diff --git a/Documentation/rust/quick-start.rst b/Documentation/rust/quick-start.rst
index c4a5b87437dd68..9ecb171f711af7 100644
--- a/Documentation/rust/quick-start.rst
+++ b/Documentation/rust/quick-start.rst
@@ -13,7 +13,17 @@ This section explains how to fetch the tools needed for building.
 
 Some of these requirements might be available from Linux distributions
 under names like ``rustc``, ``rust-src``, ``rust-bindgen``, etc. However,
-at the time of writing, they are likely not to be recent enough.
+at the time of writing, they are likely not to be recent enough unless
+the distribution tracks the latest releases.
+
+To easily check whether the requirements are met, the following target
+can be used::
+
+	make LLVM=1 rustavailable
+
+This triggers the same logic used by Kconfig to determine whether
+``RUST_IS_AVAILABLE`` should be enabled; but it also explains why not
+if that is the case.
 
 
 rustc
@@ -176,8 +186,8 @@ Configuration
 -------------
 
 ``Rust support`` (``CONFIG_RUST``) needs to be enabled in the ``General setup``
-menu. The option is only shown if the build system can locate ``rustc``.
-In turn, this will make visible the rest of options that depend on Rust.
+menu. The option is only shown if a suitable Rust toolchain is found (see
+above). In turn, this will make visible the rest of options that depend on Rust.
 
 Afterwards, go to::
 
diff --git a/MAINTAINERS b/MAINTAINERS
index b6c447439803ca..5f3816c713fc48 100644
--- a/MAINTAINERS
+++ b/MAINTAINERS
@@ -16591,6 +16591,7 @@ F:	rust/
 F:	samples/rust/
 F:	Documentation/rust/
 F:	lib/rust.h
+F:	scripts/*rust*
 K:	\b(?i:rust)\b
 
 RXRPC SOCKETS (AF_RXRPC)
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index a349e754eb2e62..a8eaba28db6b11 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ no-dot-config-targets := $(clean-targets) \
 			 cscope gtags TAGS tags help% %docs check% coccicheck \
 			 $(version_h) headers headers_% archheaders archscripts \
 			 %asm-generic kernelversion %src-pkg dt_binding_check \
-			 outputmakefile rustfmt rustfmtcheck
+			 outputmakefile rustavailable rustfmt rustfmtcheck
 # Installation targets should not require compiler. Unfortunately, vdso_install
 # is an exception where build artifacts may be updated. This must be fixed.
 no-compiler-targets := $(no-dot-config-targets) install dtbs_install \
@@ -1696,6 +1696,8 @@ help:
 	@echo  '		      kselftest to existing .config.'
 	@echo  ''
 	@echo  'Rust targets:'
+	@echo  '  rustavailable   - Checks whether the Rust toolchain is'
+	@echo  '		    available and, if not, explains why.'
 	@echo  '  rustfmt	  - Reformat all the Rust code in the kernel'
 	@echo  '  rustfmtcheck	  - Checks if all the Rust code in the kernel'
 	@echo  '		    is formatted, printing a diff otherwise.'
@@ -1781,6 +1783,11 @@ $(DOC_TARGETS):
 # Rust targets
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+# "Is Rust available?" target
+PHONY += rustavailable
+rustavailable:
+	$(Q)$(CONFIG_SHELL) $(srctree)/scripts/rust-is-available.sh -v
+
 # Documentation target
 #
 # Using the singular to avoid running afoul of `no-dot-config-targets`.
diff --git a/init/Kconfig b/init/Kconfig
index cbbdd3a2c30fa5..c6497c816b2bae 100644
--- a/init/Kconfig
+++ b/init/Kconfig
@@ -60,14 +60,16 @@ config LLD_VERSION
 	default $(ld-version) if LD_IS_LLD
 	default 0
 
-config HAS_RUST
-	depends on ARM64 || CPU_32v6 || CPU_32v6K || (PPC64 && CPU_LITTLE_ENDIAN) || X86_64 || RISCV
-	def_bool $(success,$(RUSTC) --version)
+config RUST_IS_AVAILABLE
+	def_bool $(success,$(srctree)/scripts/rust-is-available.sh)
+	help
+	  This shows whether a suitable Rust toolchain is available (found).
 
-config RUSTC_VERSION
-	depends on HAS_RUST
-	int
-	default $(shell,$(srctree)/scripts/rust-version.sh $(RUSTC))
+	  Please see Documentation/rust/quick-start.rst for instructions on how
+	  to satify the build requirements of Rust support.
+
+	  In particular, the Makefile target 'rustavailable' is useful to check
+	  why the Rust toolchain is not being detected.
 
 config CC_CAN_LINK
 	bool
@@ -2056,7 +2058,8 @@ config PROFILING
 
 config RUST
 	bool "Rust support"
-	depends on HAS_RUST
+	depends on RUST_IS_AVAILABLE
+	depends on ARM64 || CPU_32v6 || CPU_32v6K || (PPC64 && CPU_LITTLE_ENDIAN) || X86_64 || RISCV
 	depends on !COMPILE_TEST
 	depends on !MODVERSIONS
 	depends on !GCC_PLUGIN_RANDSTRUCT
@@ -2074,6 +2077,16 @@ config RUST
 
 	  If unsure, say N.
 
+config RUSTC_VERSION_TEXT
+	depends on RUST
+	string
+	default $(shell,$(RUSTC) --version)
+
+config BINDGEN_VERSION_TEXT
+	depends on RUST
+	string
+	default $(shell,$(BINDGEN) --version)
+
 #
 # Place an empty function call at each tracepoint site. Can be
 # dynamically changed for a probe function.
diff --git a/scripts/rust-is-available-bindgen-libclang.h b/scripts/rust-is-available-bindgen-libclang.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..0ef6db10d67413
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/rust-is-available-bindgen-libclang.h
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 */
+#pragma message("clang version " __clang_version__)
diff --git a/scripts/rust-is-available.sh b/scripts/rust-is-available.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000000..5741dcf64bc984
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/rust-is-available.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+#
+# Tests whether a suitable Rust toolchain is available.
+#
+# Pass `-v` for human output and more checks (as warnings).
+
+set -e
+
+min_tool_version=$(dirname $0)/min-tool-version.sh
+
+# Convert the version string x.y.z to a canonical up-to-7-digits form.
+#
+# Note that this function uses one more digit (compared to other
+# instances in other version scripts) to give a bit more space to
+# `rustc` since it will reach 1.100.0 in late 2026.
+get_canonical_version()
+{
+	IFS=.
+	set -- $1
+	echo $((100000 * $1 + 100 * $2 + $3))
+}
+
+# Check that the Rust compiler exists.
+if ! command -v "$RUSTC" >/dev/null; then
+	if [ "$1" = -v ]; then
+		echo >&2 "***"
+		echo >&2 "*** Rust compiler '$RUSTC' could not be found."
+		echo >&2 "***"
+	fi
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+# Check that the Rust bindings generator exists.
+if ! command -v "$BINDGEN" >/dev/null; then
+	if [ "$1" = -v ]; then
+		echo >&2 "***"
+		echo >&2 "*** Rust bindings generator '$BINDGEN' could not be found."
+		echo >&2 "***"
+	fi
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+# Check that the Rust compiler version is suitable.
+#
+# Non-stable and distributions' versions may have a version suffix, e.g. `-dev`.
+rust_compiler_version=$("$RUSTC" --version | cut -f2 -d' ' | cut -f1 -d'-')
+rust_compiler_min_version=$($min_tool_version rustc)
+rust_compiler_cversion=$(get_canonical_version $rust_compiler_version)
+rust_compiler_min_cversion=$(get_canonical_version $rust_compiler_min_version)
+if [ "$rust_compiler_cversion" -lt "$rust_compiler_min_cversion" ]; then
+	if [ "$1" = -v ]; then
+		echo >&2 "***"
+		echo >&2 "*** Rust compiler '$RUSTC' is too old."
+		echo >&2 "***   Your version:    $rust_compiler_version"
+		echo >&2 "***   Minimum version: $rust_compiler_min_version"
+		echo >&2 "***"
+	fi
+	exit 1
+fi
+if [ "$1" = -v ] && [ "$rust_compiler_cversion" -gt "$rust_compiler_min_cversion" ]; then
+	echo >&2 "***"
+	echo >&2 "*** Rust compiler '$RUSTC' is too new. This may or may not work."
+	echo >&2 "***   Your version:     $rust_compiler_version"
+	echo >&2 "***   Expected version: $rust_compiler_min_version"
+	echo >&2 "***"
+fi
+
+# Check that the Rust bindings generator is suitable.
+#
+# Non-stable and distributions' versions may have a version suffix, e.g. `-dev`.
+rust_bindings_generator_version=$("$BINDGEN" --version | cut -f2 -d' ' | cut -f1 -d'-')
+rust_bindings_generator_min_version=$($min_tool_version bindgen)
+rust_bindings_generator_cversion=$(get_canonical_version $rust_bindings_generator_version)
+rust_bindings_generator_min_cversion=$(get_canonical_version $rust_bindings_generator_min_version)
+if [ "$rust_bindings_generator_cversion" -lt "$rust_bindings_generator_min_cversion" ]; then
+	if [ "$1" = -v ]; then
+		echo >&2 "***"
+		echo >&2 "*** Rust bindings generator '$BINDGEN' is too old."
+		echo >&2 "***   Your version:    $rust_bindings_generator_version"
+		echo >&2 "***   Minimum version: $rust_bindings_generator_min_version"
+		echo >&2 "***"
+	fi
+	exit 1
+fi
+if [ "$1" = -v ] && [ "$rust_bindings_generator_cversion" -gt "$rust_bindings_generator_min_cversion" ]; then
+	echo >&2 "***"
+	echo >&2 "*** Rust bindings generator '$BINDGEN' is too new. This may or may not work."
+	echo >&2 "***   Your version:     $rust_bindings_generator_version"
+	echo >&2 "***   Expected version: $rust_bindings_generator_min_version"
+	echo >&2 "***"
+fi
+
+# Check that the `libclang` used by the Rust bindings generator is suitable.
+#
+# There may be a better way to do this in the future,
+# see https://github.com/rust-lang/rust-bindgen/issues/2138
+bindgen_libclang_full_version=$(\
+	"$BINDGEN" $(dirname $0)/rust-is-available-bindgen-libclang.h 2>&1 >/dev/null \
+		| grep -F 'clang version' \
+		| sed -E 's:^.*(clang version .*) \[.*$:\1:' \
+)
+bindgen_libclang_version=$(echo "$bindgen_libclang_full_version" | cut -f3 -d' ')
+bindgen_libclang_min_version=$($min_tool_version llvm)
+bindgen_libclang_cversion=$(get_canonical_version $bindgen_libclang_version)
+bindgen_libclang_min_cversion=$(get_canonical_version $bindgen_libclang_min_version)
+if [ "$bindgen_libclang_cversion" -lt "$bindgen_libclang_min_cversion" ]; then
+	if [ "$1" = -v ]; then
+		echo >&2 "***"
+		echo >&2 "*** libclang (used by the Rust bindings generator '$BINDGEN') is too old."
+		echo >&2 "***   Your version:    $bindgen_libclang_version"
+		echo >&2 "***   Minimum version: $bindgen_libclang_min_version"
+		echo >&2 "***"
+	fi
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+# If the C compiler is Clang, then we can also check whether its full version
+# matches exactly the `libclang` used by the Rust bindings generator.
+if [ "$1" = -v ]; then
+	cc_name=$($(dirname $0)/cc-version.sh "$CC" | cut -f1 -d' ')
+	if [ "$cc_name" = Clang ]; then
+		clang_full_version=$("$CC" --version | grep -F 'clang version')
+		if [ "$clang_full_version" != "$bindgen_libclang_full_version" ]; then
+			echo >&2 "***"
+			echo >&2 "*** libclang (used by the Rust bindings generator '$BINDGEN') full version does not match Clang's. This may be a problem."
+			echo >&2 "***   libclang: $bindgen_libclang_full_version"
+			echo >&2 "***   Clang:    $clang_full_version"
+			echo >&2 "***"
+		fi
+	fi
+fi
+
+# Check that the source code for the `core` standard library exists.
+#
+# `$KRUSTFLAGS` is passed in case the user added `--sysroot`.
+rustc_sysroot=$("$RUSTC" $KRUSTFLAGS --print sysroot)
+rustc_src="$rustc_sysroot/lib/rustlib/src/rust/library"
+rustc_src_core="$rustc_src/core/src/lib.rs"
+if [ ! -e "$rustc_src_core" ]; then
+	if [ "$1" = -v ]; then
+		echo >&2 "***"
+		echo >&2 "*** Source code for the 'core' standard library could not be found"
+		echo >&2 "*** at '$rustc_src_core'."
+		echo >&2 "***"
+	fi
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+# Success!
+if [ "$1" = -v ]; then
+	echo >&2 "Rust is available!"
+fi
diff --git a/scripts/rust-version.sh b/scripts/rust-version.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index 67b6d31688e24b..00000000000000
--- a/scripts/rust-version.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
-#
-# rust-version rust-command
-#
-# Print the compiler version of `rust-command' in a 5 or 6-digit form
-# such as `14502' for rustc-1.45.2 etc.
-#
-# Returns 0 if not found (so that Kconfig does not complain)
-compiler="$*"
-
-if [ ${#compiler} -eq 0 ]; then
-	echo "Error: No compiler specified." >&2
-	printf "Usage:\n\t$0 <rust-command>\n" >&2
-	exit 1
-fi
-
-if ! command -v $compiler >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-	echo 0
-	exit 0
-fi
-
-VERSION=$($compiler --version | cut -f2 -d' ')
-
-# Cut suffix if any (e.g. `-dev`)
-VERSION=$(echo $VERSION | cut -f1 -d'-')
-
-MAJOR=$(echo $VERSION | cut -f1 -d'.')
-MINOR=$(echo $VERSION | cut -f2 -d'.')
-PATCHLEVEL=$(echo $VERSION | cut -f3 -d'.')
-printf "%d%02d%02d\\n" $MAJOR $MINOR $PATCHLEVEL