diff --git a/mesonbuild/backend/backends.py b/mesonbuild/backend/backends.py
index 2727abec8..7f7c43402 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/backend/backends.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/backend/backends.py
@@ -768,7 +768,7 @@ class Backend:
                 # E.g. an external verifier or simulator program run on a generated executable.
                 # Can always be run without a wrapper.
                 test_for_machine = MachineChoice.BUILD
-            is_cross = not self.environment.machines.matches_build_machine(test_for_machine)
+            is_cross = self.environment.is_cross_build(test_for_machine)
             if is_cross and self.environment.need_exe_wrapper():
                 exe_wrapper = self.environment.get_exe_wrapper()
             else:
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/clike.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/clike.py
index 0333ffadb..e7b0cd2ca 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/clike.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/clike.py
@@ -369,7 +369,8 @@ class CLikeCompiler:
                              dependencies=dependencies, mode='link', disable_cache=disable_cache)
 
     def run(self, code: str, env, *, extra_args=None, dependencies=None):
-        if self.is_cross and self.exe_wrapper is None:
+        need_exe_wrapper = env.need_exe_wrapper(self.for_machine)
+        if need_exe_wrapper and self.exe_wrapper is None:
             raise compilers.CrossNoRunException('Can not run test applications in this cross environment.')
         with self._build_wrapper(code, env, extra_args, dependencies, mode='link', want_output=True) as p:
             if p.returncode != 0:
@@ -377,7 +378,7 @@ class CLikeCompiler:
                     p.input_name,
                     p.returncode))
                 return compilers.RunResult(False)
-            if self.is_cross:
+            if need_exe_wrapper:
                 cmdlist = self.exe_wrapper + [p.output_name]
             else:
                 cmdlist = p.output_name
diff --git a/mesonbuild/coredata.py b/mesonbuild/coredata.py
index fcb13f60e..c337dc33d 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/coredata.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/coredata.py
@@ -682,7 +682,9 @@ class CoreData:
                 if type(oldval) != type(value):
                     self.user_options[name] = value
 
-    def is_cross_build(self) -> bool:
+    def is_cross_build(self, when_building_for: MachineChoice = MachineChoice.HOST) -> bool:
+        if when_building_for == MachineChoice.BUILD:
+            return False
         return len(self.cross_files) > 0
 
     def strip_build_option_names(self, options):
diff --git a/mesonbuild/environment.py b/mesonbuild/environment.py
index 4ced8e0c1..8fad6288b 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/environment.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/environment.py
@@ -635,8 +635,8 @@ class Environment:
         self.coredata.meson_command = mesonlib.meson_command
         self.first_invocation = True
 
-    def is_cross_build(self) -> bool:
-        return self.coredata.is_cross_build()
+    def is_cross_build(self, when_building_for: MachineChoice = MachineChoice.HOST) -> bool:
+        return self.coredata.is_cross_build(when_building_for)
 
     def dump_coredata(self):
         return coredata.save(self.coredata, self.get_build_dir())
@@ -899,7 +899,7 @@ class Environment:
     def _detect_c_or_cpp_compiler(self, lang: str, for_machine: MachineChoice) -> Compiler:
         popen_exceptions = {}
         compilers, ccache, exe_wrap = self._get_compilers(lang, for_machine)
-        is_cross = not self.machines.matches_build_machine(for_machine)
+        is_cross = self.is_cross_build(for_machine)
         info = self.machines[for_machine]
 
         for compiler in compilers:
@@ -1152,7 +1152,7 @@ class Environment:
 
     def detect_cuda_compiler(self, for_machine):
         popen_exceptions = {}
-        is_cross = not self.machines.matches_build_machine(for_machine)
+        is_cross = self.is_cross_build(for_machine)
         compilers, ccache, exe_wrap = self._get_compilers('cuda', for_machine)
         info = self.machines[for_machine]
         for compiler in compilers:
@@ -1192,7 +1192,7 @@ class Environment:
     def detect_fortran_compiler(self, for_machine: MachineChoice):
         popen_exceptions = {}
         compilers, ccache, exe_wrap = self._get_compilers('fortran', for_machine)
-        is_cross = not self.machines.matches_build_machine(for_machine)
+        is_cross = self.is_cross_build(for_machine)
         info = self.machines[for_machine]
         for compiler in compilers:
             if isinstance(compiler, str):
@@ -1311,7 +1311,7 @@ class Environment:
     def _detect_objc_or_objcpp_compiler(self, for_machine: MachineInfo, objc: bool) -> 'Compiler':
         popen_exceptions = {}
         compilers, ccache, exe_wrap = self._get_compilers('objc' if objc else 'objcpp', for_machine)
-        is_cross = not self.machines.matches_build_machine(for_machine)
+        is_cross = self.is_cross_build(for_machine)
         info = self.machines[for_machine]
 
         for compiler in compilers:
@@ -1402,7 +1402,7 @@ class Environment:
 
     def detect_vala_compiler(self, for_machine):
         exelist = self.lookup_binary_entry(for_machine, 'vala')
-        is_cross = not self.machines.matches_build_machine(for_machine)
+        is_cross = self.is_cross_build(for_machine)
         info = self.machines[for_machine]
         if exelist is None:
             # TODO support fallback
@@ -1422,7 +1422,7 @@ class Environment:
     def detect_rust_compiler(self, for_machine):
         popen_exceptions = {}
         compilers, ccache, exe_wrap = self._get_compilers('rust', for_machine)
-        is_cross = not self.machines.matches_build_machine(for_machine)
+        is_cross = self.is_cross_build(for_machine)
         info = self.machines[for_machine]
 
         cc = self.detect_c_compiler(for_machine)
@@ -1513,7 +1513,7 @@ class Environment:
             arch = 'x86_mscoff'
 
         popen_exceptions = {}
-        is_cross = not self.machines.matches_build_machine(for_machine)
+        is_cross = self.is_cross_build(for_machine)
         results, ccache, exe_wrap = self._get_compilers('d', for_machine)
         for exelist in results:
             # Search for a D compiler.
@@ -1604,7 +1604,7 @@ class Environment:
 
     def detect_swift_compiler(self, for_machine):
         exelist = self.lookup_binary_entry(for_machine, 'swift')
-        is_cross = not self.machines.matches_build_machine(for_machine)
+        is_cross = self.is_cross_build(for_machine)
         info = self.machines[for_machine]
         if exelist is None:
             # TODO support fallback