diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 1a480d6911fe..c40157cfa377 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -3000,6 +3000,7 @@ name = "toolchain"
 version = "0.0.0"
 dependencies = [
  "camino",
+ "semver",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
diff --git a/crates/hir-ty/src/layout/tests.rs b/crates/hir-ty/src/layout/tests.rs
index b5db24e98bc7..72befc58a123 100644
--- a/crates/hir-ty/src/layout/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/hir-ty/src/layout/tests.rs
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ fn current_machine_target_data() -> TargetData {
         QueryConfig::Rustc(&Sysroot::empty(), &std::env::current_dir().unwrap()),
         None,
         &FxHashMap::default(),
+        None,
     )
     .unwrap()
 }
diff --git a/crates/project-model/src/build_dependencies.rs b/crates/project-model/src/build_dependencies.rs
index 9f84f632d5e4..8da0a574e764 100644
--- a/crates/project-model/src/build_dependencies.rs
+++ b/crates/project-model/src/build_dependencies.rs
@@ -462,9 +462,7 @@ impl WorkspaceBuildScripts {
                     cmd.arg(target_dir.as_ref());
                 }
 
-                if let Some(target) = &config.target {
-                    cmd.args(["--target", target]);
-                }
+                toolchain::cargo_use_targets(toolchain, &mut cmd, config.target.as_slice());
                 let mut lockfile_copy = None;
                 if let Some(toolchain) = toolchain {
                     let lockfile_path =
diff --git a/crates/project-model/src/cargo_workspace.rs b/crates/project-model/src/cargo_workspace.rs
index 97375fe9ddd1..a0a9815d8756 100644
--- a/crates/project-model/src/cargo_workspace.rs
+++ b/crates/project-model/src/cargo_workspace.rs
@@ -704,9 +704,18 @@ impl FetchMetadata {
         }
 
         if !config.targets.is_empty() {
-            other_options.extend(
-                config.targets.iter().flat_map(|it| ["--filter-platform".to_owned(), it.clone()]),
-            );
+            let mut has_json_target = false;
+            other_options.extend(config.targets.iter().flat_map(|target| {
+                has_json_target |= target.ends_with(".json");
+                ["--filter-platform".to_owned(), target.clone()]
+            }));
+            if has_json_target
+                && config.toolchain_version.as_ref().is_some_and(|version| {
+                    *version >= toolchain::MINIMUM_TOOLCHAIN_VERSION_REQUIRING_JSON_TARGET_SPEC_FLAG
+                })
+            {
+                other_options.push("-Zjson-target-spec".to_owned());
+            }
         }
 
         command.other_options(other_options.clone());
diff --git a/crates/project-model/src/toolchain_info/target_data.rs b/crates/project-model/src/toolchain_info/target_data.rs
index b815c0b79718..18ceac6fc766 100644
--- a/crates/project-model/src/toolchain_info/target_data.rs
+++ b/crates/project-model/src/toolchain_info/target_data.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ pub fn get(
     config: QueryConfig<'_>,
     target: Option<&str>,
     extra_env: &FxHashMap<String, Option<String>>,
+    version: Option<&semver::Version>,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<target::TargetData> {
     const RUSTC_ARGS: [&str; 2] = ["--print", "target-spec-json"];
     let process = |output: String| {
@@ -55,9 +56,7 @@ pub fn get(
             let mut cmd = sysroot.tool(Tool::Cargo, cargo_toml.parent(), extra_env);
             cmd.env("RUSTC_BOOTSTRAP", "1");
             cmd.args(["rustc", "-Z", "unstable-options"]).args(RUSTC_ARGS);
-            if let Some(target) = target {
-                cmd.args(["--target", target]);
-            }
+            toolchain::cargo_use_targets(version, &mut cmd, target.as_slice());
             cmd.args(["--", "-Z", "unstable-options"]);
             match utf8_stdout(&mut cmd) {
                 Ok(output) => return process(output),
@@ -95,13 +94,17 @@ mod tests {
         let manifest_path =
             ManifestPath::try_from(AbsPathBuf::assert(Utf8PathBuf::from(manifest_path))).unwrap();
         let cfg = QueryConfig::Cargo(&sysroot, &manifest_path, &None);
-        assert!(get(cfg, None, &FxHashMap::default()).is_ok());
+        let extra_env = &FxHashMap::default();
+        let Ok(version) = super::super::version::get(cfg, extra_env) else { return };
+        assert!(get(cfg, None, extra_env, version.as_ref()).is_ok());
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn rustc() {
         let sysroot = Sysroot::empty();
         let cfg = QueryConfig::Rustc(&sysroot, env!("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR").as_ref());
-        assert!(get(cfg, None, &FxHashMap::default()).is_ok());
+        let extra_env = &FxHashMap::default();
+        let Ok(version) = super::super::version::get(cfg, extra_env) else { return };
+        assert!(get(cfg, None, extra_env, version.as_ref()).is_ok());
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/project-model/src/toolchain_info/version.rs b/crates/project-model/src/toolchain_info/version.rs
index 357053d8e825..c97a68719834 100644
--- a/crates/project-model/src/toolchain_info/version.rs
+++ b/crates/project-model/src/toolchain_info/version.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use toolchain::Tool;
 
 use crate::{toolchain_info::QueryConfig, utf8_stdout};
 
-pub(crate) fn get(
+pub fn get(
     config: QueryConfig<'_>,
     extra_env: &FxHashMap<String, Option<String>>,
 ) -> Result<Option<Version>, anyhow::Error> {
diff --git a/crates/project-model/src/workspace.rs b/crates/project-model/src/workspace.rs
index 9002b0c3bbf1..9010ba882c29 100644
--- a/crates/project-model/src/workspace.rs
+++ b/crates/project-model/src/workspace.rs
@@ -316,13 +316,18 @@ impl ProjectWorkspace {
             let target_data = Builder::new()
                 .name("ProjectWorkspace::target_data".to_owned())
                 .spawn_scoped(s, || {
-                    target_data::get(toolchain_config, targets.first().map(Deref::deref), extra_env)
-                        .inspect_err(|e| {
-                            tracing::error!(%e,
-                                "failed fetching data layout for \
-                                {cargo_toml:?} workspace"
-                            )
-                        })
+                    target_data::get(
+                        toolchain_config,
+                        targets.first().map(Deref::deref),
+                        extra_env,
+                        toolchain.as_ref(),
+                    )
+                    .inspect_err(|e| {
+                        tracing::error!(%e,
+                            "failed fetching data layout for \
+                            {cargo_toml:?} workspace"
+                        )
+                    })
                 })
                 .expect("failed to spawn thread");
 
@@ -495,7 +500,12 @@ impl ProjectWorkspace {
                 rustc_cfg::get(query_config, targets.first().map(Deref::deref), &config.extra_env)
             });
             let data_layout = s.spawn(|| {
-                target_data::get(query_config, targets.first().map(Deref::deref), &config.extra_env)
+                target_data::get(
+                    query_config,
+                    targets.first().map(Deref::deref),
+                    &config.extra_env,
+                    toolchain.as_ref(),
+                )
             });
             let loaded_sysroot = s.spawn(|| {
                 if let Some(sysroot_project) = sysroot_project {
@@ -564,7 +574,8 @@ impl ProjectWorkspace {
         let targets = target_tuple::get(query_config, config.target.as_deref(), &config.extra_env)
             .unwrap_or_default();
         let rustc_cfg = rustc_cfg::get(query_config, None, &config.extra_env);
-        let target_data = target_data::get(query_config, None, &config.extra_env);
+        let target_data =
+            target_data::get(query_config, None, &config.extra_env, toolchain.as_ref());
 
         let loaded_sysroot = sysroot.load_workspace(
             &RustSourceWorkspaceConfig::CargoMetadata(sysroot_metadata_config(
diff --git a/crates/rust-analyzer/src/cli/rustc_tests.rs b/crates/rust-analyzer/src/cli/rustc_tests.rs
index 69405b421eca..5225c49c130a 100644
--- a/crates/rust-analyzer/src/cli/rustc_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/rust-analyzer/src/cli/rustc_tests.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use ide::{AnalysisHost, DiagnosticCode, DiagnosticsConfig};
 use ide_db::base_db;
 use itertools::Either;
 use profile::StopWatch;
-use project_model::toolchain_info::{QueryConfig, target_data};
+use project_model::toolchain_info::{QueryConfig, target_data, version};
 use project_model::{
     CargoConfig, ManifestPath, ProjectWorkspace, ProjectWorkspaceKind, RustLibSource,
     RustSourceWorkspaceConfig, Sysroot,
@@ -81,10 +81,13 @@ impl Tester {
             sysroot.set_workspace(loaded_sysroot);
         }
 
+        let query_config = QueryConfig::Rustc(&sysroot, tmp_file.parent().unwrap().as_ref());
+        let toolchain_version = version::get(query_config, &cargo_config.extra_env).ok().flatten();
         let target_data = target_data::get(
-            QueryConfig::Rustc(&sysroot, tmp_file.parent().unwrap().as_ref()),
+            query_config,
             None,
             &cargo_config.extra_env,
+            toolchain_version.as_ref(),
         );
 
         let workspace = ProjectWorkspace {
diff --git a/crates/rust-analyzer/src/flycheck.rs b/crates/rust-analyzer/src/flycheck.rs
index b927a1160415..99e640a3cecb 100644
--- a/crates/rust-analyzer/src/flycheck.rs
+++ b/crates/rust-analyzer/src/flycheck.rs
@@ -69,10 +69,9 @@ impl CargoOptions {
         cmd: &mut Command,
         ws_target_dir: Option<&Utf8Path>,
         package_repr: Option<&str>,
+        toolchain_version: Option<&semver::Version>,
     ) {
-        for target in &self.target_tuples {
-            cmd.args(["--target", target.as_str()]);
-        }
+        toolchain::cargo_use_targets(toolchain_version, cmd, &self.target_tuples);
         if self.all_targets {
             if self.set_test {
                 cmd.arg("--all-targets");
@@ -227,6 +226,7 @@ impl FlycheckHandle {
         workspace_root: AbsPathBuf,
         manifest_path: Option<AbsPathBuf>,
         ws_target_dir: Option<Utf8PathBuf>,
+        toolchain_version: Option<semver::Version>,
     ) -> FlycheckHandle {
         let actor = FlycheckActor::new(
             id,
@@ -238,6 +238,7 @@ impl FlycheckHandle {
             workspace_root,
             manifest_path,
             ws_target_dir,
+            toolchain_version,
         );
         let (sender, receiver) = unbounded::<StateChange>();
         let thread =
@@ -445,6 +446,7 @@ struct FlycheckActor {
     command_receiver: Option<Receiver<CheckMessage>>,
     diagnostics_cleared_for: FxHashSet<PackageSpecifier>,
     diagnostics_received: DiagnosticsReceived,
+    toolchain_version: Option<semver::Version>,
 }
 
 #[derive(PartialEq, Debug)]
@@ -531,6 +533,7 @@ impl FlycheckActor {
         workspace_root: AbsPathBuf,
         manifest_path: Option<AbsPathBuf>,
         ws_target_dir: Option<Utf8PathBuf>,
+        toolchain_version: Option<semver::Version>,
     ) -> FlycheckActor {
         tracing::info!(%id, ?workspace_root, "Spawning flycheck");
         FlycheckActor {
@@ -548,6 +551,7 @@ impl FlycheckActor {
             command_receiver: None,
             diagnostics_cleared_for: Default::default(),
             diagnostics_received: DiagnosticsReceived::NotYet,
+            toolchain_version,
         }
     }
 
@@ -958,6 +962,7 @@ impl FlycheckActor {
                     &mut cmd,
                     self.ws_target_dir.as_ref().map(Utf8PathBuf::as_path),
                     package_repr,
+                    self.toolchain_version.as_ref(),
                 );
                 cmd.args(&cargo_options.extra_args);
                 Some((cmd, FlycheckCommandOrigin::Cargo))
diff --git a/crates/rust-analyzer/src/handlers/request.rs b/crates/rust-analyzer/src/handlers/request.rs
index 41e3db7f3191..ba3b8dbcd2f7 100644
--- a/crates/rust-analyzer/src/handlers/request.rs
+++ b/crates/rust-analyzer/src/handlers/request.rs
@@ -287,6 +287,7 @@ pub(crate) fn handle_run_test(
                     Some(cargo.target_directory().as_ref()),
                     target,
                     state.test_run_sender.clone(),
+                    ws.toolchain.as_ref(),
                 )?;
                 handles.push(handle);
             }
diff --git a/crates/rust-analyzer/src/reload.rs b/crates/rust-analyzer/src/reload.rs
index 3bf3cd562255..173409b32585 100644
--- a/crates/rust-analyzer/src/reload.rs
+++ b/crates/rust-analyzer/src/reload.rs
@@ -901,6 +901,7 @@ impl GlobalState {
                     self.config.default_root_path().clone(),
                     None,
                     None,
+                    None,
                 )]
             }
             crate::flycheck::InvocationStrategy::PerWorkspace => {
@@ -942,21 +943,30 @@ impl GlobalState {
                                 ProjectWorkspaceKind::DetachedFile { .. } => return None,
                             },
                             ws.sysroot.root().map(ToOwned::to_owned),
+                            ws.toolchain.clone(),
                         ))
                     })
-                    .map(|(id, (config_json, root, manifest_path, target_dir), sysroot_root)| {
-                        FlycheckHandle::spawn(
+                    .map(
+                        |(
                             id,
-                            generation.clone(),
-                            sender.clone(),
-                            config.clone(),
-                            config_json,
+                            (config_json, root, manifest_path, target_dir),
                             sysroot_root,
-                            root.to_path_buf(),
-                            manifest_path.map(|it| it.to_path_buf()),
-                            target_dir.map(|it| AsRef::<Utf8Path>::as_ref(it).to_path_buf()),
-                        )
-                    })
+                            toolchain,
+                        )| {
+                            FlycheckHandle::spawn(
+                                id,
+                                generation.clone(),
+                                sender.clone(),
+                                config.clone(),
+                                config_json,
+                                sysroot_root,
+                                root.to_path_buf(),
+                                manifest_path.map(|it| it.to_path_buf()),
+                                target_dir.map(|it| AsRef::<Utf8Path>::as_ref(it).to_path_buf()),
+                                toolchain,
+                            )
+                        },
+                    )
                     .collect()
             }
         }
diff --git a/crates/rust-analyzer/src/test_runner.rs b/crates/rust-analyzer/src/test_runner.rs
index c6f8a7c799c2..62d242f9d083 100644
--- a/crates/rust-analyzer/src/test_runner.rs
+++ b/crates/rust-analyzer/src/test_runner.rs
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ impl CargoTestHandle {
         ws_target_dir: Option<&Utf8Path>,
         test_target: TestTarget,
         sender: Sender<CargoTestMessage>,
+        toolchain_version: Option<&semver::Version>,
     ) -> anyhow::Result<Self> {
         let mut cmd = toolchain::command(Tool::Cargo.path(), root, &options.extra_env);
         cmd.env("RUSTC_BOOTSTRAP", "1");
@@ -131,7 +132,12 @@ impl CargoTestHandle {
         cmd.arg("--no-fail-fast");
         cmd.arg("--manifest-path");
         cmd.arg(root.join("Cargo.toml"));
-        options.apply_on_command(&mut cmd, ws_target_dir, Some(&test_target.package));
+        options.apply_on_command(
+            &mut cmd,
+            ws_target_dir,
+            Some(&test_target.package),
+            toolchain_version,
+        );
         cmd.arg("--");
         if let Some(path) = path {
             cmd.arg(path);
diff --git a/crates/toolchain/Cargo.toml b/crates/toolchain/Cargo.toml
index d0d5840e785a..8ba63ae86865 100644
--- a/crates/toolchain/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/toolchain/Cargo.toml
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ doctest = false
 
 [dependencies]
 camino.workspace = true
+semver.workspace = true
 
 [lints]
 workspace = true
diff --git a/crates/toolchain/src/lib.rs b/crates/toolchain/src/lib.rs
index ea08f7aacac4..6bed98f4cd2d 100644
--- a/crates/toolchain/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/toolchain/src/lib.rs
@@ -143,3 +143,33 @@ pub fn probe_for_binary(path: Utf8PathBuf) -> Option<Utf8PathBuf> {
     };
     iter::once(path).chain(with_extension).find(|it| it.is_file())
 }
+
+pub const MINIMUM_TOOLCHAIN_VERSION_REQUIRING_JSON_TARGET_SPEC_FLAG: semver::Version =
+    semver::Version {
+        major: 1,
+        minor: 95,
+        patch: 0,
+        pre: semver::Prerelease::EMPTY,
+        build: semver::BuildMetadata::EMPTY,
+    };
+
+/// Uses targets in a Cargo process.
+pub fn cargo_use_targets(
+    toolchain_version: Option<&semver::Version>,
+    cmd: &mut Command,
+    targets: impl IntoIterator<Item = impl AsRef<str>>,
+) {
+    let mut has_json_target = false;
+    for target in targets {
+        let target = target.as_ref();
+        cmd.args(["--target", target]);
+        has_json_target |= target.ends_with(".json");
+    }
+    if has_json_target
+        && toolchain_version.is_some_and(|version| {
+            *version >= MINIMUM_TOOLCHAIN_VERSION_REQUIRING_JSON_TARGET_SPEC_FLAG
+        })
+    {
+        cmd.arg("-Zjson-target-spec");
+    }
+}