diff --git a/cmake/HermitCore-Toolchain-x86-bootstrap.cmake b/cmake/HermitCore-Toolchain-x86-bootstrap.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..aa83a3900
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmake/HermitCore-Toolchain-x86-bootstrap.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+include(${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/HermitCore-Toolchain-x86.cmake)
+include_guard()
+
+set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER_WORKS 1 CACHE INTERNAL "")
+set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_WORKS 1 CACHE INTERNAL "")
+
+# unset unneeded compilers
+unset(CMAKE_Go_COMPILER)
+unset(CMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER)
+
+set(BOOTSTRAP true)
diff --git a/cmake/HermitCore.cmake b/cmake/HermitCore.cmake
index babff2689..e5134f44b 100644
--- a/cmake/HermitCore.cmake
+++ b/cmake/HermitCore.cmake
@@ -77,8 +77,10 @@ set(HERMIT_KERNEL_INCLUDES
 #
 # Furthermore this will produce a sensible error message if the toolchain cannot
 # be found.
-enable_language(C CXX Fortran Go)
-include(${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/HermitCore-Paths.cmake)
+if(NOT BOOTSTRAP)
+	enable_language(C CXX Fortran Go)
+	include(${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/HermitCore-Paths.cmake)
+endif()
 
 # find elfedit, CMake doesn't use this program, so we have to find it ourself
 find_toolchain_program(elfedit)