diff --git a/rust/private/rustc.bzl b/rust/private/rustc.bzl
index 863e5b6f3b..df54795d95 100644
--- a/rust/private/rustc.bzl
+++ b/rust/private/rustc.bzl
@@ -448,7 +448,8 @@ def construct_arguments(
         out_dir,
         build_env_files,
         build_flags_files,
-        emit = ["dep-info", "link"]):
+        emit = ["dep-info", "link"],
+        force_all_deps_direct = False):
     """Builds an Args object containing common rustc flags
 
     Args:
@@ -468,6 +469,8 @@ def construct_arguments(
         build_env_files (list): Files containing rustc environment variables, for instance from `cargo_build_script` actions.
         build_flags_files (list): The output files of a `cargo_build_script` actions containing rustc build flags
         emit (list): Values for the --emit flag to rustc.
+        force_all_deps_direct (bool, optional): Whether to pass the transitive rlibs with --extern
+            to the commandline as opposed to -L.
 
     Returns:
         tuple: A tuple of the following items
@@ -598,7 +601,7 @@ def construct_arguments(
         _add_native_link_flags(rustc_flags, dep_info, linkstamp_outs, crate_info.type, toolchain, cc_toolchain, feature_configuration)
 
     # These always need to be added, even if not linking this crate.
-    add_crate_link_flags(rustc_flags, dep_info)
+    add_crate_link_flags(rustc_flags, dep_info, force_all_deps_direct)
 
     needs_extern_proc_macro_flag = "proc-macro" in [crate_info.type, crate_info.wrapped_crate_type] and \
                                    crate_info.edition != "2015"
@@ -647,7 +650,8 @@ def rustc_compile_action(
         crate_info,
         output_hash = None,
         rust_flags = [],
-        environ = {}):
+        environ = {},
+        force_all_deps_direct = False):
     """Create and run a rustc compile action based on the current rule's attributes
 
     Args:
@@ -658,6 +662,8 @@ def rustc_compile_action(
         output_hash (str, optional): The hashed path of the crate root. Defaults to None.
         rust_flags (list, optional): Additional flags to pass to rustc. Defaults to [].
         environ (dict, optional): A set of makefile expandable environment variables for the action
+        force_all_deps_direct (bool, optional): Whether to pass the transitive rlibs with --extern
+            to the commandline as opposed to -L.
 
     Returns:
         list: A list of the following providers:
@@ -710,6 +716,7 @@ def rustc_compile_action(
         out_dir = out_dir,
         build_env_files = build_env_files,
         build_flags_files = build_flags_files,
+        force_all_deps_direct = force_all_deps_direct,
     )
 
     if hasattr(attr, "version") and attr.version != "0.0.0":
@@ -962,16 +969,30 @@ def _get_dir_names(files):
         dirs[f.dirname] = None
     return dirs.keys()
 
-def add_crate_link_flags(args, dep_info):
+def add_crate_link_flags(args, dep_info, force_all_deps_direct = False):
     """Adds link flags to an Args object reference
 
     Args:
         args (Args): An arguments object reference
         dep_info (DepInfo): The current target's dependency info
+        force_all_deps_direct (bool, optional): Whether to pass the transitive rlibs with --extern
+            to the commandline as opposed to -L.
     """
 
-    # nb. Crates are linked via --extern regardless of their crate_type
-    args.add_all(dep_info.direct_crates, map_each = _crate_to_link_flag)
+    if force_all_deps_direct:
+        args.add_all(
+            depset(
+                transitive = [
+                    dep_info.direct_crates,
+                    dep_info.transitive_crates,
+                ],
+            ),
+            uniquify = True,
+            map_each = _crate_to_link_flag,
+        )
+    else:
+        # nb. Direct crates are linked via --extern regardless of their crate_type
+        args.add_all(dep_info.direct_crates, map_each = _crate_to_link_flag)
     args.add_all(
         dep_info.transitive_crates,
         map_each = _get_crate_dirname,
@@ -979,16 +1000,24 @@ def add_crate_link_flags(args, dep_info):
         format_each = "-Ldependency=%s",
     )
 
-def _crate_to_link_flag(crate_info):
+def _crate_to_link_flag(crate):
     """A helper macro used by `add_crate_link_flags` for adding crate link flags to a Arg object
 
     Args:
-        crate_info (CrateInfo): A CrateInfo provider from the current rule
+        crate (CrateInfo|AliasableDepInfo): A CrateInfo or an AliasableDepInfo provider
 
     Returns:
-        list: Link flags for the current crate info
+        list: Link flags for the given provider
     """
-    return ["--extern={}={}".format(crate_info.name, crate_info.dep.output.path)]
+
+    # This is AliasableDepInfo, we should use the alias as a crate name
+    if hasattr(crate, "dep"):
+        name = crate.name
+        crate_info = crate.dep
+    else:
+        name = crate.name
+        crate_info = crate
+    return ["--extern={}={}".format(name, crate_info.output.path)]
 
 def _get_crate_dirname(crate):
     """A helper macro used by `add_crate_link_flags` for getting the directory name of the current crate's output path
diff --git a/test/unit/force_all_deps_direct/BUILD.bazel b/test/unit/force_all_deps_direct/BUILD.bazel
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..12f22c5177
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/force_all_deps_direct/BUILD.bazel
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+load(":force_all_deps_direct_test.bzl", "force_all_deps_direct_test_suite")
+
+############################ UNIT TESTS #############################
+force_all_deps_direct_test_suite(name = "force_all_deps_direct_test_suite")
diff --git a/test/unit/force_all_deps_direct/direct.rs b/test/unit/force_all_deps_direct/direct.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..eae45b3f72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/force_all_deps_direct/direct.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+use transitive::transitive_fn;
+
+pub fn direct_fn() {
+    transitive_fn();
+}
diff --git a/test/unit/force_all_deps_direct/force_all_deps_direct_test.bzl b/test/unit/force_all_deps_direct/force_all_deps_direct_test.bzl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7e0964aa08
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/force_all_deps_direct/force_all_deps_direct_test.bzl
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+"""Unittest to verify that we can treat all dependencies as direct dependencies"""
+
+load("@bazel_skylib//lib:unittest.bzl", "analysistest")
+load("//rust:defs.bzl", "rust_library")
+load("//test/unit:common.bzl", "assert_action_mnemonic", "assert_argv_contains_prefix")
+load("//test/unit/force_all_deps_direct:generator.bzl", "generator")
+
+def _force_all_deps_direct_rustc_flags_test(ctx):
+    env = analysistest.begin(ctx)
+    tut = analysistest.target_under_test(env)
+    action = tut.actions[1]
+    argv = action.argv
+    assert_action_mnemonic(env, action, "Rustc")
+    assert_argv_contains_prefix(
+        env,
+        action,
+        "--extern=transitive",
+    )
+    return analysistest.end(env)
+
+force_all_deps_direct_test = analysistest.make(_force_all_deps_direct_rustc_flags_test)
+
+def _force_all_deps_direct_test():
+    rust_library(
+        name = "direct",
+        srcs = ["direct.rs"],
+        edition = "2018",
+        deps = [":transitive"],
+    )
+
+    rust_library(
+        name = "transitive",
+        srcs = ["transitive.rs"],
+        edition = "2018",
+    )
+
+    generator(
+        name = "generate",
+        deps = [":direct"],
+        tags = ["noclippy"],
+    )
+
+    force_all_deps_direct_test(
+        name = "force_all_deps_direct_rustc_flags_test",
+        target_under_test = ":generate",
+    )
+
+def force_all_deps_direct_test_suite(name):
+    """Entry-point macro called from the BUILD file.
+
+    Args:
+        name: Name of the macro.
+    """
+    _force_all_deps_direct_test()
+
+    native.test_suite(
+        name = name,
+        tests = [
+            ":force_all_deps_direct_rustc_flags_test",
+        ],
+    )
diff --git a/test/unit/force_all_deps_direct/generator.bzl b/test/unit/force_all_deps_direct/generator.bzl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e8ab4450f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/force_all_deps_direct/generator.bzl
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+"""A custom rule that threats all its dependencies as direct dependencies."""
+
+# buildifier: disable=bzl-visibility
+load("//rust/private:common.bzl", "rust_common")
+
+# buildifier: disable=bzl-visibility
+load("//rust/private:providers.bzl", "BuildInfo", "CrateInfo", "DepInfo", "DepVariantInfo")
+
+# buildifier: disable=bzl-visibility
+load("//rust/private:rustc.bzl", "rustc_compile_action")
+
+def _generator_impl(ctx):
+    rs_file = ctx.actions.declare_file(ctx.label.name + "_generated.rs")
+    ctx.actions.run_shell(
+        outputs = [rs_file],
+        command = """cat <<EOF > {}
+use direct::direct_fn;
+use transitive::transitive_fn;
+
+pub fn call_both() {}
+    direct_fn();
+    transitive_fn();
+{}
+EOF
+""".format(rs_file.path, "{", "}"),
+        mnemonic = "WriteRsFile",
+    )
+
+    toolchain = ctx.toolchains[Label("//rust:toolchain")]
+
+    # Determine unique hash for this rlib
+    output_hash = repr(hash(rs_file.path))
+    crate_name = ctx.label.name
+    crate_type = "rlib"
+
+    rust_lib_name = "{prefix}{name}-{lib_hash}{extension}".format(
+        prefix = "lib",
+        name = crate_name,
+        lib_hash = output_hash,
+        extension = ".rlib",
+    )
+
+    deps = [DepVariantInfo(
+        crate_info = dep[CrateInfo] if CrateInfo in dep else None,
+        dep_info = dep[DepInfo] if DepInfo in dep else None,
+        build_info = dep[BuildInfo] if BuildInfo in dep else None,
+        cc_info = dep[CcInfo] if CcInfo in dep else None,
+    ) for dep in ctx.attr.deps]
+
+    rust_lib = ctx.actions.declare_file(rust_lib_name)
+    return rustc_compile_action(
+        ctx = ctx,
+        attr = ctx.attr,
+        toolchain = toolchain,
+        crate_info = rust_common.create_crate_info(
+            name = crate_name,
+            type = crate_type,
+            root = rs_file,
+            srcs = depset([rs_file]),
+            deps = depset(deps),
+            proc_macro_deps = depset([]),
+            aliases = {},
+            output = rust_lib,
+            owner = ctx.label,
+            edition = "2018",
+            compile_data = depset([]),
+            rustc_env = {},
+            is_test = False,
+        ),
+        output_hash = output_hash,
+        force_all_deps_direct = True,
+    )
+
+generator = rule(
+    implementation = _generator_impl,
+    attrs = {
+        "deps": attr.label_list(),
+        "_cc_toolchain": attr.label(
+            default = "@bazel_tools//tools/cpp:current_cc_toolchain",
+        ),
+        "_error_format": attr.label(default = "@rules_rust//:error_format"),
+        "_process_wrapper": attr.label(
+            default = Label("@rules_rust//util/process_wrapper"),
+            executable = True,
+            allow_single_file = True,
+            cfg = "exec",
+        ),
+    },
+    toolchains = ["@rules_rust//rust:toolchain", "@bazel_tools//tools/cpp:toolchain_type"],
+    incompatible_use_toolchain_transition = True,
+    fragments = ["cpp"],
+)
diff --git a/test/unit/force_all_deps_direct/transitive.rs b/test/unit/force_all_deps_direct/transitive.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2ac85dfb21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/force_all_deps_direct/transitive.rs
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+pub fn transitive_fn() {}