diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/test.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/test.rs
index 26b4aaa8b5bb..a8002cd293b6 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/test.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/core/build_steps/test.rs
@@ -3248,9 +3248,15 @@ impl Step for Bootstrap {
     }
 }
 
+fn get_compiler_to_test(builder: &Builder<'_>, target: TargetSelection) -> Compiler {
+    builder.compiler(builder.top_stage, target)
+}
+
+/// Tests the Platform Support page in the rustc book.
+/// `test_compiler` is used to query the actual targets that are checked.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
 pub struct TierCheck {
-    pub compiler: Compiler,
+    test_compiler: Compiler,
 }
 
 impl Step for TierCheck {
@@ -3263,42 +3269,36 @@ impl Step for TierCheck {
     }
 
     fn make_run(run: RunConfig<'_>) {
-        let compiler = run.builder.compiler_for(
-            run.builder.top_stage,
-            run.builder.build.host_target,
-            run.target,
-        );
-        run.builder.ensure(TierCheck { compiler });
+        run.builder
+            .ensure(TierCheck { test_compiler: get_compiler_to_test(run.builder, run.target) });
     }
 
-    /// Tests the Platform Support page in the rustc book.
     fn run(self, builder: &Builder<'_>) {
-        builder.std(self.compiler, self.compiler.host);
+        let tool_build_compiler = builder.compiler(0, builder.host_target);
+
         let mut cargo = tool::prepare_tool_cargo(
             builder,
-            self.compiler,
-            Mode::ToolStd,
-            self.compiler.host,
+            tool_build_compiler,
+            Mode::ToolBootstrap,
+            tool_build_compiler.host,
             Kind::Run,
             "src/tools/tier-check",
             SourceType::InTree,
             &[],
         );
         cargo.arg(builder.src.join("src/doc/rustc/src/platform-support.md"));
-        cargo.arg(builder.rustc(self.compiler));
+        cargo.arg(builder.rustc(self.test_compiler));
         if builder.is_verbose() {
             cargo.arg("--verbose");
         }
 
-        let _guard = builder.msg(
-            Kind::Test,
-            "platform support check",
-            None,
-            self.compiler,
-            self.compiler.host,
-        );
+        let _guard = builder.msg_test("platform support check", self.test_compiler);
         BootstrapCommand::from(cargo).delay_failure().run(builder);
     }
+
+    fn metadata(&self) -> Option<StepMetadata> {
+        Some(StepMetadata::test("tier-check", self.test_compiler.host))
+    }
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/core/builder/tests.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/core/builder/tests.rs
index d16ab530c1ea..e5fff459a236 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/core/builder/tests.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/core/builder/tests.rs
@@ -2125,7 +2125,7 @@ mod snapshot {
                 .render_steps(), @r"
         [build] llvm <host>
         [build] rustc 0 <host> -> rustc 1 <host>
-        [build] rustc 1 <host> -> std 1 <host>
+        [test] rustc 0 <host> -> tier-check 1 <host>
         ");
     }
 
diff --git a/src/bootstrap/src/lib.rs b/src/bootstrap/src/lib.rs
index b8ee83b20e46..1beeb16b44f3 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/src/lib.rs
@@ -1159,6 +1159,25 @@ impl Build {
         self.group(&msg)
     }
 
+    /// Return a `Group` guard for a [`Step`] that tests `what` with the given `stage` and `target`
+    /// (determined by `host_and_stage`).
+    /// Use this instead of [`Builder::msg`] when there is no clear `build_compiler` to be
+    /// determined.
+    ///
+    /// [`Step`]: crate::core::builder::Step
+    #[must_use = "Groups should not be dropped until the Step finishes running"]
+    #[track_caller]
+    fn msg_test(
+        &self,
+        what: impl Display,
+        host_and_stage: impl Into<HostAndStage>,
+    ) -> Option<gha::Group> {
+        let HostAndStage { host, stage } = host_and_stage.into();
+        let action = Kind::Test.description();
+        let msg = format!("{action} stage{stage} {what} ({host})");
+        self.group(&msg)
+    }
+
     /// Return a `Group` guard for a [`Step`] that is only built once and isn't affected by `--stage`.
     ///
     /// [`Step`]: crate::core::builder::Step