diff --git a/configure b/configure
index f4cc0227dd..28d5350f12 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ def reconfigure(config, path):
                 config.toolchain = Path(info['toolchain'])
             if 'linker' in info and info['linker'] is not None:
                 config.linker = info['linker']
+            elif config.target is not None:
+                config.linker = config.target.linker
             if 'build_directory' in info and info['build_directory'] is not None:
                 config.build_directory = Path(info['build_directory'])
             if 'intermediate_directory' in info and info['intermediate_directory'] is not None:
@@ -181,7 +183,10 @@ def main():
             config.swift_sdk = "/usr"
         config.toolchain = Path.path(args.toolchain)
         config.pkg_config = args.pkg_config
-        config.linker = args.linker
+        if args.linker is not None:
+            config.linker = args.linker
+        else:
+            config.linker = config.target.linker
         config.bootstrap_directory = Path.path(args.bootstrap)
         config.verbose = args.verbose
         if config.toolchain is not None:
diff --git a/lib/target.py b/lib/target.py
index bdeecdff37..3edca25eb7 100644
--- a/lib/target.py
+++ b/lib/target.py
@@ -331,14 +331,17 @@ class Target:
     dynamic_library_suffix = ".dylib"
     static_library_prefix = "lib"
     static_library_suffix = ".a"
+    linker = None
 
     def __init__(self, triple):
         if "linux" in triple:
             self.sdk = OSType.Linux
             self.dynamic_library_suffix = ".so"
+            self.linker = "gold"
         elif "freebsd" in triple:
             self.sdk = OSType.FreeBSD
             self.dynamic_library_suffix = ".so"
+            self.linker = "gold"
         elif "windows" in triple or "win32" in triple:
             self.sdk = OSType.Win32
             self.dynamic_library_suffix = ".dll"