diff --git a/build.md b/build.md
index 0c02ba02fe..1b95ea6b6a 100644
--- a/build.md
+++ b/build.md
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ downloaded from a separate Git repository by `make`. If you have Racket
 v7.1 or later, then you can choose instead to bootstrap using that
 Racket implementation with
 
-  `make cs RACKET=racket`
+  `make cs RACKET_FOR_BOOTFILES=racket`
 
 The `make bc` target (or `make bc-as-is` for a rebuild, or `nmake
 win-bc` on Windows with Visual Studio) builds an older variant of
diff --git a/pkgs/racket-build-guide/build.scrbl b/pkgs/racket-build-guide/build.scrbl
index 9db7842990..5588538899 100644
--- a/pkgs/racket-build-guide/build.scrbl
+++ b/pkgs/racket-build-guide/build.scrbl
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ downloaded from a separate Git repository by @exec{make}. If you have
 Racket v7.1 or later, then you can choose instead to bootstrap using
 that Racket implementation with
 
-@commandline{make cs RACKET=racket}
+@commandline{make cs RACKET_FOR_BOOTFILES=racket}
 
 The @exec{make bc} target (or @exec{make bc-as-is} for a rebuild, or
 @exec{nmake win-bc} on Windows with Visual Studio) builds an older
diff --git a/racket/src/cs/c/Makefile.in b/racket/src/cs/c/Makefile.in
index 2ffa00dfb1..2abbe1e915 100644
--- a/racket/src/cs/c/Makefile.in
+++ b/racket/src/cs/c/Makefile.in
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ DEFAULT_RACKET = ./raw_racketcs
 RACKET = @RACKET@
 BOOTFILE_RACKET = @BOOTFILE_RACKET@
 
+# Potentially supplied by makefile that calls this one, and
+# overrides `BOOTFILE_RACKET` if non-empty:
+RACKET_FOR_BOOTFILES =
+
 CS_INSTALLED = @CS_INSTALLED@
 
 NOOP = :
@@ -124,7 +128,9 @@ bounce:
 
 scheme:
 	mkdir -p $(SCHEME_WORKAREA)
-	if [ "$(BOOTFILE_RACKET)" != "$(DEFAULT_RACKET)" ] ; \
+	if [ "$(RACKET_FOR_BOOTFILES)" != "" ] ; \
+          then $(MAKE) scheme-via-rktboot BOOTFILE_RACKET="$(RACKET_FOR_BOOTFILES)" SETUP_BOOT_MODE=--chain ; \
+	elif [ "$(BOOTFILE_RACKET)" != "$(DEFAULT_RACKET)" ] ; \
           then $(MAKE) scheme-via-rktboot BOOTFILE_RACKET="$(BOOTFILE_RACKET)" ; \
           else $(MAKE) scheme-via-pb ; fi