diff --git a/src/bootstrap/sanity.rs b/src/bootstrap/sanity.rs
index 5d543419fc9..66bdd5e00f4 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/sanity.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/sanity.rs
@@ -78,7 +78,11 @@ pub fn check(build: &mut Build) {
         }
         need_cmd("cmake".as_ref());
         if build.config.ninja {
-            need_cmd("ninja".as_ref())
+            // Some Linux distros rename `ninja` to `ninja-build`.
+            // CMake can work with either binary name.
+            if have_cmd("ninja-build".as_ref()).is_none() {
+                need_cmd("ninja".as_ref());
+            }
         }
         break
     }