diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 418b63a377..9faa6544ea 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ MODULES =					\
   guix/build/download.scm			\
   guix/build/cmake-build-system.scm		\
   guix/build/gnu-build-system.scm		\
-  guix/build/gnu-cross-build.scm		\
   guix/build/perl-build-system.scm		\
   guix/build/python-build-system.scm		\
   guix/build/utils.scm				\
diff --git a/gnu/packages/acl.scm b/gnu/packages/acl.scm
index 54c9116baf..b7604dcea6 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/acl.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/acl.scm
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ (define-public acl
         (lambda _
           (patch-makefile-SHELL "include/buildmacros"))
         ,(if (%current-target-system)
-             '%standard-cross-phases
+             '%standard-phases
              '(alist-replace 'check
                              (lambda _
                                (system* "make" "tests" "-C" "test")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/attr.scm b/gnu/packages/attr.scm
index 3fb15d235f..2ce50296ac 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/attr.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/attr.scm
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ (define-public attr
 
          ;; When building natively, adjust the test cases.
          ,(if (%current-target-system)
-              '%standard-cross-phases
+              '%standard-phases
               '(alist-replace 'check
                               (lambda _
                                 ;; Use the right shell.
diff --git a/gnu/packages/base.scm b/gnu/packages/base.scm
index 85380549ff..95052775c5 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/base.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/base.scm
@@ -293,9 +293,7 @@ (define-public coreutils
                     (substitute* (find-files "tests" "\\.sh$")
                       (("#!/bin/sh")
                        (format #f "#!~a/bin/bash" bash)))))
-                ,(if (%current-target-system)
-                     '%standard-cross-phases
-                     '%standard-phases))))
+                %standard-phases)))
    (synopsis "Core GNU utilities (file, text, shell)")
    (description
     "The GNU Core Utilities are the basic file, shell and text manipulation
diff --git a/gnu/packages/bash.scm b/gnu/packages/bash.scm
index bf51403f1a..aa3f397a52 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/bash.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/bash.scm
@@ -82,9 +82,7 @@ (define-public bash
 
         #:phases (alist-cons-after 'install 'post-install
                                    ,post-install-phase
-                                   ,(if (%current-target-system)
-                                        '%standard-cross-phases
-                                        '%standard-phases))))
+                                   %standard-phases)))
      (synopsis "The GNU Bourne-Again SHell")
      (description
       "Bash is the shell, or command language interpreter, that will appear in
@@ -106,10 +104,7 @@ (define-public bash-light
      (let ((args `(#:modules ((guix build gnu-build-system)
                               (guix build utils)
                               (srfi srfi-1)
-                              (srfi srfi-26)
-                              ,@(if (%current-target-system)
-                                    '((guix build gnu-cross-build))
-                                    '()))
+                              (srfi srfi-26))
                    ,@(package-arguments bash))))
        (substitute-keyword-arguments args
          ((#:configure-flags flags)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/gawk.scm b/gnu/packages/gawk.scm
index 444fa5e556..1b19f7bfd2 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gawk.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gawk.scm
@@ -50,9 +50,7 @@ (define-public gawk
                     (substitute* "io.c"
                       (("/bin/sh")
                        (string-append bash "/bin/bash")))))
-                ,(if (%current-target-system)
-                     '%standard-cross-phases
-                     '%standard-phases))))
+                %standard-phases)))
    (inputs `(("libsigsegv" ,libsigsegv)
 
              ;; TODO: On next core-updates, make Bash input unconditional.
diff --git a/gnu/packages/gettext.scm b/gnu/packages/gettext.scm
index e22b1ba6ff..c838f9c0a6 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gettext.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gettext.scm
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ (define-public gettext
     (arguments
      `(#:patches (list (assoc-ref %build-inputs "patch/gets"))
        #:phases ,(if (%current-target-system)
-                     '%standard-cross-phases
+                     '%standard-phases
                      '(alist-cons-before
                        'check 'patch-tests
                        (lambda* (#:key inputs #:allow-other-keys)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/guile.scm b/gnu/packages/guile.scm
index b53f3eb770..c4eca3e350 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/guile.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/guile.scm
@@ -158,9 +158,7 @@ (define-public guile-2.0
                     (substitute* "module/ice-9/popen.scm"
                       (("/bin/sh")
                        (string-append bash "/bin/bash")))))
-                ,(if (%current-target-system)
-                     '%standard-cross-phases
-                     '%standard-phases))
+                %standard-phases)
 
       ,@(if (%current-target-system)
             '(#:configure-flags '("CC_FOR_BUILD=gcc"))
diff --git a/gnu/packages/libffi.scm b/gnu/packages/libffi.scm
index f7d4a8c908..fdebab7433 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/libffi.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/libffi.scm
@@ -49,15 +49,10 @@ (define out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
                "0ln4jbpb6clcsdpb9niqk0frgx4k0xki96wiv067ig0q4cajb7aq"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (arguments `(#:modules ((guix build utils) (guix build gnu-build-system)
-                            (ice-9 ftw) (srfi srfi-26)
-                            ,@(if (%current-target-system)
-                                  '((guix build gnu-cross-build))
-                                  '()))
+                            (ice-9 ftw) (srfi srfi-26))
                  #:phases (alist-cons-after 'install 'post-install
                                             ,post-install-phase
-                                            ,(if (%current-target-system)
-                                                 '%standard-cross-phases
-                                                 '%standard-phases))))
+                                            %standard-phases)))
     (synopsis "Foreign function call interface library")
     (description
      "The libffi library provides a portable, high level programming interface
diff --git a/gnu/packages/libsigsegv.scm b/gnu/packages/libsigsegv.scm
index 4689b3d8b5..62fb40737a 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/libsigsegv.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/libsigsegv.scm
@@ -49,9 +49,7 @@ (define-public libsigsegv
                     (lambda _
                       (substitute* "src/fault-linux-mips-old.h"
                         (("#include <asm/sigcontext\\.h>") "")))
-                    ,(if (%current-target-system)
-                         '%standard-cross-phases
-                         '%standard-phases)))
+                    %standard-phases))
         '()))
    (description
 "GNU libsigsegv is a library for handling page faults in user mode. A page
diff --git a/gnu/packages/linux.scm b/gnu/packages/linux.scm
index 0bc9fbcb5e..dde53e9f5d 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/linux.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/linux.scm
@@ -80,18 +80,12 @@ (define-public linux-libre-headers
     (arguments
      `(#:modules ((guix build gnu-build-system)
                   (guix build utils)
-                  (srfi srfi-1)
-                  ,@(if (%current-target-system)
-                        '((guix build gnu-cross-build))
-                        '()))
+                  (srfi srfi-1))
        #:phases (alist-replace
                  'build ,(build-phase (%current-system))
                  (alist-replace
                   'install ,install-phase
-                  (alist-delete 'configure
-                                ,(if (%current-target-system)
-                                     '%standard-cross-phases
-                                     '%standard-phases))))
+                  (alist-delete 'configure %standard-phases)))
        #:tests? #f))
     (synopsis "GNU Linux-Libre kernel headers")
     (description "Headers of the Linux-Libre kernel.")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/ncurses.scm b/gnu/packages/ncurses.scm
index c1badae8a3..e5a9bce0f1 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/ncurses.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/ncurses.scm
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ (define lib.so
                          ,cross-pre-install-phase
                          (alist-cons-after
                           'install 'post-install ,post-install-phase
-                          %standard-cross-phases)))
+                          %standard-phases)))
 
                       `(alist-cons-after          ; native build
                         'install 'post-install ,post-install-phase
diff --git a/gnu/packages/readline.scm b/gnu/packages/readline.scm
index 1fb4376971..8857666fcc 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/readline.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/readline.scm
@@ -61,9 +61,7 @@ (define-public readline
                    #:phases (alist-cons-after
                              'install 'post-install
                              ,post-install-phase
-                             ,(if (%current-target-system)
-                                  '%standard-cross-phases
-                                  '%standard-phases))))
+                             %standard-phases)))
       (synopsis "Edit command lines while typing, with history support")
       (description
        "The GNU Readline library provides a set of functions for use by
diff --git a/guix/build-system/gnu.scm b/guix/build-system/gnu.scm
index 35590aa3da..b72239d13e 100644
--- a/guix/build-system/gnu.scm
+++ b/guix/build-system/gnu.scm
@@ -340,14 +340,12 @@ (define* (gnu-cross-build store name target source inputs native-inputs
                           (strip-flags ''("--strip-debug"))
                           (strip-directories ''("lib" "lib64" "libexec"
                                                 "bin" "sbin"))
-                          (phases '%standard-cross-phases)
+                          (phases '%standard-phases)
                           (system (%current-system))
-                          (implicit-inputs? #t)    ; useful when bootstrapping
+                          (implicit-inputs? #t)
                           (imported-modules '((guix build gnu-build-system)
-                                              (guix build gnu-cross-build)
                                               (guix build utils)))
                           (modules '((guix build gnu-build-system)
-                                     (guix build gnu-cross-build)
                                      (guix build utils))))
   "Cross-build NAME for TARGET, where TARGET is a GNU triplet.  INPUTS are
 cross-built inputs, and NATIVE-INPUTS are inputs that run on the build
diff --git a/guix/build/gnu-build-system.scm b/guix/build/gnu-build-system.scm
index 47820aa02e..4245f2aefd 100644
--- a/guix/build/gnu-build-system.scm
+++ b/guix/build/gnu-build-system.scm
@@ -48,15 +48,28 @@ (define (first-subdirectory dir)
                     #f
                     dir))
 
-(define* (set-paths #:key inputs (search-paths '())
+(define* (set-paths #:key target inputs native-inputs
+                    (search-paths '()) (native-search-paths '())
                     #:allow-other-keys)
   (define input-directories
     (match inputs
       (((_ . dir) ...)
        dir)))
 
+  (define native-input-directories
+    (match native-inputs
+      (((_ . dir) ...)
+       dir)
+      (#f                                         ; not cross compiling
+       '())))
+
+  ;; When cross building, $PATH must refer only to native (host) inputs since
+  ;; target inputs are not executable.
   (set-path-environment-variable "PATH" '("bin" "sbin")
-                                 input-directories)
+                                 (append native-input-directories
+                                         (if target
+                                             '()
+                                             input-directories)))
 
   (for-each (match-lambda
              ((env-var (directories ...) separator)
@@ -65,6 +78,15 @@ (define input-directories
                                              #:separator separator)))
             search-paths)
 
+  (when native-search-paths
+    ;; Search paths for native inputs, when cross building.
+    (for-each (match-lambda
+               ((env-var (directories ...) separator)
+                (set-path-environment-variable env-var directories
+                                               native-input-directories
+                                               #:separator separator)))
+              native-search-paths))
+
   ;; Dump the environment variables as a shell script, for handy debugging.
   (system "export > environment-variables"))
 
@@ -102,7 +124,8 @@ (define* (patch #:key (patches '()) (patch-flags '("--batch" "-p1"))
                          (append patch-flags (list "--input" p)))))
          patches))
 
-(define* (configure #:key inputs outputs (configure-flags '()) out-of-source?
+(define* (configure #:key target native-inputs inputs outputs
+                    (configure-flags '()) out-of-source?
                     #:allow-other-keys)
   (define (package-name)
     (let* ((out  (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
@@ -119,7 +142,7 @@ (define (package-name)
          (libdir     (assoc-ref outputs "lib"))
          (includedir (assoc-ref outputs "include"))
          (docdir     (assoc-ref outputs "doc"))
-         (bash       (or (and=> (assoc-ref inputs "bash")
+         (bash       (or (and=> (assoc-ref (or native-inputs inputs) "bash")
                                 (cut string-append <> "/bin/bash"))
                          "/bin/sh"))
          (flags      `(,(string-append "CONFIG_SHELL=" bash)
@@ -148,6 +171,9 @@ (define (package-name)
                              (list (string-append "--docdir=" docdir
                                                   "/doc/" (package-name)))
                              '())
+                       ,@(if target               ; cross building
+                             (list (string-append "--host=" target))
+                             '())
                        ,@configure-flags))
          (abs-srcdir (getcwd))
          (srcdir     (if out-of-source?
@@ -230,17 +256,20 @@ (define bindirs
                 bindirs)))
   #t)
 
-(define* (strip #:key outputs (strip-binaries? #t)
+(define* (strip #:key target outputs (strip-binaries? #t)
+                (strip-command (if target
+                                   (string-append target "-strip")
+                                   "strip"))
                 (strip-flags '("--strip-debug"))
                 (strip-directories '("lib" "lib64" "libexec"
                                      "bin" "sbin"))
                 #:allow-other-keys)
   (define (strip-dir dir)
-    (format #t "stripping binaries in ~s with flags ~s~%"
-            dir strip-flags)
+    (format #t "stripping binaries in ~s with ~s and flags ~s~%"
+            dir strip-command strip-flags)
     (file-system-fold (const #t)
                       (lambda (path stat result)  ; leaf
-                        (zero? (apply system* "strip"
+                        (zero? (apply system* strip-command
                                       (append strip-flags (list path)))))
                       (const #t)                  ; down
                       (const #t)                  ; up
diff --git a/guix/build/gnu-cross-build.scm b/guix/build/gnu-cross-build.scm
deleted file mode 100644
index dab60684ac..0000000000
--- a/guix/build/gnu-cross-build.scm
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,138 +0,0 @@
-;;; GNU Guix --- Functional package management for GNU
-;;; Copyright © 2013 Ludovic Courtès <ludo@gnu.org>
-;;;
-;;; This file is part of GNU Guix.
-;;;
-;;; GNU Guix is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
-;;; under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
-;;; the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or (at
-;;; your option) any later version.
-;;;
-;;; GNU Guix is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
-;;; WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-;;; MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
-;;; GNU General Public License for more details.
-;;;
-;;; You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
-;;; along with GNU Guix.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-
-(define-module (guix build gnu-cross-build)
-  #:use-module (guix build utils)
-  #:use-module ((guix build gnu-build-system)
-                #:renamer (symbol-prefix-proc 'build:))
-  #:use-module (ice-9 ftw)
-  #:use-module (ice-9 match)
-  #:use-module (srfi srfi-1)
-  #:export (%standard-cross-phases
-            gnu-cross-build))
-
-;;; Commentary:
-;;;
-;;; Extension of `gnu-build-system.scm' to support cross-compilation.
-;;;
-;;; Code:
-
-(define* (set-paths #:key inputs native-inputs
-                    (search-paths '()) (native-search-paths '())
-                    #:allow-other-keys)
-  (define input-directories
-    (match inputs
-      (((_ . dir) ...)
-       dir)))
-
-  (define native-input-directories
-    (match native-inputs
-      (((_ . dir) ...)
-       dir)))
-
-  ;; $PATH must refer only to native (host) inputs since target inputs are not
-  ;; executable.
-  (set-path-environment-variable "PATH" '("bin" "sbin")
-                                 native-input-directories)
-
-  ;; Search paths for target inputs.
-  (for-each (match-lambda
-             ((env-var (directories ...) separator)
-              (set-path-environment-variable env-var directories
-                                             input-directories
-                                             #:separator separator)))
-            search-paths)
-
-  ;; Search paths for native inputs.
-  (for-each (match-lambda
-             ((env-var (directories ...) separator)
-              (set-path-environment-variable env-var directories
-                                             native-input-directories
-                                             #:separator separator)))
-            native-search-paths)
-
-  ;; Dump the environment variables as a shell script, for handy debugging.
-  (system "export > environment-variables"))
-
-(define* (configure #:key
-                    inputs outputs (configure-flags '()) out-of-source?
-                    target native-inputs
-                    #:allow-other-keys)
-  (format #t "configuring for cross-compilation to `~a'~%" target)
-  (apply (assoc-ref build:%standard-phases 'configure)
-         #:configure-flags (cons (string-append "--host=" target)
-                                 configure-flags)
-
-         ;; XXX: The underlying `configure' phase looks for Bash among
-         ;; #:inputs, so fool it this way.
-         #:inputs native-inputs
-
-         #:outputs outputs
-         #:out-of-source? out-of-source?
-         '()))
-
-(define* (strip #:key target outputs (strip-binaries? #t)
-                (strip-flags '("--strip-debug"))
-                (strip-directories '("lib" "lib64" "libexec"
-                                     "bin" "sbin"))
-                #:allow-other-keys)
-  ;; TODO: The only difference with `strip' in gnu-build-system.scm is the
-  ;; name of the strip command; factorize it.
-
-  (define (strip-dir dir)
-    (format #t "stripping binaries in ~s with flags ~s~%"
-            dir strip-flags)
-    (file-system-fold (const #t)
-                      (lambda (path stat result)  ; leaf
-                        (zero? (apply system*
-                                      (string-append target "-strip")
-                                      (append strip-flags (list path)))))
-                      (const #t)                  ; down
-                      (const #t)                  ; up
-                      (const #t)                  ; skip
-                      (lambda (path stat errno result)
-                        (format (current-error-port)
-                                "strip: failed to access `~a': ~a~%"
-                                path (strerror errno))
-                        #f)
-                      #t
-                      dir))
-
-  (or (not strip-binaries?)
-      (every strip-dir
-             (append-map (match-lambda
-                          ((_ . dir)
-                           (filter-map (lambda (d)
-                                         (let ((sub (string-append dir "/" d)))
-                                           (and (directory-exists? sub) sub)))
-                                       strip-directories)))
-                         outputs))))
-
-(define %standard-cross-phases
-  ;; The standard phases when cross-building.
-  (let ((replacements `((set-paths ,set-paths)
-                        (configure ,configure)
-                        (strip ,strip))))
-    (fold (lambda (replacement phases)
-            (match replacement
-              ((name proc)
-               (alist-replace name proc phases))))
-          (alist-delete 'check build:%standard-phases)
-          replacements)))
-
-;;; gnu-cross-build.scm ends here