diff --git a/src/tools/compiletest/src/header/needs.rs b/src/tools/compiletest/src/header/needs.rs
index 5b2665f7d0ba7..06423697ee7d1 100644
--- a/src/tools/compiletest/src/header/needs.rs
+++ b/src/tools/compiletest/src/header/needs.rs
@@ -144,6 +144,11 @@ pub(super) fn handle_needs(
             condition: config.runner.as_ref().is_some_and(|r| r.contains("wasmtime")),
             ignore_reason: "ignored when wasmtime runner is not available",
         },
+        Need {
+            name: "needs-ar",
+            condition: !config.target.contains("msvc"),
+            ignore_reason: "ignored when ar command is not available",
+        },
         Need {
             name: "needs-symlink",
             condition: cache.symlinks,
diff --git a/tests/run-make/invalid-library/rmake.rs b/tests/run-make/invalid-library/rmake.rs
index e76b3f3b5d223..310c916f82ce3 100644
--- a/tests/run-make/invalid-library/rmake.rs
+++ b/tests/run-make/invalid-library/rmake.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+//@ needs-ar
+
 use run_make_support::fs_wrapper::create_file;
 use run_make_support::{ar_command, rustc};