diff --git a/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py b/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py
index e394c60fcc30..e672c551b588 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py
@@ -496,6 +496,19 @@ def __init__(self, build: T.Optional[build.Build], interpreter: T.Optional[Inter
         self.rust_crates: T.Dict[str, RustCrate] = {}
         self.implicit_meson_outs = []
         self._uses_dyndeps = False
+        # nvcc chokes on thin archives:
+        #   nvlink fatal   : Could not open input file 'libfoo.a.p'
+        #   nvlink fatal   : elfLink internal error
+        # hence we disable them if 'cuda' is enabled globally. See also
+        # - https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/pull/9453
+        # - https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/9479#issuecomment-953485040
+        self._allow_thin_archives = PerMachine[bool](
+            'cuda' not in self.environment.coredata.compilers.build,
+            'cuda' not in self.environment.coredata.compilers.host)
+        if not self._allow_thin_archives.build:
+            mlog.debug('cuda enabled globally, disabling thin archives for build machine, since nvcc/nvlink cannot handle thin archives natively')
+        if not self._allow_thin_archives.host:
+            mlog.debug('cuda enabled globally, disabling thin archives for host machine, since nvcc/nvlink cannot handle thin archives natively')
 
     def create_phony_target(self, dummy_outfile: str, rulename: str, phony_infilename: str) -> NinjaBuildElement:
         '''
@@ -3255,7 +3268,8 @@ def get_target_type_link_args(self, target, linker):
             if target.import_filename:
                 commands += linker.gen_import_library_args(self.get_import_filename(target))
         elif isinstance(target, build.StaticLibrary):
-            commands += linker.get_std_link_args(self.environment, not target.should_install())
+            produce_thin_archive = self._allow_thin_archives[target.for_machine] and not target.should_install()
+            commands += linker.get_std_link_args(self.environment, produce_thin_archive)
         else:
             raise RuntimeError('Unknown build target type.')
         return commands