diff --git a/src/bootstrap/bootstrap.py b/src/bootstrap/bootstrap.py
index c19134b4594fb..71f69e03a9fee 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/bootstrap.py
+++ b/src/bootstrap/bootstrap.py
@@ -542,9 +542,13 @@ def download_toolchain(self):
         bin_root = self.bin_root()
 
         key = self.stage0_compiler.date
-        if self.rustc().startswith(bin_root) and \
-                (not os.path.exists(self.rustc()) or
-                 self.program_out_of_date(self.rustc_stamp(), key)):
+        is_outdated = self.program_out_of_date(self.rustc_stamp(), key)
+        need_rustc = self.rustc().startswith(bin_root) and (not os.path.exists(self.rustc()) \
+            or is_outdated)
+        need_cargo = self.cargo().startswith(bin_root) and (not os.path.exists(self.cargo()) \
+            or is_outdated)
+
+        if need_rustc or need_cargo:
             if os.path.exists(bin_root):
                 # HACK: On Windows, we can't delete rust-analyzer-proc-macro-server while it's
                 # running. Kill it.
@@ -565,7 +569,6 @@ def download_toolchain(self):
                     run_powershell([script])
                 shutil.rmtree(bin_root)
 
-            key = self.stage0_compiler.date
             cache_dst = (self.get_toml('bootstrap-cache-path', 'build') or
                 os.path.join(self.build_dir, "cache"))
 
@@ -577,11 +580,16 @@ def download_toolchain(self):
 
             toolchain_suffix = "{}-{}{}".format(rustc_channel, self.build, tarball_suffix)
 
-            tarballs_to_download = [
-                ("rust-std-{}".format(toolchain_suffix), "rust-std-{}".format(self.build)),
-                ("rustc-{}".format(toolchain_suffix), "rustc"),
-                ("cargo-{}".format(toolchain_suffix), "cargo"),
-            ]
+            tarballs_to_download = []
+
+            if need_rustc:
+                tarballs_to_download.append(
+                    ("rust-std-{}".format(toolchain_suffix), "rust-std-{}".format(self.build))
+                )
+                tarballs_to_download.append(("rustc-{}".format(toolchain_suffix), "rustc"))
+
+            if need_cargo:
+                tarballs_to_download.append(("cargo-{}".format(toolchain_suffix), "cargo"))
 
             tarballs_download_info = [
                 DownloadInfo(