diff --git a/src/bootstrap/builder.rs b/src/bootstrap/builder.rs
index f0054c36c0c88..afde076a35a50 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/builder.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/builder.rs
@@ -859,12 +859,12 @@ impl<'a> Builder<'a> {
             stage = compiler.stage;
         }
 
-        let mut extra_args = env::var(&format!("RUSTFLAGS_STAGE_{}", stage)).unwrap_or_default();
+        let mut extra_args = String::new();
         if stage != 0 {
-            let s = env::var("RUSTFLAGS_STAGE_NOT_0").unwrap_or_default();
-            if !extra_args.is_empty() {
-                extra_args.push_str(" ");
-            }
+            let s = env::var("RUSTFLAGS_NOT_BOOTSTRAP").unwrap_or_default();
+            extra_args.push_str(&s);
+        } else {
+            let s = env::var("RUSTFLAGS_BOOTSTRAP").unwrap_or_default();
             extra_args.push_str(&s);
         }