] ++
     # fix for iOS: https://www.reddit.com/r/haskell/comments/4ttdz1/building_an_osxi386_to_iosarm64_cross_compiler/d5qvd67/
     lib.optional (cross.config or null == "aarch64-apple-darwin14") "--disable-large-address-space";
 
-  buildInputs = commonBuildInputs ++ [ stdenv.ccCross stdenv.binutils ];
+  buildInputs = commonBuildInputs ++ [ stdenv.ccCross stdenv.targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools ];
 
   dontSetConfigureCross = true;
 
   passthru = {
     inherit bootPkgs cross;
     cc = "${stdenv.ccCross}/bin/${cross.config}-cc";
-    ld = "${stdenv.binutils}/bin/${cross.config}-ld";
+    ld = "${stdenv.targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/${cross.config}-ld";
   };
 })
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/head.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/head.nix
index 362b4895b7e..92ba3f6a46e 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/head.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/ghc/head.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, lib, fetchgit, bootPkgs, perl, ncurses, libiconv, binutils, coreutils
+{ stdenv, lib, fetchgit, bootPkgs, perl, ncurses, libiconv, targetPackages, coreutils
 , autoconf, automake, happy, alex, python3, buildPlatform, targetPlatform
 , selfPkgs, cross ? null
 
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation (rec {
     for i in "$out/bin/"*; do
       test ! -h $i || continue
       egrep --quiet '^#!' <(head -n 1 $i) || continue
-      sed -i -e '2i export PATH="$PATH:${stdenv.lib.makeBinPath [ binutils coreutils ]}"' $i
+      sed -i -e '2i export PATH="$PATH:${stdenv.lib.makeBinPath [ targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools coreutils ]}"' $i
     done
   '';
 
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/halvm/2.4.0.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/halvm/2.4.0.nix
index 24fffcf603c..0c4cef653d8 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/halvm/2.4.0.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/halvm/2.4.0.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchgit, bootPkgs, perl, gmp, ncurses, binutils, autoconf, alex, happy, makeStaticLibraries
+{ stdenv, fetchgit, bootPkgs, perl, gmp, ncurses, targetPackages, autoconf, alex, happy, makeStaticLibraries
 , hscolour, xen, automake, gcc, git, zlib, libtool, enableIntegerSimple ? false
 }:
 
@@ -17,14 +17,14 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sed -i '305 d' Makefile
     sed -i '309,439 d' Makefile # Removes RPM packaging
     sed -i '20 d' src/scripts/halvm-cabal.in
-    sed -ie 's|ld |${binutils}/bin/ld |g' src/scripts/ldkernel.in
+    sed -ie 's|ld |${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/ld |g' src/scripts/ldkernel.in
   '';
   configureFlags = stdenv.lib.optional (!enableIntegerSimple) [ "--enable-gmp" ];
   propagatedNativeBuildInputs = [ alex happy ];
   buildInputs =
    let haskellPkgs = [ alex happy bootPkgs.hscolour bootPkgs.cabal-install bootPkgs.haddock bootPkgs.hpc
     ]; in [ bootPkgs.ghc
-            automake perl git binutils
+            automake perl git targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools
             autoconf xen zlib ncurses.dev
             libtool gmp ] ++ haskellPkgs;
   preConfigure = ''
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     inherit bootPkgs;
     cross.config = "halvm";
     cc = "${gcc}/bin/gcc";
-    ld = "${binutils}/bin/ld";
+    ld = "${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/ld";
   };
 
   meta = {
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/rust/rustc.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/rust/rustc.nix
index a113f5db480..9f96d05c116 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/rust/rustc.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/rust/rustc.nix
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, fetchgit, fetchzip, file, python2, tzdata, procps
-, llvm, jemalloc, ncurses, darwin, binutils, rustPlatform, git, cmake, curl
+{ stdenv, targetPackages
+, fetchurl, fetchgit, fetchzip, file, python2, tzdata, procps
+, llvm, jemalloc, ncurses, darwin, rustPlatform, git, cmake, curl
 , which, libffi, gdb
 , version
 , forceBundledLLVM ? false
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
                 ++ [ "--enable-local-rust" "--local-rust-root=${rustPlatform.rust.rustc}" "--enable-rpath" ]
                 ++ [ "--enable-vendor" "--disable-locked-deps" ]
                 # ++ [ "--jemalloc-root=${jemalloc}/lib"
-                ++ [ "--default-linker=${stdenv.cc}/bin/cc" "--default-ar=${binutils.out}/bin/ar" ]
+                ++ [ "--default-linker=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc}/bin/cc" "--default-ar=${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/ar" ]
                 ++ optional (!forceBundledLLVM) [ "--enable-llvm-link-shared" ]
                 ++ optional (stdenv.cc.cc ? isClang) "--enable-clang"
                 ++ optional (targets != []) "--target=${target}"
diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/swift/default.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/swift/default.nix
index 7484d2568be..937977b0a97 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/swift/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/swift/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 { stdenv
+, targetPackages
 , cmake
 , coreutils
 , glibc
@@ -26,7 +27,6 @@
 , rsync
 , git
 , libgit2
-, binutils
 , fetchFromGitHub
 , paxctl
 , findutils
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
     # TODO: Use wrappers to get these on the PATH for swift tools, instead
     ln -s ${clang}/bin/* $out/bin/
-    ln -s ${binutils}/bin/ar $out/bin/ar
+    ln -s ${targetPackages.stdenv.cc.bintools}/bin/ar $out/bin/ar
   '';
 
   # Hack to avoid TMPDIR in RPATHs.
diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/booter.nix b/pkgs/stdenv/booter.nix
index a8f8be75545..7364a586fc2 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/booter.nix
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/booter.nix
@@ -47,13 +47,13 @@ stageFuns: let
      same as
 
        let
-         f_-1  = lnul;
+         f_-1  = lnul f_0;
          f_0   = op f_-1   x_0  f_1;
          f_1   = op f_0    x_1  f_2;
          f_2   = op f_1    x_2  f_3;
          ...
          f_n   = op f_n-1  x_n  f_n+1;
-         f_n+1 = rnul;
+         f_n+1 = rnul f_n;
        in
          f_0
   */
@@ -62,13 +62,15 @@ stageFuns: let
       len = builtins.length list;
       go = pred: n:
         if n == len
-        then rnul
+        then rnul pred
         else let
           # Note the cycle -- call-by-need ensures finite fold.
           cur  = op pred (builtins.elemAt list n) succ;
           succ = go cur (n + 1);
         in cur;
-    in go lnul 0;
+      lapp = lnul cur;
+      cur = go lapp 0;
+    in cur;
 
   # Take the list and disallow custom overrides in all but the final stage,
   # and allow it in the final flag. Only defaults this boolean field if it
@@ -101,4 +103,15 @@ stageFuns: let
       targetPackages = if args.selfBuild or true then null else nextStage;
     });
 
-in dfold folder {} {} withAllowCustomOverrides
+  # This is a hack for resolving cross-compiled compilers' run-time
+  # deps. (That is, compilers that are themselves cross-compiled, as
+  # opposed to used to cross-compile packages.)
+  postStage = buildPackages: {
+    __raw = true;
+    stdenv.cc =
+      if buildPackages.stdenv.cc.isClang or false
+      then buildPackages.clang
+      else buildPackages.gcc;
+  };
+
+in dfold folder postStage (_: {}) withAllowCustomOverrides